Pardhan da dhaba

Pardhan da dhaba is located at spots 29 and 30 right by the Ludhiana Bus Stand. Being opposite the bus stand means there is never a quiet moment. There’s always the sound of horns and drivers shouting for passengers. We’ve been here for a long time, catering to travelers who just got off a long bus ride and need something heavy to eat. The floor is concrete, and the tables are metal. It’s built to last, not to look pretty. We start the tea early in the morning, way before the first buses start rolling. The kitchen is always going. We make big batches of dal and keep the rotis coming hot off the fire. It’s dusty out there, so we’re always wiping things down. Most people who come here are in a hurry. They want their food fast so they don’t miss their next connection. We don't have fancy menus with pictures. We just tell you what's ready. My cousins and I run the place. It’s hard work, standing on your feet all day in the heat and smoke. Sometimes the bus schedules change, and we have to adjust our timing. We don't offer anything special, just the usual dhaba food you’d expect in Ludhiana. It’s a simple life, focused on the stove and the people coming through the doors every hour. We don’t spend much on advertising because the bus stand brings enough people through our door anyway. We just hope the drivers don’t park right in front and block the view for everyone else on the street.