Radhika Masala

Our place, Radhika Masala, is right near the Dargah at Maharana Chowk in Bamroli, Surat. You do not even need a map to find us because the smell of the spices usually leads you right to the door. We spend our days grinding up chilies, coriander, and all sorts of other things. The air is always thick with a spicy dust that makes everyone sneeze when they first walk in. We wear scarves over our faces to try and stay comfortable. It is a noisy operation with the grinding machines running, and the floor is always a bit stained from the turmeric. Maharana Chowk is a very busy area, so there are always people shouting and horns honking outside. We have big bags of raw spices stacked up against the walls. We spend a lot of time weighing things out on old scales and putting them into smaller packets for people. It is tiring work and your hands end up smelling like cumin for days, no matter how much you wash them. We know the other shopkeepers around the Dargah quite well. We often share some snacks in the afternoon when things quiet down. It is a simple business, really. We just take the raw ingredients and turn them into something people can use in their kitchens. It is what we have always done. It is not fancy, but it keeps us going.