Balaji Bazar

Being right at Shivaji Circle here in Mudhol means we see just about everyone in town at some point. Our shop, Balaji Bazar, is usually crowded, especially on the weekends. We try to keep a bit of everything on the shelves, from soap to cooking oil and school supplies. It’s a lot of work keeping track of what’s running low. The location at 1-2-512 is great for business, but the traffic outside can be a real headache. There's always someone honking their horn or a motorbike parked right in the way of the door. Inside, it’s a bit of a maze with boxes stacked in the aisles when the new delivery comes in. We don't have a big staff, just a few of us working the counter and helping people find what they need. Sometimes the electricity goes and we have to use flashlights to see the prices on the labels. It’s a bit chaotic, but it’s our life. We know most of our customers by their faces, if not their names. It’s a noisy, busy place but it feels good to be right in the middle of everything. We close up late once the traffic at the circle finally starts to thin out for the night. The bell on the front door rings non-stop some days and it can get a bit overwhelming when five people want things at once. We just do our best to keep the line moving and help people out.