Sri Manjunath Swamy Stores

It's a general store in Mahadevapura. We sell everything from rice to soap. It’s a small space but we pack a lot in. I've been running it since the area was much quieter. Now there are big buildings everywhere. But my regulars still come. We open at 7 am because people need milk and bread early. I have a boy who helps with the heavy bags. We don't use a computer for bills. Just a pen and a book. It works fine for us. Sometimes we run out of things, but I get more from the market the next day. The store is named after the deity. It’s a humble place. No bright lights or fancy music. Just the sound of the traffic outside. I know most people by their first names. I've seen their kids grow up. Some of them are working in those big offices now. It makes me feel old. We keep the dal in big sacks. You can buy as much or as little as you need. We don't pre-pack everything like the supermarkets do. It’s better this way so nothing goes to waste. The floor is a bit worn out from all the walking. But it’s a solid floor. We stay open until 10 pm. It's a long day but it's what we do. Mahadevapura has changed a lot, but we stay the same. My wife comes in the evening to help. She brings me tea. We sit and talk between customers. It's a good life. We like the neighborhood.