Khasim Kiranam

Khasim Kiranam is at 5-10-78/1, Govind Centre in Yellandu. We are very close to the bus stand. Because of the bus stand, there is never any peace. You can hear the conductors shouting destinations and the engines idling all day long. It gets very smoky and dusty. I spend a lot of time wiping the glass jars. We get a lot of travelers who just want a bottle of water or a quick packet of biscuits before they catch their bus. They are always in a big hurry. I have to be fast with the change. Sometimes I make mistakes when it’s too crowded. The Govind Centre area is always moving. We have some regular customers from the nearby houses too. They come in the mornings when it’s a bit quieter. I keep the heavy items like oil tins near the back. Moving them around makes me sweat. We have a small bulb that flickers sometimes. I need to get the electrician to look at it one of these days. The floor is just old stone and it’s worn down where people stand at the counter. I eat my lunch in the back behind a curtain made of an old sack. It’s not a fancy life but it’s our business. Yellandu is a tough place with all the heat, but we stay open late for the last buses. It’s just how it is here.