Laddi Kariyana Store

Started early today at Shop No. 4 on Majitha Road. The sun wasn't even up properly when the milk crates arrived. This shop is right near Sukhmani Hospital, so we see all sorts of people walking by at odd hours. Some look tired, others are just heading to work. We keep the basic stuff people need every day like pulses, spices, and soaps. It gets crowded in the evenings when the locals come back from their jobs. Sometimes the fans don't work well enough when the shop is full. It’s just how it is. My father used to say that a shop is like a second home, and it feels that way because I spend more time here than at my actual house. We stack the rice bags in the corner to keep the floor clear. The register sometimes gets stuck but I know how to fix it with a little tap. It's not a big fancy place. Just a regular karyana store where you can get your kitchen staples without any fuss. I try to keep everything organized, but by Tuesday, the biscuits always end up mixed with the tea boxes. Nobody seems to mind though. We talk about the weather or the traffic while I weigh the flour. It’s a simple life behind this counter in Amritsar. I’ve lived here for thirty years and the street has changed, but the shop stays pretty much the same. Just the items on the shelf change their prices once in a while.