Deepak Sweets & Namkeen

The shutters go up early here at Bajrang Garh. It’s usually still a bit dark when we start. Deepak Sweets & Namkeen isn't anything big, just a spot where people stop by. Usually, the first thing is the milk delivery. We get that sorted and then the frying begins for the namkeen. The smell of oil and spices fills the place before most people are even awake. It’s a lot of work, honestly. My hands always smell like cardamom or fried flour. People from the neighborhood come in for their morning snacks. Sometimes they’re in a hurry, sometimes they want to chat. We just keep moving. The counters get wiped down a dozen times a day but dust always finds its way back. That’s just how it is in this part of town. By afternoon, the heat hits the shop pretty hard. We have a couple of fans going, but they mostly just move the warm air around. We spend a lot of time checking the trays. If something runs out, we make more. It’s not a complicated life. We see the same faces every day, which is nice. You get to know who likes what without them even asking. At night, we clean up, count the money, and lock up. It’s the same routine tomorrow. We don't change much because there isn't really a reason to. It works for us and it works for the people around Bajrang Garh. We’re just here doing our job.