Rakesh Chat Bhandar

If you walk down Turab Nagar and find Dhobi Vali Gali at number 54, that is where Rakesh Chat Bhandar is. It is a tight street, so things get crowded fast. We have been here for a while now, making chat for anyone who walks by. It is mostly locals who know us. The shop isn't big, but we make use of every inch we have. Usually, I am there by the stove early to get things prepped. My hands are always busy with potatoes or spices and the large pans. The smell of the food fills up the alleyway. Some days are so busy we barely have time to talk to each other. The neighbors sometimes complain about the crowd, but we try to keep people moving along. We use a lot of plates and spoons, so washing up is a never-ending job. It is a simple life in the market. We see kids coming after school and families in the evening. The street is always loud with people talking and scooters trying to get through the narrow path. We don't have any air conditioning, just a couple of wall fans that hum all day. It gets sweaty, but that is part of the work. We keep our ingredients in the back and just focus on what we are doing at the moment. Some people ask for more chutney and we just give it to them.