Pandit Variety Store

Being on Hirapur Road means there is never really a quiet moment. At Pandit Variety Store, the shelves are packed with all sorts of things, from plastic buckets to notebooks for the school kids. I often think we have too much stuff in such a small space, but then someone always comes in asking for that one specific thing hidden in the back. The 826001 zip code area in Dhanbad has changed a lot over the years, but this shop stays pretty much the same. I spend a good part of my afternoon checking the inventory because things like pens and batteries tend to go missing if you don't look closely. My brother helps out sometimes when the college students crowd the counter. We don't have a fancy display, just things piled up where they fit. The floor is concrete and stays cool even when it’s hot outside. I usually keep a bottle of water under the counter. There is a small radio that plays mostly news or old songs while I wait for the next person to walk in. Sometimes the delivery truck gets stuck in the narrow part of the road and we have to carry the crates by hand. It’s hard work but it keeps me busy. I like the smell of the new plastic items when a fresh batch arrives. It feels real and honest, just running a shop like this one.