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It was optics as much as substance as Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged President Barack Obama in his trademark 'chai pe charcha' (conversation over tea) this afternoon and personally pouring the tea for his guest on the lawns of Hyderabad House.
In the midst of serious discussions over nuclear deal and other issues, the two leaders went for a brief walk at the sprawling Hyderabad House lawns before settling in a special enclosure where they continued one-on-one talks over tea, reflecting the bonhomie between them.
As they settled in their sofas, Modi poured tea for his guest in a cup and handed it to him.
"Prime Minister Modi, thank you for hosting me, including our 'chai pe charcha'. We need more of those in the White House. But even as this visit is rich with symbolism, we made substantive progress," the US President said during his joint media interaction with Prime Minister Modi.
During the April-May 2014 Lok Sabha elections campaign, Modi's 'chai pe charcha' aimed at connecting with the electorate over a cup of tea had become a hit.
