Ayyappa General Merchant

Arcot Road is always crowded with people and cars, and we are right in the middle of it at No 72/73. Being opposite to AVM makes it very easy for people to give directions to our place. Ayyappa General Merchant is where we sell all sorts of household things. We have everything from plastic buckets to batteries crammed onto the shelves. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze inside, especially when we get a big delivery. My father started this business, and now I’m here behind the counter most days. In Vadapalani, everyone is always in a hurry. We try to get them what they need fast so they can catch their bus or get to work on time. It’s noisy outside with all the cars and bikes, but inside it’s just the sound of the old ceiling fan. We don’t do any advertising at all. People know us because we’ve been here for many years. Sometimes we run out of shelf space and have to stack some things outside on the pavement. The rain can be a problem sometimes, so we have to move stuff inside quickly. It’s a plain shop, nothing special to look at, but it does the job. We keep a ledger for the regulars who pay monthly. It’s a traditional way of doing things, and it works for us. Chennai is a fast city, but our shop feels a bit slower, which is nice for a change.