Laxmi Bhel Centre

Kothrud is always moving, and being here at the 8th Cross near st thomas Church Road, we see a lot of it. Laxmi Bhel Centre is right in Kanak Nagar, which is a busy little pocket of the neighborhood. We spend most of our afternoons chopping up sacks of onions and coriander to get ready for the evening crowd. Bhel is one of those things that people just want when the sun starts going down, so we have to be ready with everything. The counter is stainless steel and we try to keep it shining, but between the spices and the water, it’s a lot of work. We have a few plastic stools for people to sit on, but most just stand around and talk while they eat. The kids from the nearby school usually come by in groups, making a lot of noise and leaving bits of paper everywhere. We’ve been at this spot for years, and the neighbors have become like family, stopping by just to say hello even if they aren't buying anything. Sometimes the rain leaks a little near the front entrance, so we have to put a bucket out, but it doesn't bother anyone much. It’s a messy, busy, and loud kind of job, but it feels right to be part of the street life here. By the time we close up, our hands smell like garlic and tamarind, and the streetlights are all on. It is a long day.