Ganesh Provision Store

Patanpole is an old part of the city, and our store fits right in with the narrow streets and old buildings. It’s a small place, mostly filled with shelves that go all the way to the ceiling. We have to use a wooden ladder to reach the stuff on the top rows. It’s usually a bit dark inside because the sun doesn't reach down into these lanes very well. We spend our days putting things into bags and talking to the women from the neighborhood who come in for their daily supplies. We know exactly who likes which brand of tea and who wants their pulses cleaned twice. It’s a very slow-paced life compared to the main roads. Sometimes we just sit on the front step and watch the cows walk by or talk to the postman. The floor is made of old tiles that are worn smooth from years of people walking on them. We don’t have a fancy checkout counter, just a wooden table where we do all the weighing and counting. It’s a bit disorganized sometimes, with new boxes sitting in the aisle until we find a spot for them. We don't do any advertising; people just know we’re here because we’ve always been here. By the time the sun sets and the bells ring at the local temple, we start putting the boards up to close the shop for the night.