Ram Kirana Store

If you walk down Gangouri Bazar toward Gopal Bari, you’ll find us at number 42. Ram Kirana Store is basically a room full of shelves packed from floor to ceiling with whatever we can fit. It’s a bit of a squeeze when more than three people come in at once, but we make it work somehow. I spend a lot of my day just reaching for jars and weighing out sugar or lentils for the neighbors. The street outside is always narrow and crowded, so there’s a constant stream of bikes and cows passing the front door. We’ve got the old wooden counter that’s been here since my father's time, and it’s worn smooth in the spots where people lean. Sometimes I forget where I put the smaller items, but usually, I can find things in the dark if I have to. The light in the back is a bit flickering, and I keep meaning to fix it, but there’s always a delivery to check or a shelf to restock. Kids come in for sweets after school, and the older folks stop by to complain about the prices of oil these days. We don’t have any fancy signs or bright lights, just the stuff people need for their kitchens. It’s a lot of standing on your feet and climbing little ladders, but the days go by fast when you’re busy talking to everyone in the neighborhood.