Tanisha Singh is getting ready for work early one morning and cooking a simple curry for her lunchbox when she realises she's out of tomatoes. Onions are already frying in the pan. Going out to buy vegetables is not an option, as local vegetable vendors won't be open. So Tanisha picks up her phone. On a quick-delivery app, tomatoes are available. Eight minutes later, the doorbell rings. The tomatoes have arrived. What might feel remarkable in some parts of the world has become commonplace in Delhi and other big Indian cities. Groceries, books, soft drinks and even the occasional iPhone can now be delivered to people's doorsteps in minutes. It's a convenience many don't strictly need, yet have quickly grown used to. Unlike traditional retailers, platforms such as Blinkit, Swiggy, Instamart and Zepto don't deliver from large supermarkets or distant warehouses. Instead, they operate out of small storage units embedded deep inside residential neighbourhoods. Known as 'dark stores', these facilities are typically located just a few kilometres from customers, allowing delivery riders to reach homes in minutes. Think of them as a mini version of Costco - packed with essentials, but designed purely for speed. And because customers never walk into these spaces, everything inside is arranged for fast picking rather than browsing. To see how this works, the BBC visited one such dark store in north-west Delhi. Inside, goods are stacked neatly on racks - with vegetables in one section, freezer units in another corner, and shelves stuffed with crisps, fizzy drinks and even pet food. The aisles are so narrow only the workers can weave through them, moving fast and rarely bumping into each other. The moment an order pops up on the screen, workers jump into action - picking, scanning, and packing items into the trademark brown paper bags with such speed it almost feels robotic. 'Done in under a minute,' store manager Sagar says proudly. Delivery riders walk up to the counter, almost in tune with the packers. Packing and pickup happen almost simultaneously - every step planned to reduce the time taken, even by seconds. Delivery driver Muhammad Faiyaz Alam is 26. He collects a brown bag and agrees to let us join him for the ride. The destination is 2.2km (1.4 miles) away, about six minutes, according to the digital map. However, there are challenges on the route, and Alam must rely on landmarks to find his final destination, as proper addresses are often unavailable. Despite the quick pace of deliveries, many gig workers like Alam face challenges including fluctuating incomes and a lack of benefits. As the demand continues to increase, so does the pressure on workers to perform at high speeds, raising concerns about their safety and well-being amidst the growing gig economy. Nevertheless, for consumers in India's bustling cities, the shift towards quick commerce has almost become a daily habit, reflecting an evolving landscape in retail.