M D Masala

M D Masala is based out of the Lebar Colony in Shivaji Nagar. It’s a working-class neighborhood, and we fit right in. Our shop is simple, just some shelves and a place to weigh the masala. We spend most of our time mixing and bagging the powders. It’s not the cleanest job in the world because the spice dust gets everywhere, even in your clothes. We don't have a fancy showroom. Most people just come to the door and ask for what they need. We’ve been here since the colony was much smaller. Now there are more houses, but our routine is still the same. We wake up, open the bags, and start the day. Sometimes the scale needs a bit of adjusting, or the ceiling fan makes a clicking sound that drives us crazy. We don't use any high-tech systems. Everything is written down in a notebook with a pen that barely works. It’s just us trying to make a living. We don't claim to be the biggest or the best. We just provide masalas to the families around Shivaji Nagar. If the weather is humid, the spices clump up a bit, and we have to work harder to keep them dry. It’s just a regular local business with regular people working in it. No bells or whistles here, just the daily grind of the spice trade.