Ganesh Mishthan Store

Being in Mahaveer Market means it's never really quiet. Ganesh Mishthan Store is right in the middle of all that Vijay Nagar noise. We start before the other shops open. There’s a lot of lifting heavy milk cans and stirring big pots. My back usually aches by noon, but you get used to it after a few years. We make sweets in batches. Some days the pedas come out better than others, though we try to keep things steady. It’s a small space, so we have to stay organized or we’d be tripping over each other. The floor gets sticky sometimes from the sugar syrup, no matter how much we scrub. People come in from the market with their shopping bags, looking for a break. We give them what they want and they move on. There isn't much room for sitting, so it's mostly over-the-counter stuff. We don't do anything fancy with the boxes, just the usual cardboard and paper. In the evenings, the lights in the market come on and it gets even busier. We just keep serving until the trays are empty or it's time to go home. It’s a regular job. Some people have been coming here since they were kids. Now they bring their own children. It makes you feel old, but it’s good to see. We just keep the stove going and do the daily work. It is what it is, and we like it.