The Saffron Court

Up here in Sikka Trade Complex, things get moving early. Most people in New Rajdhani Enclave are already at work by the time we start getting the kitchen ready. It’s a lot of chopping vegetables and making sure the stoves are firing up properly. The air gets thick with the smell of spices pretty fast. We aren't trying to be a five-star hotel or anything like that. It’s just a place where you can sit down and get a meal without too much fuss. The tables are sturdy and we keep them wiped down, though during the lunch rush, it’s hard to keep up with the crumbs. We see the same office workers every single day. They usually have their favorite spot and get annoyed if someone else is sitting there. Our menus are a bit worn at the edges because so many hands have flipped through them. Sometimes the delivery bikes are lined up outside and the drivers are leaning on their horns, which we can hear through the glass. It’s loud and it’s messy sometimes, but the food goes out hot. We spend a lot of time cleaning the big pots at the end of the shift. By the time we close up, everyone is tired and ready to head home. It’s just honest work in a busy part of town. There is always something that needs fixing, like a wobbly chair or a leaky tap in the washroom.