Hira Misthan Sweets

We have been here at Nagpada 344 for a long time now. The street gets really busy around noon, and that is usually when most people come in. My father started this because he liked making traditional sweets, and I just sort of took over when I got older. It is not a very big place, just a simple shop with glass counters where we keep everything fresh. Sometimes the traffic outside is so loud we can barely hear what people are asking for, but we manage. Every morning we start early to get the milk boiling and the sugar ready. It is hard work standing on your feet all day, especially when the weather gets humid in Mumbai. We see the same faces every day, neighbors mostly, who just want something small for tea. We don't really do fancy stuff, just what we know how to make well. Some days are slow and we just sit and talk to the regulars who have been coming here since they were kids. It is funny seeing how much the neighborhood has changed around us while our shop stays pretty much the same. We just keep the lights on and the sweets ready for whoever walks in. There is always cleaning to do, wiping down the counters and making sure the floor isn't sticky from the syrup. It’s just what we do here in Nagpada. We are just a small part of this street and we like it that way.