Shambhu Masale

We have been here in Sector 10, Vashi for a while now. Most days start early because there is always something to clean or move around in the shop at Jn 2/44/B-5. Dealing with spices isn't easy work, especially when the fans are on and the dust gets everywhere, but it's what we do. My hands usually smell like turmeric or chili by noon, and sometimes that smell stays even after I get home. People come in looking for specific things they can't find at the bigger markets. We don't have fancy lights or big signs. It is just a small place where we handle our masales and try to keep things moving. Sometimes the neighbors stop by just to talk for a few minutes while we weigh things out. The bags can get heavy when a new shipment arrives at the door. Vashi is busy, and we are just one part of this block. We focus on getting the grinding done right so the powders aren't too coarse. It gets loud when the machines are running, so we have to shout a bit to hear each other. If you walk past the B-5 building, you can usually tell we are there by the smell of the roasted ingredients. It is a simple setup, really. No big office or anything like that. Just the counter, the scales, and the sacks of raw spices waiting to be sorted through. We just keep at it every day.