S.M.Stores

S.M.Stores is located on R.S. Road in Athipattu Pudhu Nagar. It’s out in the Tiruvottiyur area of Chennai. The weather here is mostly just hot and the salt air from the coast makes things rust a bit faster. We have a big metal shutter that is heavy to lift in the morning. Inside, it’s mostly just rows of groceries and some household items. I have a small fan that oscillates back and forth but it doesn't do much when the sun is high. We get a lot of workers from the nearby industries coming in for items or cold drinks. The fridge makes a loud humming sound that you get used to after a while. I keep the floor as clean as I can but the sand from the road always finds its way in. There’s a small stool where I sit and write down the sales. The shelves are packed with everything from soap to spices. Sometimes I forget where I put the smaller packets of shampoo. People here usually speak quickly and we have a bit of a laugh while they wait for their change. It’s a basic shop and we don’t try to make it look like something it isn’t. The walls were white once but now they are more of a greyish color. I stay open until late because that’s when most people finish their shifts. The air in Chennai is so humid that sometimes the salt sticks to the glass.