Dilip Stores

Dilip Stores is located on Duck Ghar Rd in Kolkata, which is a place that feels very old and full of history. The walls of our shop are thick and it stays a bit cooler inside even when the sun is beating down outside. I spend most of my day behind the counter surrounded by tins of biscuits and bottles of hair oil. The street outside is narrow and when a big truck comes through, everything seems to shake a little. We have been here for years, serving the families who have lived in these old buildings for generations. I know who likes which brand of tea and who always asks for a little extra discount on the lentils. It is a lot of work to keep track of all the small items like needles, buttons, and spices. Sometimes the monsoon rains make the road outside very muddy and business slows down a bit. We just sit and watch the rain and wait for someone to come in for an umbrella or some snacks. I keep a ledger for the regular neighbors who pay at the end of the month. It is not a modern supermarket with bright lights, just a regular shop where you can find what you need for your house. My son helps me on the weekends when he is not busy with his own things. We just keep going day by day without much change.