The iconic spice shop. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Many people might fondly talk of “Noorie” as a beloved Hindi musical from 1979. It is particularly remembered for the Lata Mangeshkar song “Aaja re o mere dilbar aaja”. Many others, especially those with a passion for haleem and aloo gosht, might talk of an altogether different “Noori” — spelt differently, but the pronunciation is the same. It is a spice shop in Old Delhi’s Chitli Qabar. Not a city secret, the masalas of this Purani Dilli landmark are used in many homes and establishments. But this is not a grocery where one can roam about the aisles. The shoppers are obliged to stand outside the store, right on the street.