“I’ve been working at Pehalwani Mithai Ghar for the past 28 years now. This sweet shop is more than a century old, and it’s been a landmark here on Chaar Kaman road, near Charminar. Our jalebis, samosas, malai ki rabdi, and namkeen are famous.

I came here from Rajasthan in 1996, looking for work. Back then, we used to pack our snacks in banana leaves, and now, we’ve switched to paper plates, but the taste has stayed the same. People always compliment the rabdi malai we make—it takes around six hours to get it just right.

This time of year, with Diwali around the corner, the old city area is more crowded than ever. There’s something special about Diwali in Hyderabad, the sweets become a part of people’s celebrations. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love what I do. The joy of seeing people leave the shop with bags full of sweets, ready to celebrate with their loved ones—there’s nothing quite like it.

Alright, sir, I should get back to work. Please take some jalebis home. I promise you’ll love them—they’re made with pure love, just like everything else here.”