Kaka Halwai Sweet Center

The shop is right on the 100 Feet Road in Sadashiv Peth, number 2039. It stays pretty busy because of the location, so there's always someone coming in for a box of something sweet. In the back, the large milk vats are usually steaming by six in the morning. It gets quite hot near the stoves, especially in the summer months when we have to make extra batches. The glass displays in the front get fingerprints on them almost as soon as I wipe them clean. We have stacks of cardboard boxes tucked into the corners ready for the evening rush when people stop by on their way back from work. The street outside is always noisy with horns and people walking, but inside it’s mostly just the sound of the fridge humming and the metal spatulas hitting the pans. Some days are slower than others, which gives us time to reorganize the shelves or sweep the back area properly. We don't have a lot of space for people to hang around, so they usually just grab their packets and head out. The floor tiles are a bit worn down in front of the main counter from all the footsteps over the years. It’s a simple setup, nothing too modern, just the scales and the trays and the lights that sometimes flicker if the power acts up. We just keep things moving and make sure the trays stay full.