Raj Kumar Food Store

Raj Kumar Food Store is right in the middle of Sadbhawna Market in Purana Bazar. Dhanbad is a busy town, and this part of the main road is always packed with people and rickshaws. We deal mostly in food items. We have big bags of pulses, different kinds of rice, and all the spices you’d need for a proper meal. The shop has been here for a long time. The walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but I never seem to find the time. We are too busy moving stock and talking to customers. It’s a very local vibe. Everyone knows everyone else in the market. I get my tea from the stall across the way twice a day. The smells here are a mix of roasted spices and the exhaust from the street. I keep a small diary to track who owes what. It’s an old-fashioned way of doing things, but it works for us. We don't have any air conditioning, just a big ceiling fan that creaks. In the winter, it’s nice, but the summers are tough. I try to keep the flour and sugar away from the damp when it rains. It’s a constant battle with the elements. We just stay open and serve whoever comes through the door. I hope to keep this place going for many more years. Some days are harder than others, but that's business.