Manisha Amul Icecream Parlour

Down in Dhayari, I run Manisha Amul Icecream Parlour. It’s not a huge place, just enough room for a couple of big deep freezers and a counter. The freezers make a constant humming sound that I don't even notice anymore, except when the power goes out. Then it gets really quiet and I start worrying about the stock melting. I always keep some heavy blankets to cover the lids just in case the electricity takes too long to come back. During the summer, this place is packed with kids from the school down the road. They all lean against the glass and point at the different flavors. Their hands leave smudges everywhere, so I’m constantly wiping the glass clean. I also keep some basic Amul butter and cheese because people in the neighborhood always run out of those things at the last minute. The shop is painted a bright color, but it’s starting to flake near the floor. My wife helps me out in the evenings when the families come for dessert after their dinner. We have a small bench outside, but it only fits two people comfortably. Most people just stand around on the sidewalk eating their cones and talking. It’s a nice way to spend the evening, seeing everyone happy with a bit of something sweet. Dhayari is growing, but it still feels like a small village sometimes.