Sunshine Foods

Being in Lucknow means there is food on every corner, so we just try to do our part in this big city. We aren’t some huge factory; it’s just a decent-sized kitchen where we get things done. The day usually starts before the sun is even up. We have to get to the market early to pick out the best produce before the crowds arrive. If you’re late, you’re stuck with the leftovers. Our space is pretty basic. We have a few big tables for prep and the stoves are almost always on. The walls have some stains from years of cooking, and the exhaust fan makes a lot of noise. We mostly focus on making meals for people who don’t have time to cook at home. It’s a lot of routine work—chopping, stirring, and packing boxes. My brother handles the deliveries on his old scooter. Sometimes the traffic is so bad he gets delayed, which is frustrating, but that’s just life here. We don’t have any fancy marketing. People know us from word of mouth. We just keep our heads down and keep the orders moving. It’s hard work and your back hurts by the end of the shift, but it’s what we know how to do. We just hope the food tastes like a regular home-cooked meal for whoever eats it. It is not always easy, but we manage to keep the stoves burning every day.