Sachdeva Provisional Store

Living and working on Krishna Nagar Main Road means you never really get any peace and quiet. Our store at 168 is right in the thick of it. We open up early because that’s when people want their daily supplies before they head off to work or take the kids to school. The shelves are packed with bags of lentils, soaps, and all the stuff people need for their kitchens. Sometimes it feels like there isn't enough room to turn around, especially when a fresh shipment comes in and the bags are just sitting on the floor waiting to be opened. We know most of the people who come in by their first names or at least by what they usually buy every Tuesday. The counter is made of heavy wood and has been worn smooth in the center from years of sliding change and bags across it. On hot days, the small cooler hums loudly, and we usually sit on a couple of plastic crates when there aren't any customers. We don't have any fancy displays or bright lights. It’s just a regular neighborhood shop where the floor gets swept twice a day but still looks a bit grimy. We spend a lot of time checking the expiration dates and writing down what we need to order for next week. It’s a repetitive life, but it’s steady, and the main road always has something interesting going on outside the door.