Departmental Store

Working at the Departmental Store near the Roadways Bus Stand Circle in Sainik Basti means you never really have a quiet moment. From the time we open early in the morning until we close late at night, there is a constant sound of buses pulling in and out. People come in looking for a quick snack, a bottle of water, or maybe some soap they forgot to pack for their trip. We have a bit of everything crammed onto the shelves. It’s not a huge place, so you have to watch where you step when the new stock arrives on Tuesdays. I’ve lived in this area for a long time and I’ve seen the bus stand change quite a bit, but the store stays mostly the same. The floor tiles are a bit cracked near the entrance from all the heavy boots walking over them. We don't have any fancy displays or bright lights, just the usual tubes that flicker sometimes. My wife usually brings me lunch in a tiffin box around noon, and I eat it behind the counter while watching the news on a small radio. It can get dusty with the wind blowing off the road, but that’s just part of the job. We know most of the regulars who live in the Basti, and it’s nice to have a chat about the weather or the local politics while they wait for their change.