Sushmita Rice Merchant

My place is at 656 Ammagaripalle Road. It’s mostly just stacks of rice bags here. I started as a merchant because my father did the same thing. We have different varieties, some from local farms and others from further away. The smell of raw rice is something I’ve gotten very used to over the years. It’s a heavy job, lifting these sacks every day. My back hurts a bit by the evening, but it’s honest work. I have a couple of guys who help with the loading and unloading. The warehouse part is in the back, and the front is where I talk to customers. Ammagaripalle Road gets quite muddy when it rains, so we have to be careful with the bags. I use an old calculator that’s missing a button, but it still works fine. I don't see the point in getting a new one yet. People come from the surrounding villages to buy in bulk. We don't have fancy packaging, just the standard jute or plastic bags. Sometimes we sit outside on the bench when it's slow. I keep a diary of the prices because they change so often. It's not a complicated business, just buying and selling what people eat every day. I've been in this spot for a long time now. The neighbors are good people. I usually wear a towel over my shoulder to wipe the sweat. It's hard work but it's what I know.