Sri Om Sakthi Masala Powders

Our place is at 633/42B in Kallukadaimedu. It’s a small shop where we grind all kinds of powders. The smell of chili is always in the air here. It gets into your clothes and your hair, but we don't mind it much anymore. We have a couple of old grinders that make a lot of noise throughout the afternoon. Sometimes they break down and we have to spend a few hours fixing the belts or cleaning the stones. It’s just part of the daily grind, literally. People from around Kallukadaimedu come by with their own bags sometimes. We just do the work and hand it back. It’s a dusty job, and we usually end the day covered in yellow or red powder. We don't have a fancy office or any desks. Just the machines and the space for the sacks of grain and spices. My sister helps with the weighing because she’s faster at it than I am. We’ve been at this same spot for years. The neighbors are used to the sound of our motors running. We don't try to be anything we aren't. It’s just a local masala business. We open the shutters in the morning and stay until the last bag is done. It’s hard work on the back, but it’s what we know how to do. Sometimes the power goes out and we just sit outside and wait until it comes back on.