Sweet Junction

If you’re walking down Alandi Road in Kothrud, you’ll probably see our sign at number 4. It’s Sweet Junction, though most people just call it the shop on the corner. I spend most of my day behind the counter, weighing out pieces of barfi and chatting with the neighbors. Kothrud is always moving, so there’s always someone popping in for a quick snack. We don't have a huge kitchen, so we have to be smart about what we make each day. The smell of frying oil usually fills the air by mid-morning, which helps bring people in, I guess. We use a lot of sugar and nuts, and I’m always tripping over sacks of flour in the storage area. It’s not the most organized place, but we know where everything is. The Alandi Road traffic can be a nightmare during rush hour, but it means we get a lot of commuters. I remember when this whole area was much quieter. Now, it’s all cars and bikes. We try to get the laddoos rolled before the afternoon heat kicks in because it’s hard to work when it’s too hot. Sometimes the power goes out, and we have to use flashlights to see what we're doing. It’s just a normal shop run by normal people. We do the best we can with what we’ve got. It’s a long day, usually starting before the sun is up and ending well after dark.