Manohar Dudhwale

Dhanakawadi is where we are located. Our day starts at four in the morning when the trucks bring the large metal cans. It is cold and quiet then. We have to pour the milk into smaller containers and get the packets ready for the people who come early. The floor is always wet because we are constantly washing the cans and the tiles. There is a specific smell of fresh milk and cleaning water that never really leaves the shop. We do not have any fancy decorations. There are just some refrigerators along the wall and a counter where we keep the change. Sometimes the power goes out and we have to worry about the temperature. We have a small bench outside where older men sit and talk while they wait for their milk. We sell some curd and paneer too, mostly kept in the back fridge. The bell on the door is broken, so we just watch for people walking in. Most customers have been coming here for years, so we know who wants half a liter and who needs two. We do not write much down; it is all in our heads. By the afternoon, we are mostly done and just waiting for the evening rush. It is a simple way to spend the day. The street outside is usually full of cows and scooters.