Maheshwar Dairy & Sweets

You can find Maheshwar Dairy & Sweets on Althan Wakad Road, right at number 9. It’s a straightforward shop where we sell milk, yogurt, and a variety of Indian sweets. The morning starts with the rattle of milk crates being unloaded. I usually have a cup of tea while I wait for the first customers to arrive. Althan is growing fast, so we see a lot of new faces along with the regulars who have lived here forever. We keep the paneer fresh and the curd thick. The sweets are made in batches throughout the week. My favorite is the gulab jamun when they are still warm in the syrup. We don't have fancy lights or air conditioning that works all the time. It’s just a functional space for the neighborhood to get their essentials. The sidewalk out front is a bit cracked, so you have to watch your step coming in. I spend a lot of time checking the expiration dates and making sure the fridge is at the right temperature. Sometimes a kid will come in with a few coins for a single piece of chocolate, and that reminds me of when I was little. We aren't trying to be the biggest store in town. We just want to make sure the milk is cold and the sweets are fresh for the people living nearby. It’s a steady routine that keeps us going from dawn till dusk every single day, and we wouldn't have it any other way.