Welcome cup of Tea...

Little long but worth the read..👍🏻

Welcome cup of Tea...  ( a touching true story...)

A group of 15 soldiers led by a Major were on their way to their post in Himalayas where they would be deployed for the next 3 months.

The batch who would  be relieved waited anxiously.

It was cold a winter & intermittent snowfall made the treacherous climb even more difficult.

If someone could offer a cup of tea....the Major thought, knowing it was a futile wish..

They continued for an hour before they came across a dilapidated structure, which looked like a tea shop but locked. It was late in the night.

"No tea boys, bad luck", said the Major. But he suggested all take some rest there as they have been walking for 3 hours.

"Sir, this is a tea shop and we can make tea... We will have to break the lock", suggested one soldier.

The Major was in a dilemma about acceding to the unethical suggestion but the thought of a steaming cup of tea for the tired solders made him to give the permission.

They were in luck, the place had everything needed to make tea and also packets of biscuits.

The solders had tea & biscuits and  were ready for their remaining journey.

The major thought...they had broken the lock open and had tea & biscuits without the owner's permission. They're not a band of thieves but disciplined soldiers.

He took out a Rs1000/- note from his wallet, placed it on the  counter, pressed it under sugar container, so that the owner would see it.

The officer guilt was partly relieved.

He ordered the shutter to be pulled down and for them to proceed.

Three months passed by, they continued to do their work and were lucky not to loose anyone from the group in the intense insurgency situation.

It was time for another team to replace them.

Soon they were on their way back and stopped at the same tea shop which was open and owner was present in the shop.

The owner an old man with meager resources was very happy to greet 15 customers.

All of them had tea and biscuits.

They talked to the old man about his life and  experience specially selling tea at such a remote location

The old man had many stories to tell, replete with his faith in God.

"Oh, Baba, if God is there, why should He keep you in such poverty ?",  commented one of them.

"Do not say  like that Sahib ! God actually is there, I got proof.

3 months ago. I was going through very tough times because my only son had been severely beaten by terrorists who wanted some information from him which he did not have.

I had closed my shop to take my son to hospital. Some medicines were to be purchased and I had no money.

No one would give
me loan for fear of the terrorists.

There was no hope, Sahib".

"And that day Sahib, I prayed to God for help. And Sahib, God walked into my shop that day."
"When I returned to my shop, I found the lock broken,

I felt I was finished,

I lost whatever little I had.
But
then I saw that God had left Rs 1000/= under the sugar pot.

I can't tell you Sahib what that money was worth that day.

God exists Sahib. He does."

The faith in his eyes were unflinching.

Fifteen pairs of eyes met the eyes of the officer and read the order in his eyes clear and unambiguous, "Keep quiet".

The officer got up and paid the bill.

He hugged the old man and said, "Yes Baba, I know God does exist.

And yes,

the tea was wonderful."

The 15 pairs of eyes did not miss to notice the moisture building up in the eyes of their officer, a rare sight.

The truth is

"YOU" can be GOD to anyone.🙏

(shared by a soldier ...a true story in Kupwara Sector- J&K)

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(as received via WhatsApp)