Cast your vote and grab a cup of tea.

Don't worry you have earned the cuppa, according to tea vendor Shashi, who distributed around 600 cups on V-Day to those who pressed the button on Wednesday.

Tea vendor Shashi, who lives with his family at New Bypass area in Patna, opened his stall near Kargil Chowk at 2pm on Wednesday after casting his vote.

However, he offered the charity of free tea to customers who, too, had cast their votes and could show proof of the indelible ink. Only inked fingers could hold his free tea. Others paid Rs 6 for each cup.

"Trust me, this (tea charity) is not coming from any political party or the district administration," said Shashi, who has been running the 40-year stall, after his father Vijay Prasad passed away.

Shashi has been managing the stall for the past 20 years.

"Today, I am not taking any money from voters for the tea. They just have to show me the ink on their fingers as a proof that they have voted. And I will give them a cup of tea for free," said the 35-year-old vendor.

By 5pm on Wednesday, Shashi had distributed around 300 cups. "My shop would remain open till 9pm and I hope to give away more than 600 cups by then," Shashi said.

Justifying his gesture Shashi said he believes those who voted earned his tea because very few people take the pain of stepping out of the comfort of their homes and vote.

"I might be a tea seller but I know voting is important because it affects our lives. On normal days, I open by shop by 10am but on Wednesday, I first voted and then opened the shop," he said.

His younger brother, Sunny Kumar, who is also his helper at the stall was seen checking the ink marks of the customers and then signalling his sibling to serve the tea.

"The tea is definitely not free for those who didn't vote," said the vendor, who happens to be a high-school dropout.

Ravi Singh, one of his customers, who had earned a free cuppa because he had exercised his democratic right, said: "Giving away 600 to 700 cups of tea for free was a warm gesture. I think he tried to send across a message how important voting is."