Tari Karayana Stores

We’ve been here on Ludhiana New Link Road for a long time now. It’s just a small shop, Tari Karayana Stores, and there is nothing fancy about how we do things. Most days start early, around six in the morning, when the milk crates arrive and sit on the curb. I spend most of my time moving heavy bags of flour or stacking tea boxes so people can see them easily. The road outside is always loud with trucks and bikes passing by, which brings in a lot of dust. We keep the basics like sugar, lentils, and cooking oil. Sometimes the shelves get a bit messy when we are busy, but we try to fix it when things quiet down in the afternoon. It’s a family thing, my brother helps out in the evenings after his other job is finished. We know most of the people who walk in by their first names. They don't just come for groceries; sometimes they just want to sit on the old wooden bench and talk about the weather or the local news. It’s not like those big supermarkets where everything is under bright white lights. Here, we have a few dim bulbs and a ceiling fan that makes a constant clicking noise. We don’t have a website or any online presence. If someone needs something, they just stop their scooter outside and shout. I spend a lot of time checking the expiry dates on the biscuits and snacks. The floor is old cement, and it’s hard to keep it perfectly clean. It’s just a normal life running this place.