Shafik And Latif Kirana And Journal Store

Our shop, Shafik And Latif Kirana And Journal Store, is over at Sadhu Chouraha in Karchhana. We are on Bisaria Road. It’s a bit of a mix here. We sell groceries like oil and sugar, but we also have stationery and journals for the local students. Allahabad has its own rhythm, and Karchhana feels a bit more relaxed than the main city. I run the place with my partner. We take turns at the counter. The shelves are filled with notebooks, pens, and also packets of lentils and soap. It’s a strange combination, but it’s what people around here want. Sometimes a kid comes in for a pencil, and right behind him, someone wants five kilos of rice. We have to be quick to switch gears. The shop is quite old, and the wooden shelves have started to sag a bit under the weight of the books. I try to keep things clean, but the dust from the road is persistent. We don't have any fancy signs or advertisements. The word of mouth in this neighborhood is enough. We know most families by their names. It’s a quiet life for the most part, except when the festivals come around. Then the crossroads get very crowded. We just keep our heads down and keep working. It’s just how we live and earn. I’ll probably go and get some samosas for us in a bit. It’s hard work, but we like it.