Manish Kirana

Manish Kirana has been sitting here on Damoh Road for quite a long time now. We are right by Gayatri Dwar in the Manmohan Nagar area of Jabalpur City. It is a busy spot, mostly because of the traffic moving through Jabalpur. Most mornings start early, usually before the sun gets too high, just to get things ready before the first people show up. The shop isn't fancy or anything like that. It’s just a regular place where we keep all the daily stuff people need. We spend most of our day behind the wooden counter, watching the street. There is always noise from the vehicles on the main road, but you get used to it after a while. The shelves are packed with bags and boxes, stacked up to the ceiling in some places. Sometimes the rain comes down hard and we have to pull the shutters halfway, but mostly it's just business as usual. People from Manmohan Nagar know where we are. We don’t really change much around here, the signs have been the same for years and the front step is worn down from everyone walking in and out. It’s a simple way to spend the day, really. We see the same faces every week, neighbors mostly. It’s quiet enough in the afternoons when it gets hot outside. We just sit there, maybe have some tea, and wait for the evening rush when everyone heads back home.