India, July 19 -- Several years ago, it all started in the head of feisty Harleen Sona, a Ludhiana-based writer, dress designer, and yoga expert, to curate a book for the love of tea and the prominent role it plays in the lives of Punjabis. Since the seed of this idea was sown in the Ludhianvi soil, there was no way the tea-table book could go to the printing press without reflecting Ludhiana's essence. So while other contributions poured in, it was not until the happy day of January 17, 2022, that two poems came from Surjit Patar, the much-loved poet of Punjab. Interestingly, it was the only time he wrote about tea. Once the idea took shape, Sona was able to find many fellow tea enthusiasts, who joined her in realising her dream. Together, they created a charming collection, Chahkhana - presented in Punjabi, Hindi, and English. Its cover features the image of a Chinese girl inhaling intoxicating aroma from a delicate bone china cup. For his part, Patar took time to craft his contribution - two evocative poems about intimate tea sessions. One of them draws on his memories of university days in Patiala, where he often shared endless cups of tea and profound conversations with Prof Hardiljit Singh Sidhu, fondly known as Laali Baba, the savant. Patar paints a vivid picture of those intellectual tea-time exchanges: "Laali Baba started his discourse with tea. Poet, are you aware the tea leaves are eyelids of a sleepy Buddhist monk, and the tea bush has outgrown, out of these very membranes?" Beginning with the philosophical musings of the beloved poet Surjit Patar, the book unfolds into a rich tapestry of tea tales penned by celebrated Punjabi writers such as Parminder Sodhi, Des Raj Kali, Rohit Singh, Ajmer Rode, Manmohan, Amiya Kanwar, Sandeep Sharma, and others. Accompanied by evocative paintings and photographs, the book has been lovingly designed, reflecting the same warmth and thoughtfulness that tea inspires. The translations, too, have been rendered with care as Nalini Priyadarshni has brought the essence into English, while Anupreet Kular, Komaldeep Kaur and Harleen Sona have crafted soulful versions in Hindi and Punjabi. After years of dedication, Chahkhana - a true labour of love, self-published with considerable expense, richly illustrated, and undeniably a work of art - is finally out. And in the end, one can only echo the line from a popular Punjabi folk song: Tusi Ki Piyoge: Ik Cup Chah?...