Balamurugan Oil Stores

Our little shop is right here on Gangaiamman Koil Street in Kamarajapuram. If you know Velachery, you know how busy it gets around here. Balamurugan Oil Stores has been in this spot for a while now. Most days I’m just moving containers around or talking to the regulars who stop by for their cooking oil. The street isn't very wide, so when the delivery truck comes, it’s always a bit of a squeeze. We keep things simple. There are large tins stacked in the back and the smell of groundnut and coconut oil is always hanging in the air. People from the neighborhood pop in throughout the day, sometimes just to say hello or ask about the prices. It’s not a fancy place, just a regular store with concrete floors and old wooden counters that have seen better days. I spend a lot of time cleaning up spills because oil just has a way of getting everywhere no matter how careful you are. In the evenings, the light from the streetlamp hits the front sign just right. My family helps out when it gets crowded on weekends. We don't have a big team or anything, just a few of us making sure things stay organized. Living and working in Velachery means you get used to the noise and the heat, but inside the shop, it stays relatively cool because of the high ceiling. It is a quiet life mostly and it keeps us busy.