"I stop for a pistachio kulfi before we get to
Mr. Sharma's chai stall and Nanu gets a big
steaming cup. He leans in, about to take a sip.
"STOP! THERE'S A FLY IN
YOUR CHAI!""
Nanu and his granddaughter are visiting the market where Nanu has many, many friends. Each merchant is honored with a greeting in their own dialect as the two move toward Mr. Sharma's chai stall. Nanu loves a big steaming cup. As he leans in to take a sip, his granddaughter shouts out a warning about a fly in his chai.
Despite encouragement, the fly is going nowhere. Onlookers each have a suggestion for getting rid of it. They also have opinions about why the fly is even there. Only then does the fly have a say, offering her name and the fact that her love for chai is very strong.
"I love the smell of cardamom.
I love to watch the steam rise.
I love the cozy way it makes me feel.
I love EVERYTHING about chai!"
Nanu shares his own love for chai and its many wonders. An argument ensues; the fly angrily returns to the cup of chai. Nanu is now also furious, and does what any sane person would do. He drinks it down in a huge gulp. Does that work? I wonder.
Bright bold colors offer a look at a traditional Indian bazaar with great characters and many items of interest. Final pages provide a pronunciation guide for the varied greetings, a glossary to explain any unfamiliar cultural words, and a recipe for Zenia's family chai recipe.
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