Amit Karyana Store

Our shop is at 1232 in Ludhiana Central. It’s a busy part of town, especially in the afternoons when the trucks are moving through. We sell grains and pulses mostly, which we keep in those big open bags near the front. You can smell the raw flour and spices as soon as you step inside. It’s not a large place, but we pack it full. The walls are lined with wooden shelves that my father put up years ago. They’re a bit warped now from the humidity, but they hold the weight of the oil tins just fine. Ludhiana gets very cold in the winter, so we usually have a small heater tucked under the counter. Most of our regulars are people living in the back lanes who don't want to go all the way to the big markets. They come here for a kilo of sugar or some loose tea leaves. Sometimes the kids come in for candies after school. We don't have a computer or anything, just a thick notebook where I write down what we need to order for next week. The street outside is always noisy with rickshaws and people yelling, but inside it’s mostly just the sound of the scale beeping or grain being scooped into paper bags. We stay open until the sun goes down and the streetlights come on. It’s hard work, but it keeps us busy every single day.