Mahendra Sev Bhandar

Mahendra Sev Bhandar has been sitting on Arya Samaj Road in Rampura for as long as I can remember. It started with just one big kadhai and now we have a few more. We specialize in sev, obviously, but we do other snacks too. The road gets dusty, so we try to keep everything covered up behind the glass. It’s a busy part of town. You have to watch your step with all the bikes zooming past the front door. We spend most of our day weighing out bags of spicy mix for people to take home. Some people want it extra hot, others want it plain. We just grab whatever is in the bins. The floors get a bit oily by the end of the shift, no matter how much we sweep. It’s hard work, standing over the heat all day, especially in the summer months. But we’re used to it. My uncle still comes in to check the spices every morning. He says the younger guys don't have the nose for it yet. We don't bother with fancy packaging. Just plain plastic bags and a bit of string. It’s honest work. We know the neighbors and they know us. That’s the way Rampura is. Just people trying to get through the day with something tasty to eat and a little spice in their life.