Jai Ma Ambe Kirana & General

Living and working in Bhopal has its own rhythm, especially here in Old Shubhash Nagar. Our shop is right on the Govindpura Main Road, which means there is never a quiet moment. You can hear the scooters and the buses all day long. We’ve been running this kirana for some time now. It’s a small space, but we pack it full. There are sacks of rice tucked in the corners and rows of spices on the wooden shelves. Every morning involves checking what ran out the day before. We sell a lot of everyday things like matches, washing powder, and lentils. Sometimes people just stop in to ask for directions or to chat about the weather. It gets really hot in the summer, so we keep the cold drinks right at the front. The neighborhood is mostly families who have lived here for years. They send their kids down with little notes of what to buy. I usually write the accounts in a thick ledger book at the end of the day. The lighting inside is a bit dim, but we know where everything is kept even in the dark. It isn’t a fancy supermarket, just a regular shop for regular needs. We open up early because the morning tea needs milk and sugar. That’s how the day starts for us in Govindpura, and it ends when the streetlights finally come on. It is a steady way of life for all of us here.