Cutting

Meaning: Before I came to Bombay from Bangalore, I’d use the word ‘cutting’ in reference to actually cutting an object, or maybe cutting a queue. But here, it’s used when you tell a tea-stall vendor, “Bhaiya, ek cutting dena.” People from all walks of life use this term here since everyone is always on the move, and chai is their way of taking a break. I’m not sure, but I am guessing the word comes from one cup of chai being split or ‘cut’ into two.

Aditi Ramesh is a musician