Sri Ram Bhandar

Sri Ram Bhandar is sitting right in Jwala Ganj, which is in the Jalaun district. We are very close to the bus stand, so there is always a lot of movement and noise around our doors. You can hear the conductors shouting destinations and the old diesel engines idling throughout the day. It is a bit dusty because of all the traffic and the wind, but that is just how Jwala Ganj is. Our shop has been here for a good amount of time. We open up early to catch the first crowd coming off the long-distance buses from the nearby cities. It gets cramped inside when we have a lot of stock arriving, but we always manage to find space for everything somehow. The tea stall next door is where we usually grab a quick drink when things finally quiet down for a few minutes in the evening. We do not have a big office or anything polished like that. Just the counter and the wooden shelves that have seen better days. Most of the people who come in are locals we have known for years, or tired travelers who are just passing through Jalaun. Dealing with the intense heat in the summer can be tough, but the old ceiling fan keeps the air moving enough. We spend a lot of time just organizing the inventory and making sure the front looks decent for the neighbors. It is a simple life here. We just keep going and get the daily chores finished before the sun goes down.