Jai Shri Devnarayan Sweets

Nasirabad Hatundi Chouraha is a big crossing. There are always trucks and tractors passing through. Jai Shri Devnarayan Sweets sits right where all those roads meet. It’s a dusty place because of all the vehicles. We spend a lot of time with the duster, trying to keep the counters clean. We start work very early. The fire in the stove is the first thing we get going. It takes a while for the big pans to heat up. We make a lot of tea as well because the drivers want something hot to drink before they move on. The kitchen is always hot, no matter what time of year it is. We don’t have much space for sitting, just a couple of stools. Most people just stand and eat. It’s a functional place. We don’t have fancy signs or bright lights. Just the name of the shop and the sweets we have ready for the day. We go through a lot of sugar and milk every week. Sometimes the deliveries are late and we have to scramble to find what we need. It’s just the way it goes. The people who come here are usually working hard, so they want something that fills them up. We don't do much talking. It’s more about getting them served so they can get back on the road. At night, the chouraha finally gets a bit quiet, and that’s when we finish up the cleaning. It's our life.