Arish Kirana Store

You can find my shop at Shop No1, right near the Central School in Arera Hills. Most people use the 11 No Bus Stop as a landmark. Being so close to the school means I see a lot of students and parents every day. I keep a lot of snacks and basic stationery along with the regular grocery items. The shop gets really crowded around the time school lets out. I’ve had this place for a while now. It’s a small room, really, filled with sacks of grain and rows of bottled drinks. I try to keep the fridge cold, but sometimes the local power cuts make it a bit difficult. I spend a lot of time just chatting with the bus drivers who take their breaks nearby. They’re good people. I don’t have any fancy displays or bright lights. It’s just shelves and boxes. I do my own accounts in a thick ledger book every evening before I close up. Sometimes I forget where I put the keys and have to spend ten minutes looking for them under the newspaper. It’s a simple way to make a living. Arera Hills is a quiet enough place except for the bus traffic. I’m usually here from early morning until the sun goes down. If you need some matches or a packet of tea, I’m probably around. I also keep some loose grains for the birds outside, which helps keep me occupied when things are slow between the bus timings and school bells.