Spices

If you walk down Jakasandra Mariappa Road, you’ll find us at 71/1G. We call the place Spices. It isn't a very large shop, but we have stuffed a lot into the space we have. The shelves are full and we try to keep them organized, though things often get moved around during the day. We spend a lot of time weighing things out and putting them into small bags. The air inside always smells like ground pepper and cumin, which stays in your clothes even after you go home. We have a heavy wooden counter that has been here since the beginning. Most of our customers live right here in the neighborhood and they know us by name. We see the kids walking to school and the older folks going for their morning walks. Sometimes the rain leaks a little near the front door, so we keep a bucket handy just in case. We have a small cat that hangs around the back door, and we usually give it some scraps when the day is done. It’s not a fancy business, just a place where people buy what they need for their kitchens. We sweep the front step every morning because the road kicks up a lot of grit. My hands are usually stained from the turmeric or the chili powder, but that's just how it goes. We don't have a big staff, just a couple of us who know where everything is kept on the high shelves.