Ummed Sweet Mart

People always come to Shivaji Nagar Industrial Area Phase Ll for work, and that is where we are. Our shop is not very big, but we have been here for a long time. Every morning starts early, around six, when the milk arrives in big cans. We spend most of the day standing near the large iron pans. It gets hot in the back, especially when the burners are on full. The floor is often a bit sticky because of the sugar syrup, even though we try to sweep it twice a day. Workers from the nearby factories stop by during their lunch breaks or after their shifts are over. They usually want something quick, like a samosa or a few pieces of jalebi. We keep the sweets in glass cases, and sometimes the glass gets foggy. My brother handles the cash while I stay in the kitchen. We don't have fancy chairs, just a couple of stools outside on the pavement. People stand there, talking about their day or their supervisors. Sometimes the traffic on the main road is so loud we have to shout to hear the orders. We don't do anything special, just make the same items every day. The shelves are filled with plastic containers of sev and chiwda. When it rains, the water drips off the tin roof and people huddle under our small awning. It’s a busy life here in the industrial area.