The Love Triangle of Tea, Milk, and Water – A Brewing Tale of Chai

In a small nondescript gully in Kolkata, in an old brass kettle of Pochada’r ” Cha er Dokaan” where the scent of cardamom floated like a gossiping auntie, three ” singletons” simmered in an eternal love triangle.

Let me introduce them to you

Tea Leaves (Mr. Chalu Cha): Strong, bitter, deep, the old soul of the beverage world. Loves poetry, brooding, hillsides and long simmers. Believes in commitment.

Water (Miss Neera ): Clear-headed, adaptable, the ever-giving romantic. She’s the one who carries everyone else’s weight, literally and emotionally. Deep down, tired of being taken for granted.
Milk (Darling Doodhiya): Creamy, dramatic, indulgent, full of fuss and froth. Obsessed with sweetness and attention. Not shy to admit: “People love me in tea because I make it fun.”

Chapter 1: Brewing Tensions

Chalu Cha had always liked Neera.
She softened him, let him infuse into her, helped his flavor emerge. They were a perfect, understated couple — until Doodhiya swirled in, one splashy entrance at a time.

“Darling, I’m what makes you palatable,” Doodhiya declared, swirling seductively through Neera’s clarity, dulling it but making the blend… addictive.
Neera watched helplessly as Chalu Chai willingly tangled with Doodhiya — drawn to her glamour, her extra sweetness, her crowd-pleasing confidence.

Chapter 2: The Boiling Point

It was chaos in the kettle.
Chalu Cha was torn.
Neera was boiling — in the truest sense.
Doodhiya was getting frothy, feeling unappreciated.

One day, Neera finally confronted Chai.
“When it’s just us, you’re bold. Pure. You’re you. But you choose Doodhiya every time the world’s watching.” Do I put you to shame?
Chalu Chai sighed. “She makes me easier to swallow.”
“And I make you stronger. Bolder. Relaxed”
Neera turned away, steam rising from her cheeks.

Chapter 3: Chai Pe Charcha (The Realization)

Then came that blackout due to the fiery romance between Aandhi and Toofaan. . Power cut. No boiling. No sugar. No kettle.
Just cold milk. Dry tea leaves. Lukewarm water.

All three of them sat awkwardly on the counter . Pochada sat with a grim face.
And then , exactly at that moment it hit Chalu Chai: without Neera, he was useless. Without her, no one could bring out his depth.
Doodhiya sniffled. “Maybe I try too hard to make everyone like us… even if it means losing who we are.”
Neera whispered, “What if we stopped trying to be perfect chai… and just let ourselves brew honestly?”

Epilogue: Love, Light, and Layers

Chalu Chai and Neera stayed soulmates — stable, deep, made for each other.
Doodhiya? She learned to love from the side — a splash of joy, not a complete takeover. That fiery threesome once in a while. Other times she danced around with Carefree Coffee.
And sometimes, she frolicked in Fair Falooda.
But in that little cup, every one found peace — not by changing who they were, but by accepting how they blended best.

Because in the end, love isn’t always 50-50. Sometimes it’s just a stir, and a splash — perfectly brewed.

(Note: This was one of the stories submitted for Food Rom Com Contest )

By Sanghamitra GhoshBasu

Sanghamitra is an IT professional from Kolkata. A wanderer at heart, she embraces the world with open arms and endless curiosity. She can be contacted at sghoshbasu@gmail.com