Dharmraj Fresh Soda & Kothi Ice Cream

Our shop is right on Varachha Road Bandae Main 8, and it’s usually the busiest when the sun is high. Dharmraj Fresh Soda & Kothi Ice Cream is a name most of the locals here know. We have these old kothi machines for the ice cream that make a lot of noise when they are turning. It’s a rhythmic thumping sound that I’ve grown to like over the years. The soda machine hisses a lot too, especially when we are busy filling cups for the kids coming home from school. We don’t have fancy seating, just a few stools and some space to stand. The floor usually has a few drops of water on it from the ice, but we mop it up when we get a chance. My clothes usually have a few salt stains from the ice blocks we use. It’s messy work but it keeps everyone cool in this heat. We get all kinds of people here, from laborers looking for a quick cold drink to families coming by after dinner. We don't do much talking, just keep the glasses moving and the machines running. It’s a honest way to spend the day. The street outside is always crowded, but inside it’s just us doing what we’ve always done. We've replaced the parts on the machines a dozen times, but they still keep going.