Modi Kirana Store

Thinking about the shop on Tonk Road near Lal Kothi, it has been here a while. Every morning starts the same way, unlocking the shutters and sweeping the dust that settles from the road. It is a busy area, so there is always noise from the traffic. Inside, the shelves are packed with the usual things like sacks of rice, different kinds of dals, and those small packets of biscuits kids like. Sometimes the delivery truck comes late and we have to move stuff around in the back. It gets hot in the afternoons, especially when the sun hits the front of the store. We know most people who walk in by their first names because they live just around the corner or work in the offices nearby. It isn't a fancy place with bright lights or anything like that. Just a regular counter where we weigh things out and write down lists on paper scraps. Sometimes the fan makes a clicking sound that drives me a bit crazy, but you get used to it after an hour or two. We keep a ledger for the regulars, though keeping track of everything gets messy when the shop is full. It is just how it is here. You find what you need, we pack it in a bag, and you go about your day. There is always someone coming in asking for a specific brand of tea or a candle when the power goes out. We just try to keep the stock full and the floor clean enough.