Raj Soda

You can find Raj Soda right at the Vokla Katha Chowk on the Main Road. It is a very busy spot because so many different roads meet right here. There is always a lot of dust in the air from the traffic. The noise of the buses and scooters never really stops. We have a small shopfront that opens right onto the sidewalk. It’s not very big. We have to be clever about how we store our bottles and the CO2 tanks. Most of the day is spent serving people who are just passing through and need a quick break from the heat. We have a few wooden benches where people can sit for a minute. They are usually full, though. The walls are a bit stained from years of use. The floor is a bit uneven, but it serves its purpose. We keep the soda machines running all day long. Sometimes the CO2 runs low. We have to swap the tanks in a hurry while customers are waiting. It’s just me and a couple of family members running the place most of the time. We don't have any fancy marketing or big signs. It is just the name of the shop above the door. It’s a simple life, being at the chowk every day. We see the same faces every morning and evening. It’s just a regular local business. We don’t try to be anything else. We just work and live here.