Janata Khadya Bhandar

Down at 110 Sri Aravinda Road, that’s where you’ll find Janata Khadya Bhandar. We’ve been in Salkia for a long time. Bandhaghat is a crowded area, so there’s always something happening outside the door. Howrah is always like that, though. We deal in grains and food supplies. The bags of rice are stacked high against the walls. It smells like flour and lentils inside. Some days the dust from the sacks makes me sneeze, but you get used to it. We have a heavy iron scale that’s been here since the start. It’s accurate, even if it looks a bit rusty. Customers come in with their own bags sometimes. We talk about the local news while I weigh out the dal. The traffic outside can be a nightmare with the rickshaws and trucks. Sometimes it’s so loud we have to shout to hear each other. We don't have fancy displays. It's just food in bags and jars. People know us for being fair. I have a small stool where I sit when there’s a break in the crowd. My son helps with the heavy lifting now that my back isn't what it used to be. We keep the ledger on a small wooden desk in the corner. It’s a honest way to make a living. Nothing more to it than that. We usually lock up around eight in the evening once the rush finally dies down.