I I M M Collage Cafeteria , Tathawade , Pune

I start my day early in Navi Peth, Pandharpur, even though the cafeteria is connected to the college in Tathawade. It’s quite a distance between the two places if you think about it. Shiv Krupa is where I’m based out of when I’m not at the counter serving students. The cafeteria life is loud. There is always someone asking for tea or a snack between their classes. I spend a lot of time worrying about the grocery list and if we have enough milk for the afternoon rush. It gets very hot in the kitchen during the summer months. Students are always in a hurry. They come in groups, talking about their exams or whatever is happening on campus. I’ve known some of them since they were in their first year. Pandharpur is a different pace compared to the busy college atmosphere in Pune. I go back and forth. Sometimes the stove acts up or the fridge makes a funny noise, and I have to fix it myself. It’s not a big corporate food court. It’s just me and a few helpers trying to get the food out on time. We don't have a printed menu that stays the same. Whatever is fresh that day is what we make. It's hard work on your feet all day, but seeing the kids eat well is alright. We have been running things this way for a long time and the routine just keeps us going day after day.