A mystery: WHAT was that luscious AROMA??

I stayed for about a week in a S. Texas motel.  The managers were from India.  One day, I entered the office, and the most marvellous aroma assaulted me!  Like a dumbell, I was too shy to ask about what they were cooking, and have been kicking myself about it to this day!

What is it that they might have been cooking?  I can't describe it, but it was a rich spicy aroma.  It may or may not have had curry in it, but it sure smelled like nothing I'd ever known before - but wanted to very much.

Any Indian-spice detectives out there?  I feel sure that if I can ever find the spice combination and cook something with it, I'll die of rapture.