Ballab Sanchi Parlour

Running this little milk parlour at Shop No 5 in Arera Hills keeps us pretty busy from the early hours. The 11 Bus Stop is right nearby, so there is a constant stream of people coming and going. Most folks are just looking for a quick packet of milk or some curd before they head to work or catch their bus. The refrigerators make a steady humming sound that I’ve gotten used to over the years. Bhopal can get quite hot, so making sure the cooling stays consistent is one of the main things I worry about during the day. We get our crates delivered early when the air is still a bit cool. I spend some time stacking the butter and cheese packets so the labels are showing. It is not a big place, just a simple counter and some shelf space for the other dairy items we carry. Sometimes the school kids stop by for a lassi or ice cream in the afternoon, and the shop gets a bit crowded for a while. We know a lot of the regulars who live around here; they don't even have to say what they want anymore because it’s the same order every morning. I usually keep a cloth handy to wipe down the spills because things can get sticky with the milk packets. It’s a straightforward job, really. We just stay here until the last of the evening stock is gone and then shut things down for the night and head back home.