Kesevan Malligai Store

Living and working in Telungapalayam means things move at a certain pace. Our shop on Muthiya Udaiyar Street is usually the first one to open on this block. I start the day by sweeping the front and lighting a bit of incense near the entrance. The smell of the incense mixes with the smell of the dried chillies and the big bags of rice we keep near the door. It is a typical Coimbatore neighborhood store where everyone knows everyone else’s business. We have the usual stuff like tamarind, oils, and the local brands of spices that people around here prefer. The shelves are a bit crowded and I often have to climb a small ladder to reach the stuff on the top. Sometimes my back hurts from lifting the heavy oil tins, but that is just part of the job. We have a small television in the corner that we watch when there are no customers. Most of our day is spent chatting with the ladies who come to buy their daily vegetables or pulses. We don't have any computers here, just a simple notebook where we write down what we owe the suppliers. It is a bit old-fashioned I suppose. The walls are covered in old calendars and photos of our family. It is just a simple place to buy what you need for your house and catch up with people.