Manish Misthan Bhandar

Manish Misthan Bhandar is located over by Sunderwas Glass Factory 6. Being near the factory means we see a lot of workers coming in for their morning tea or a quick sweet during their break. We wake up early to get the milk boiling in the big vats. It takes a long time to thicken it up for the mawa. The shop isn't much to look at from the outside, just a regular storefront with glass cases. We keep the pedas and barfis lined up in rows. Sometimes the flies get annoying, so we have to keep shooing them away from the displays. It’s a bit of a struggle in the heat, especially when the fans are just blowing hot air around. We’ve had the same staff for years, so we all know what to do without talking much. My hands are usually covered in flour or sugar syrup by midday. We don't have any fancy signs or advertisements. People just know we are here because of the smell of the frying ghee. It’s an honest way to spend the day. In the evenings, families come by to get boxes for guests. We just pack them up in the blue cardboard boxes and tie them with a bit of string. It’s been the same routine for as long as I can remember. We just focus on the sweets and the customers who walk through the door.