Hare Krishna Mumbai Nukkad

If you find yourself in Andheri West near 49/B, you will see our small place. It is called Hare Krishna Mumbai Nukkad. We started it because we wanted something to do and we knew how to cook a few things well enough. The kitchen is cramped, especially when three of us are back there trying to get orders out at the same time. There is a specific smell of spices that stays in your clothes long after you leave. We spend a lot of time chopping vegetables in the morning while the city is still waking up. The neighbors sometimes complain about the noise of the shutters going up too early. The menu is written on a board that we have to wipe down every few days because the chalk gets blurry. We don't have fancy chairs, just some plastic ones that stack up in the corner at night. Sometimes the water tap leaks a bit so we keep a bucket under it. It’s just how things are. People come in, eat their food, and talk about their day. We listen to the radio a lot. The reception isn't great but we like the old songs. It feels like a normal part of the neighborhood. Nothing more, nothing less. We are usually here until the lights on the main road start flickering and it is time to head home ourselves.