Neelam Kirana

Neelam Kirana is located right in the middle of Harshwardhan Nagar. If you live around here in Bhopal, you’ve probably walked past us many times. We open up pretty early because that is when people want their milk and bread. The shop isn't very large, so we have to use every bit of space on the walls for the shelves. You’ll find things like pulses, sugar, and different types of cooking oils stacked up. We try to keep the most common items within easy reach so customers don't have to wait too long. Sometimes the delivery trucks come at the same time and the sidewalk gets a bit blocked with sacks of grain. It can be a little chaotic, but we manage. My family helps out quite a bit. One of us is usually behind the counter while another is checking what needs to be ordered for tomorrow. We don't do much advertising; people just know we are here. The neighborhood has changed over the years, but the way we run the store stays mostly the same. We just want to make sure the jars are full and the floor is swept at the end of the day. It gets dusty being on the main road, so cleaning is a never-ending job. We’ve gotten used to the rhythm of the colony, from the quiet afternoons to the rush in the evenings when everyone gets off work. We are just a small part of life in this town.