Rameshchand Kirana Store

Out here in Ramganj Mandi, the Bada Bazar stays pretty busy most days. The shop sits right in the middle of it all in Suket. It's an old building, and the walls have seen better days, but it does the job for keeping the rain off the stock. We spend a lot of our time counting out change and weighing lentils on the scale. The heat in the afternoon can get quite heavy, so we usually keep the fan running at full speed. People from the nearby villages come in when they visit the main market. They usually want bulk items, so we keep a lot of heavy sacks stacked up against the back wall. It's a bit of a mess sometimes when a new shipment arrives and we have to find room for everything. The wooden counter is worn down from years of people leaning on it while they wait for their groceries. We don't have any big signs or bright lights. Mostly, it’s just the sound of the market outside and the rustle of plastic bags. We keep the ledgers in a drawer under the cash box to track what's going in and out. It’s a simple life, just minding the store and talking to the regulars who have been coming here since they were young. Suket is a small place really, so you end up knowing everyone's name after a while. Sometimes the neighbor's dog sleeps right in front of the door, and we have to step over him to get inside.