B K Fancy Store

Kherli Phatak is a unique place because of the railway crossing. Whenever the gates close, a line of motorcycles and rickshaws builds up right outside the shop. I sit here behind the counter and watch the people waiting. Some of them pop in to buy a small thing like a comb or some safety pins while they wait for the train to pass. The shop is filled with these little daily necessities. I have drawers full of buttons and laces that I’ve had for a long time. The vibrations from the heavy trains make the glass jars rattle on the shelves. It took me a while to get used to that sound, but now I don't even notice it. The floor is made of old stone and stays cool even when it’s burning outside. I don't have much help, so I do everything myself, from cleaning the glass to stocking the new shipments that arrive once a week. My hands are usually a bit dusty from handling the cardboard boxes. I have a small stool tucked in the corner where I sit when there are no customers. It’s a quiet life except for the trains. I like talking to the regulars who live nearby. They tell me about their kids or what they are cooking for dinner. It’s a simple way to spend the day. Sometimes a monkey will jump on the roof, making a loud thud, but that is just how things are around here.