The Tea That Quietened the Noise

Zayd was rushing through another day, his phone buzzing with reminders and deadlines. He was used to this—crushing his to-do list, feeling like a champion every time he checked something off. Today, though, something felt off. As he passed by a hidden alleyway, a sign caught his eye: "Decisions Brew Here – Sukoon Wali Chai."

Without thinking, he turned into the alley. It wasn’t like him to take detours, but this one felt... necessary. The tea shop was tiny, almost invisible, but the warmth inside pulled him in. The air smelled of spices and something comforting, like a hug for the soul.

The shopkeeper, an older woman with kind eyes, handed him a steaming cup without a word. "You look like someone who’s great at ticking boxes," she finally said, smiling. "But tell me, when was the last time you made a decision that scared you?"

Zayd was taken aback. "I make decisions all day long," he replied, sipping the chai.

"Routine decisions, maybe," she nodded, "But what about the ones that matter? The ones that change things?"

He paused, letting her words sink in. She was right. Crossing off tasks was easy, familiar. But starting something new? That was different. His mind flashed to the project he had been putting off, the idea that stayed in his head but never made it to paper because… it felt risky.

"It’s easier to stay with what we know," the woman continued. "Tasks are comfortable because we’ve done them before. Initiatives—real decisions—they’re heavy because they come with uncertainty. They demand effort. Not the kind you can measure in time, but in courage."

Zayd looked into his cup, the tea swirling like thoughts in his mind. He realized how much energy he had spent avoiding the unknown, sticking to the safe paths. But now, sitting in this small shop, he felt a shift. Maybe decisions weren’t just about choosing left or right. Maybe they were about choosing to step into the fog, to explore what could be, not just what is.

"Take your time," the woman said softly. "Decisions like this don’t need to be rushed. But remember, they’re the ones that move you forward."

Zayd left the shop, the noise of the city greeting him again, but this time it felt different. The tasks, the deadlines—they could wait. Because now, he was ready to face the decisions that mattered. The ones that took real effort.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s where sukoon was hiding all along.