Ramlubhaya Janak Raj Karyana Store

Our shop is over in Putlighar on Cemetry Road, right near the Gwal Mandi Chownk. It's called Ramlubhaya Janak Raj Karyana Store, which is a bit of a mouthful, but people just know us as the local karyana place in the Main Bazaar. We have been working out of this same building in Amritsar for years. The walls are lined with wooden racks that go all the way to the ceiling. I usually have to use a small ladder to reach the things at the top, like the big tins of ghee or the extra stock of cleaning supplies. The air smells like a mix of raw sugar and laundry detergent. We don't really have a system that looks organized to an outsider, but we know where everything is hidden. The front of the store is always a bit cluttered with the newest arrivals. We spend a lot of time just sweeping the floor because of all the foot traffic. It’s a local place, so we end up hearing all the news about the neighborhood while we weigh out lentils. There isn't much space to sit down, so we are on our feet most of the time. We aren't trying to be the biggest shop around, just a place that has what you need when you run out of something at home. It's a simple life.