Ganesh Bell & Pani Puri

This is our little stall on the New Link Road 1 in Kothrud. It isn’t much to look at, just a basic setup where we can serve people quickly. Most of our work happens in the late afternoon when the sun starts to go down and people are looking for a snack. We spend the morning hours boiling potatoes and mixing the spicy water. The smell of tamarind and mint is always around us. It’s a noisy spot because the road is always full of cars and bikes honking. We have to shout sometimes just to hear the orders. There’s no fancy seating here; people just stand around or lean against their scooters while they eat. We’ve been in Kothrud for a long time and have seen the area grow up around us. The pavement is a bit uneven, and we have to keep an eye on the weather because if it rains, everyone scatters. We don’t have a big menu, just the things we’ve been making for years. It’s a fast-paced environment where you have to be quick with your hands. We handle the cash and the food at the same time, which keeps us on our toes. It’s a simple life, being out here on the street, meeting all kinds of people every single day. We just keep the water cold and the snacks ready for the rush.