Monginis

This shop is in Andheri West, specifically at Laheripura C 15. It’s a corner of the city that stays active from early morning until very late. We usually start the day by opening up the crates that the delivery truck drops off at dawn. There are always cakes, pastries, and savory snacks that need to be carefully arranged in the glass display cases. We spend a lot of time wiping the fingerprints off the glass because children are always pointing at what they want. The shop isn't very large, so we have to be organized with how we stack the boxes behind the counter. We’ve got a small fan that we keep behind us to stay cool, but it doesn't do much when the sun hits the front of the shop. Most of the regulars come in for a quick snack while they’re waiting for a rickshaw or walking home from work. We handle a lot of cash and small change, so we’re always counting out coins. Sometimes we have to stay late to finish a special order for a party that someone forgot to pick up. It’s not a glamorous job, but we like the routine of it. We just keep the shelves full and the floor swept as best as we can. It’s a straightforward business here in Andheri, and we’ve been here long enough to know most of the faces.