Raju Varieties

Raju Varieties is located on the busy VIP Road in Kolkata, not too far from the Jora Mandir. The name says it all, we carry a bit of everything because people around here have all sorts of needs. You can find stationery, small plastic household items, snacks, and even some basic hardware if you look hard enough. The shop is quite narrow, so I’ve had to put up a lot of extra shelving along the walls. It’s a very busy area with a lot of traffic passing by all day and night. Sometimes the noise from the horns is so loud we have to shout to hear what the customers are asking for. I keep a big plastic jar of loose candies on the counter for the change. The floor gets a bit muddy during the monsoon, as is usual for Kolkata, so I keep an old jute mat by the entrance. I’ve been running this place for a few years now. I usually eat my tiffin in the back while keeping an eye on the door. It’s not a glamorous business, but it’s steady. I know the local bus drivers and the people who work in the nearby shops. We all just try to get through the day. If you need something specific and I don’t have it, I can usually get it by the next day from the market. It's just a regular shop for regular people.