Raj Kumar Stores

If you walk down Perumal Kovil Street in Porur, you will find us at No.23. Raj Kumar Stores has been a fixture in this part of Chennai for many years. This street gets quite busy, especially being near the temple, and we see a lot of different people coming through. Some are just passing by while others have been coming to us since they were kids. The shop isn't very big but we pack in as much as we can on the shelves. There is usually a bit of dust because of the traffic outside but we try to keep things tidy enough. It is hot in Chennai so we mostly stay behind the counter near the fan while waiting for customers. We stock the usual stuff like soap, cooking oil, and pulses. Sometimes we run out of things if the delivery truck is late but we usually have the essentials. It is a quiet life most of the time except for the festival days when the whole street is packed with people. We do not do anything special here, just keep the doors open and wait for the neighborhood to show up. It is a practical way to earn a living and we have gotten used to the noise of the traffic and the smell of the nearby tea stalls. Most people know us by name and that makes the long hours feel a bit shorter. We just keep going one day at a time without too much fuss.