Cutting Chaii

The shop is right here on Futala Road in the Telangkhadi area of Nagpur. It’s not one of those fancy places you see in malls or newer parts of the city. We just have some basic benches and the stove where the tea stays hot all day long. Nagpur gets really hot, as everyone knows, so during the summer afternoons it stays pretty quiet around here. We usually just sit there under the fan and wait for the sun to go down a bit. Once the evening starts and people begin walking by the lake, things pick up. We keep the ginger and the cardamom ready because most of the regulars want that strong taste in their tea. Sometimes the milk guy comes late and we have to tell people to wait a few minutes, which is just part of the day. The glass cups get washed in the back and we try to keep the place as clean as we can. There is always a lot of noise from the bikes and cars on the road outside. Inside, it’s mostly just the sound of the tea pouring and people talking about their day. We’ve been at this address for a long time now so many neighbors just drop by to say hello even if they aren’t buying anything. It’s a simple life, just making Cutting Chaii and listening to whatever is happening in the city. We don't have any big signs, just the smell of tea in the air.