Billa Vaishno Dhaba

Jammu Road is always full of trucks and cars going up north. We are situated in Barnoti, which is a small place in Jammu & Kashmir. Billa Vaishno Dhaba has been sitting on this stretch of road for a while. It’s a simple dhaba, nothing too special to look at from the outside. Being a Vaishno place means we don't handle any meat here, which is important for many of the people who stop by while they are traveling. The dust from the road gets everywhere, so we are always cleaning the tables and the floor. It is just me and a couple of others working the shifts. We see all kinds of travelers, some looking tired and others just wanting a quick bite before they move on. Barnoti is quiet most of the time except for the sound of the engines. We start early in the morning because that is when the first batch of travelers usually passes through. There isn't much to say about us other than we are here every day. We handle the cooking, the serving, and the washing up ourselves. Sometimes the power goes out and we have to manage with whatever we have. It’s a tough job being on the highway, but it’s what we do. We don’t have fancy menus or anything like that, just what is written on the board. Most people just want something hot and a place to sit for a few minutes.