Shri Maa Badriya Ray Kirana & Provision Store

Our store is over on A Ramjaan Ji Ka Hatha Road in Laxman Nagar. It’s a long name for a shop, but people around here just call it the kirana store. We deal with all the basic food items like dal, rice, sugar, and flour. The bags of grains are usually stacked near the entrance. Laxman Nagar is a residential area, so we know most of the families who live nearby. They send their kids over to get a packet of salt or some matches. It’s a dusty part of town, so we are always wiping down the glass jars. The counter is made of heavy wood and has been there since we opened. We don’t have a computer system, everything is written down in a notebook or we just remember the prices. It stays quiet in the middle of the afternoon when it’s too hot for anyone to be out. That’s when we rest or check what’s running low. The shop isn't very large, but we use every inch of the walls to hang packets of chips and spices. Dealing with wholesalers is a big part of the job. Sometimes the delivery trucks can't get through the narrow road easily. We’ve been here for a while and have seen the neighborhood change quite a bit. It’s just regular life for us, weighing out portions and chatting with the locals who stop by for their weekly groceries. It is hard work but it keeps us busy every day.