Sri Kirana & General Stores

If you walk down the lane in Inderbagh near 3-5-73, you will find our little shop tucked away. It’s been Sri Kirana & General Stores for years, and not much has changed inside since we started. The wooden shelves are a bit bowed from the weight of the flour sacks and the heavy tins of ghee. We keep a small radio on most afternoons to hear the news or some old songs while waiting for people to stop by. In Hyderabad, the afternoons are so hot that nobody comes out, so it gives me time to count the inventory and see what is running low. I usually make a list on a scrap of paper that always gets lost. Customers often come in asking for things we just sold out of, which is just how it goes sometimes. We have everything from plastic buckets to small packets of shampoo hanging from the ceiling. It’s a bit cramped when more than two people are inside at once. The floor is old stone and stays a bit cool even in summer. We do not use a computer or anything, just a big notebook to write down what we owe the suppliers. It’s just a local spot where people can grab their daily essentials without much fuss. We know most of the families around here by name now and we see their kids growing up as they come in for snacks.