Choudhary Canteen

Running Choudhary Canteen near the Yamuna Expressway in Khandoli, Agra, is a different kind of life. Being so close to the highway means we see a lot of faces we never see again. Travelers pull over because they are tired or hungry, and we just have basic tables and chairs set up for them. It’s not fancy at all. We mostly serve hot tea, some snacks, and simple meals that we cook in the kitchen at the back. The noise from the expressway is constant, just a low hum of trucks and cars passing by at high speeds. I started this place because people needed a spot to rest in Khandoli. We get up very early to start the stove and get the first pot of tea ready for the truck drivers who travel through the night. Sometimes the supply truck is late with the milk or the vegetables, and we have to manage with what we have. The walls could use a fresh coat of paint, and the floor gets muddy when it rains because people come in with dirty boots. We don't have a menu with fifty items, just a few things we make every day. My brother handles the cash while I stay near the stove. It’s a plain place for a quick bite before people get back on the road toward Agra or Delhi.