Kishanchand Perumal

Down on Murli Vilas Road in Bhopalganj, our shop Kishanchand Perumal sits quietly among the other old buildings. We’ve been here a long time, and the place definitely shows its age. The wooden counters are worn smooth in the spots where people lean while they’re talking to us. We don't really do much in the way of decoration; the goods we sell are the only thing you’ll see on the shelves. Most mornings are spent dusting off the jars and making sure the ledgers are up to date. It’s a lot of manual work, lifting heavy things and making sure nothing gets lost in the back corners. The street outside is always full of people going to the temple or the market, and the sound of horns is constant. We have an old stool that everyone fights over because it’s the only one that doesn't wobble. Sometimes we just sit there and watch the rain if it’s a slow afternoon. We aren’t trying to be anything we’re not. It’s just a basic shop where we do our business and go home. We keep the doors open to let in whatever breeze there is, even if it brings in some of the road noise. Dealing with the same people every day makes the time go by faster. We know their names and what they usually need before they even ask, which makes the work feel a bit easier.