Biryani Hotel

Being on the main road in Jamia Nagar means there is never a quiet moment. Biryani Hotel is situated right near the Axis bank ATM at 14/15. You can hear the motorcycles and horns all day long. We start by washing the rice in big plastic tubs. The water is cold in the winter and the steam from the pots feels good then. In the summer, it's a different story. The kitchen is like a furnace. We don't have a big fancy sign, just the name of the place. People find us because of the smell of the cloves and cardamom. We use the big metal ladles to scoop the rice out. If the rice isn't just right, we feel bad about it, but usually, it turns out okay. The ATM next door brings in a lot of people who are just passing through. They look tired and hungry. We give them a plate and they sit on the benches we have along the wall. The floor gets a bit dusty from the road, so we have to sweep every hour or so. We don't talk much while we work. There's too much to do. We just focus on the pots and the customers. When the sun goes down, the lights on the main road come on and the place feels different. It’s just a regular hotel for regular people passing through Jamia Nagar.