Raju Mirch Masala

Raju Mirch Masala is just our small setup here in Ward No-12. If you walk past Chappar Wali Masjid, you can probably smell the spice in the air before you even see the shop. We’ve been in Pinaka for quite a while now. Most days start early because that’s when the air is still cool and the machines aren't too loud yet for the neighbors. Kishanganj 2 is a busy place, but our corner stays pretty much the same. We spend a lot of time just cleaning the whole dried chillies and making sure the stems are off. It’s dusty work and sometimes your eyes burn if the wind blows the wrong way. My family has lived around here for years, so everyone knows where to find us if they need something for their kitchen. We don't have a big fancy office or anything like that. Just the floor where we work and the bags piled up against the walls. Sometimes people stop by just to chat while we are weighing out the packets. The mosque is a good landmark for people coming from further away who don't know the lanes well. It gets hot in the afternoons, so we usually take a break when the sun is highest. Then it's back to it until the light goes. It's a simple life, just grinding and packing, day after day. We just try to keep things moving and stay out of trouble in the ward.