Irfan Kirana

Our little shop is tucked away in Silk Mill Colony, which is not too far from Abrar Colony. It is on the Station Road side of the city here in Aurangabad. I think of this place more as a neighborhood meeting spot than anything else. People from the nearby houses come here because they do not want to go all the way to the big market for just one or two things. We keep a variety of items like soap, washing powder, lentils, and several different types of rice. The shop is not very large, so we have to use every inch of space we have, even stacking boxes high up toward the ceiling. Sometimes it is a bit of a struggle to reach the top shelf even with the ladder. I usually spend my mornings talking to the delivery drivers and checking that the prices have not changed too much. The afternoon is usually the quietest time, so I might catch a bit of a nap in my chair or read the local paper. Then things pick up again in the evening when everyone is heading home from their jobs. The kids from Abrar Colony often come by for sweets or small toys after their play. We have had this shop for a good amount of time and we know the local gossip and what is happening on our street. It is a simple life, just weighing things out and chatting.