Bhoomi Namkeen

If you’ve ever been to Khari Baoli, you know how crazy the traffic and the crowds get, especially near Kuncha Shiv Mandir. Our shop, Bhoomi Namkeen, is tucked away in Batasha Gali at number 6292. It is always smelling like fried snacks and spices around here because that is just what we do all day long. We spend a lot of time weighing out bags of sev, mixture, and different types of dal for people who come in. Some people buy just a little for tea time, and others take big bags for shops elsewhere. It’s a narrow lane, so it’s always loud with carts passing by and people shouting to get through. We don’t have any big signs or anything, just the rows of glass jars and plastic bags filled with snacks. We get here early to open up because the market starts moving before the sun is even fully up. It’s dusty and busy, but we like the energy of the Gali. The floor is usually a bit messy with salt and crumbs by the end of the shift, but we clean it up and start over the next day. It’s just how it goes in this part of Delhi. You meet all kinds of people here, from everywhere, just looking for something salty to eat. It is a lot of work but it keeps us busy.