Sudhakar Stores

Shivananda Circle is always noisy with traffic from the Poona Solapur Road, and we are right in the middle of it at number 186. Working at Sudhakar Stores means getting used to the sound of trucks and buses passing by at all hours. We open the shutters early because the morning air is the only time it feels fresh. The shelves are packed with all sorts of things, from snacks to household items that people need in a hurry. My hands are usually dusty from handling the crates and refilling the racks. There is a small fan in the corner that rattles, but it helps when the afternoon heat gets heavy. Customers come in waves, usually when a bus stops nearby or people are heading home from work. We don't use a computer for everything; there is a thick notebook where we keep track of the daily sales. The counter is worn down where people lean their elbows while waiting for change. Sometimes the neighbors stop by just to chat for a minute about the weather or the traffic. It is a simple life here. We don't have any big posters or bright lights, just the essentials on the shelves. By the time evening rolls around, the streetlights come on and we start thinking about closing up. It takes a while to sweep the floor because of all the dust from the road. We just keep going, day after day, making sure the milk is cold and the bread is fresh.