“I am Saraswati. I grew up in Lingapur, a small village in Medak district near Narsapur, where life moved with the seasons and agriculture was everything. My days began early, working the fields till dusk. But it is the kitchen I remember most, standing beside my grandmother as she taught me to make Telangana style pindi vantalu, snacks like sarva pindi, chakkalu, murukulu, and ariselu, each one carrying skill passed down hand to hand through generations of women.
Fifteen years ago, we left Medak for the city. We leased out our land, moved to Secunderabad, and started over. I worked odd jobs for years, but cooking stayed close to me. People who tasted my food kept telling me it was special, and that stayed with me.
Few years ago, Suguna, my sister-in-law and closest friend, and I decided to try something of our own. Together we set up a small stall at the entrance of Saket Colony. Neither of us was young when we started, and we had never run a business before. What we lacked in experience, we made up for in trust, built over years of cooking and working side by side. We prepare Chakkalu, murukulu, ariselu, and fresh jowar rotis and our special sarva pindi and bakshalu keep people coming back. Everything is fresh daily, and for bigger orders, customers let us know in advance.
My husband once worked our fields but had to stop due to health issues and my son now drives for a living. This stall lets me stand on my own two feet.
Running a business with your closest friend teaches you things village life never could. We argue over spice levels, cover for each other on tired days, and still show up together every evening. We have shared far more cups of tea at that little table than we have shared profits, and honestly that says more about our friendship than any account book could. If you ask us what we want next, it is not a bigger stall or more customers. We want to travel together someday, visiting temples across India, the way old friends should.”
Location: Saket Colony Entrance, Kapra
Contact: +91 95423 04957