Sumul Parlour

I’ve been running this spot on Varachha Road for a while now. It’s right near Karelibaug 5, so there is always people moving around the area. Most mornings start pretty early because that is when the milk truck comes by to drop off the crates. I spend a lot of time just moving those crates around and making sure the fridge is actually staying cold. Sometimes the power flickers, which is a big headache for someone selling dairy, but you get used to the quirks of the building. The shop isn't big at all. There’s barely enough room for three people to stand inside at once if they have bags or umbrellas. I usually keep a small wooden stool outside by the door for when my legs get tired in the afternoon. The street gets dusty when the wind picks up. I spend a good chunk of my day just wiping down the glass counters so people can see what is inside. Most of the folks who come in are the same faces I see every single day. There is one old man who comes by every day at 4 PM for his buttermilk. If he’s even five minutes late, I start wondering where he is. That’s just how it is here. You get to know everyone’s routine. Sometimes the kids from the nearby school come in and make a lot of noise. It gets loud for ten minutes and then it’s quiet again. I don't really mind the noise. It keeps the day moving along.