Laxmi Stores

Laxmi Stores is located on Chintamoni Dey Road in the Kadamtala area of Howrah. This is a busy part of town with a lot of old buildings and narrow lanes. Our shop is just one of many, but we’ve been here for a good amount of time. I handle most of the work myself, from opening the heavy metal shutters in the morning to sweeping the floor. We carry basic groceries, some stationery for the school kids, and household goods. The shelves are a bit mismatched and some of the paint is peeling off the walls, but it doesn't bother the customers much. They just want their items at a fair price. Howrah can be very humid, so I usually have a small table fan blowing right on me while I stand at the counter. The street outside is always full of rickshaws and people walking. It’s quite noisy, but you get used to it after a few weeks. I don't have a big computer system. I just use a simple calculator and a pen to keep track of things. Sometimes my son comes after his college classes to help me move the heavier bags of rice. We don’t have any big promises or fancy words. It’s just a store where you can buy what you need for your home. It’s been a part of my life for a long time, and I’m happy to keep it going. The old wooden clock on the wall is always five minutes slow.