As far as I know, the business was established in around 1919 and officially registered in 1932. It’ll be 100 years next year, I’m the fourth generation running it. Right now, we have 18 different types of sherbets. We prepare all of them here at the shop. They cure several ailments along with a fantastic taste

.I loved to paint, used to do that a lot when I was young. Then I started giving hobby classes here but with no brother and a father stressing over his successor for the business, I gave up the teaching and joined him at the shop. I’ve been here for eight years. You ask of the motivation, it’s just the stubbornness. It’s my stubbornness to keep this business alive, I wanted to show my father that he’s not alone and doesn’t need a son to run it, daughters are as capable of doing anything as any son is

You can’t imagine the pressure I’ve fought off to be still standing here. Everyone in the family and friends told me to shut the shop, get married and lead a normal life, like everyone else, but I can’t do that. This is what we have stood for from 100 years. I can’t let it evaporate in the air just like that. I used to live upstairs here, right above the shop but now I have moved to another place. I close the shop at 10 and take an auto rickshaw to get home. This city is not safe at all, I’m contemplating over whether to buy a car or a scooter

.I live by myself. I lost my parents and sister is married now. It’s not like I don’t break down. I feel low at times, but keeping this business alive is way bigger than that. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with living alone. I’ve faced a lot and will do in future but I will fight till the day I can, so that I can be an inspiration to today’s women who are made to think that they are any lesser than men

Artwork by – Ashima Raizada

Story by: Gurdeep Dhaliwal