Bed-bound and contemplating the end of her life earlier this year, Zeba Khan never imagined she would open a bubble tea shop in Reading on Monday.

The 38-year-old mum-of-two suffered a head injury in 2021 which left her unable to walk for ten months and her recovery was uncertain.

But with the support of her family, she is back on her feet and opened Reading’s first franchise of Tea 4 U in Chain Street with her husband Naseeb.

“I’m very happy. I didn’t believe that this could actually, really happen. Because it was such a nightmare for me, lying on my bed just wondering how the world looked outside. That was so scary for me.

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“I didn’t want to live anymore, but he [Naseeb] was the one that always used to tell me you have to come back, we are waiting for you.”

“After coming back from my bed, I still can’t believe that I am literally walking and I’m seeing the sky."

Reading Chronicle: Naseeb and Zeba Khan stand at the entrance of their new Tea 4 U franchise in Chain Street, ReadingNaseeb and Zeba Khan stand at the entrance of their new Tea 4 U franchise in Chain Street, Reading

The couple, from Hounslow, worked together in the cargo department at Heathrow Airport until Zeba’s accident last summer.

Everything turned upside down, said Naseeb. He quit his job to care for Zeba and their children while she tried to recover physically and battle depression.

“Once she started recovering, we decided God has given us an opportunity to start something of our own,” Naseeb said.

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“We found this and it seems to be a very good trend, people seem to like bubble tea. We wanted to go for something new and trending and it sounded like a very good idea.”

Customers seem to think so too, with the couple’s range of fruit teas, milk teas, smoothies and milkshakes proving a welcome respite from the heatwave.

“I think for new store we’ve done quite good, we’ve had quite a few customers coming in. It’s been nice – I wasn’t expecting so much,” said Naseeb.

“The people are very nice, much nicer than London,” he laughed.

All their products are imported from Taiwan and they make new batches of tea every four hours to make sure their fresh.

“The fruit teas are really refreshing, the milk teas you can have cold now or warm in the winter, it’s something different – it’s not what you see every day."

Zeba said her favourite flavour was Lychee and Naseeb recommended the strawberry milkshake, but there are so many variations that residents will find something for everyone.

From pearl mint tea to lattes, from aloe smoothies to fruit teas in mango, passionfruit or strawberry flavours.

The pair are excited to launch the sought-after caramel Pearl mint tea on Monday, but for now Zeba is focussing on enjoying her first week back at work.

“I want to give motivation to people that even if anything bad happens we should not lose our hope.”