I am a regular traveler between Ahmedabad and Baroda – these two cities are safe haven. One is my birthplace and the second that is responsible for my fat account.

People from Baroda are called Barodians with a hashtag – yeah! And anyone who frequently goes back and forth on every weekend pretty much meets the same people on the same route, via the same bus and heights of coincidence would be that the Gujarat State Volvo Bus Drivers are also mostly same.

And nothing has changed a lot in the last two years. And I have this favorite tea spot right at “Jhansi ki Rani” – stand. His was the tea I fell in love after a real long time and that too hasn’t changed in these past two years.

And so one eventful weekend as I was awaiting my bus, I went to catch on a little gossip and tea with the guy. When I asked him to give me a mouth freshener, a toddler – a little – barely able to get a grip over her wobbly knees walked over to me and gave it to me along with a toothy smile. That tiny thing of motherly feeling in me, a small spark that every girl has – woke up and brightened up at the cheerubic face of the kid.

I looked at the fellow, ‘Aap ki beti hai?’

He was real proud – ‘Haan meri beti hai. Bohot hi samajdaar hai abhi se.’

I smiled back at the father whose chest seemed to swell with pride and adoration for his daughter.

He continued in the same vein – ‘Mai ise padhaunga aur aage badhaunga bhi. Aaj ke zamaane mein toh kahaa ladka aur ladki ke beech mein farak raha. Mai ise padhaunga aur ise achhi naukri karvaaunga.’

I just smiled a look – I didn’t know how to react. This conversation erupted like a hot water spring from somewhere.

‘Wese bhi’, he replied chuckling jovially to himself as he made a “masala” for another customer, ‘Aaj kal betiya hi ma-baap ko rakhti hai; beto ka jyaada bharosa nahi. Mere bade bete ko mai mere dhande pe lagaa dunga – meri beti achhe office mein kaam karegi.’

Whatever was he thinking – he was thinking very good for his daughter’s future. He apparently intended to teach her the best courses, make sure she got into a good company and ensure that she was much capable than her older brother.

The white Volvo slid into focus as I turned to look at my ride.  I paid him the tea, plonked the cup, smiled broadly and skipped my way over to the bus.

He was the noble tea-seller on the streets and I meet him quite often – I still do…