Kirshan Kumar

Setting up our small place near the toll tax at Sanauli Khurd was not part of some big plan. It just happened because the location near Yamuna Poul seemed like a spot where people might need to stop. Being in Panipat means we deal with a lot of heat and dust, especially during the long summer months. My name is Kirshan Kumar and I run things here with a little help. I spend most of my day watching the heavy trucks and cars go through the toll. People usually stop because they are tired from driving and need a break. We do not have a large staff at all. It is mostly just a few of us doing everything. We try to keep the place as tidy as we can, but with the main road right outside, the dust always finds its way back in. We open up as soon as the sun starts to come up. The tea kettle is almost always on the stove. Some people are just looking for a cold bottle of water or a quick snack before they head back onto the road. It is a very practical location for us. There is not much to look at around here, but it serves a good purpose for the travelers. I have seen the toll area get much busier over the last few years. We do not use any modern machines for our work. It is just basic cooking and serving. We just keep going.