The Tea Masters - By Aahana Suri

Written By: Aahana Suri

Category: essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In her thought-provoking essay, "The Tea Masters," Aahana Suri crafts a poignant tale set against the backdrop of the Partition of British India in 1947. Submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this essay delves into the heart-wrenching journey of a young boy named Iraan and the harmonium that witnesses his story. Through the lens of history, music, and familial bonds, Aahana Suri captures the essence of a time fraught with turmoil and loss.

About the Work

"The Tea Masters" beautifully intertwines themes of music, memory, and the harrowing effects of the Partition. The narrative evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and loss, conveyed through the vivid imagery of a harmonium that narrates the tale. Aahana Suri's literary style combines historical events with personal emotion, creating a powerful message about the enduring impact of cultural and familial dislocation.

The Tea Masters

Original Submission by Aahana Suri

Cacaphony, 1947, Modern day Pakistan

The train explodes.

Iraan squeezes my keys as he ducks against the flying debris playing a strident chord that stirred with the sound of spears creates a cacophony. He drops me to the ground, chipping off some of my exterior, a prominent part of the harmonium. I stare as this seven year old covers his ears and shuts his eyes so tightly, almost as if he wants to embed them forever. Around him men breathe in rancour to penetrate into each other's blood. Iraan flees away in any direction other than the violence of the Partition of British India.

As the sun rises I watch him curl up under the hay bales of this getaway cart, dreaming of home, a place that can only be entered by memory from now on.

The Tea Masters , 1943, Modern day Pakistan

The same musicians who will soon seize Iraan’s home enter our palace daily to play me for Iraan, who would start hopping from foot to foot as his laughing parents clapped . His parents were always able to conceal the ripples of political turbulence from him ,whispering in the music room about the Noakhali Riots or about the growing hatred between Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. A blend that even the best tea masters in South Asia could not stop from boiling in front of their son. As the years passed I watched his parents guide him to take over the tea business. His mother always saying, “ When the colour deepens you will know it’s ready. It’s the same with love, Iru .It is the same with love.”, to which the giggling boy would clumsily slurp his tea with his pinkie out. But the love between this family never deepened. The years were stolen away from them leaving a neglected palace whose pungent scent of sovereignty was violently ripped away. The wealth, looted by the same deceitful musicians who once played that musical poem ,the C minor ghazal, which years later would be played far away by Iraan’s son, Sabi.

Ghazal, 1968, India

When you haven’t been used for long ,you forget your purpose. I have been used like a showpiece, except that my pedestal is on the sidewalks of Kashmir, with an audience of sewage and Iraan, who now sits begging everyday since that long cart ride. His eminence and identity long forgotten and never to be claimed . Now he walks with weight, never acknowledging his children or smiling at the stray dogs. “Where is Iraan?”, I ask myself.

It seems we left him at the station that night.

Sabi was the first to play me again, playing those same well-known ghazals. Though I bellow as loudly as I can, Iraan never hears me.

When Sabi plays, the locals all hover around to listen, showering us with coins, as the sound travels through Kashmiri Valleys but not far enough to fall onto his father’s deaf ears. Not far enough to bring back this family’s history.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, invites writers from around the world to share their unique voices and stories. This prestigious event celebrates creativity and the power of written expression, providing a platform for diverse narratives and perspectives.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Aahana Suri for her evocative essay, "The Tea Masters." Her participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 brings to light a compelling story that resonates with historical depth and emotional truth.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.