Jain Store

Jain Store has been at 111 Chandpole for as long as I can remember. This part of the city is always crowded and the streets are narrow. We sell the basic things people need every day. Flour, lentils, spices, and some household items. Everything is kept in big bags or on wooden shelves that have been there for decades. It’s not like a supermarket where you pick things yourself. You tell us what you want and we weigh it out for you. The scale we use is an old one, but it’s accurate. Sometimes the monkeys on the roof cause a bit of trouble, throwing things around. We just yell at them and keep working. My grandfather started this place and not much has changed since then. We know almost everyone who walks through the door by their first name. We talk about the weather or the price of grain while we pack the bags. It’s a slow process sometimes, especially if the shop is full of people. We don't have a computer for billing. We just use a notebook and a pen. It works fine for us. Chandpole is a noisy place but inside the shop, it feels familiar and steady. We keep the floor swept, though it’s hard with so much foot traffic coming from the street. There is always a smell of fresh spices in the air here. It’s just home. We close for a little while in the afternoon for lunch.