Sai Balaji Bhandar

Sai Balaji Bhandar is our little shop on Banaswadi New Sama Road 4. It’s a basic grocery store, really. We’ve got shelves lining the walls with all the usual stuff people need like pulses, spices, oils, and some household things. I’m usually behind the counter from morning until late at night. It’s a long day, but I’ve gotten used to it over the years. The shop isn't very large, so I have to be careful about how I stack the boxes. If I get too much stock, there’s hardly room for people to walk in and browse. Most of the folks who shop here live right in the neighborhood. I know most of their names and what they usually buy. Sometimes they stay for a chat about the local news or what’s happening on the street while I bag their items. It’s a friendly place, but it’s also a lot of hard work. I’m constantly restocking shelves or checking the dates on things so nothing sits too long. The delivery trucks come by a few times a week, and then it’s a scramble to get everything inside and put away. We don't have any fancy computers; I still use a calculator and a paper bill book. It works fine for us. Sometimes the power goes out, and we have to use a torch to see what we're doing. It’s just how things are around here on New Sama Road.