Gen Z Girl Reveals Chaiwala Got Offended When She Called Him ‘Uncle’; Netizens Relate & Say ‘Not Even Bhai, Call Him Dost Or Boss’
A recent Reddit post by user ‘SomethingAndAnything’ has sparked an engaging discussion on how to address a tea seller in India. What do you call them? “Bhai, ek chai dena (Brother, give one tea)” is one of the common ways.
However, the 22-year-old Reddit user shared her experience in the r/indiasocial subreddit, stating that she used to call shopkeepers “Bhaiya” (brother) or “Uncle” based on their age. A recent interaction left her in an awkward situation after a chaiwala got offended when she referred to him as ‘Uncle,’ pointing out that he was only 36 and didn’t want to be called that.
Take a look at the Reddit post
“It used to be so easy when I was a kid, it was either Bhaiya or Uncle, depending on how old I thought they were. But now? Half the workers are either my age or younger than me, not to mention that a guy got offended cuz I called him Uncle”, she wrote, narrating her problem and seeking advice from fellow Redditors. The post quickly gained traction, amassing over 135 comments from netizens who found the matter quite relatable.
Netizens react to viral post
One user had a simple solution: “Just call them BHAI or BOSS.” The original poster (OP) responded, “Boss, huh? That’s a good suggestion, will take some getting used to”.
“You can call him dost”
Another user suggested, “You can call him dost or yaar”, implying a more casual and friendly approach. Others had an even more practical take on the Gen Z tea lover’s query. They asked her to just say “Ek chai dena”—nothing else needed.
Adding a touch of sophistication, one Reddit user believed “The only proper solution is to address everyone as ‘Janab.’ People will think you are very cultured and sophisticated”.
