Paulrajan Oil Store

At No 1, Soma Sundara Nadar Street, you will find the Paulrajan Oil Store. We are right in the middle of the Madurai Bazaar, specifically in the Keelamasi Vethi area 625001. Working in an oil store means the floor is always a bit slick, no matter how much sawdust we use to soak it up. The smell is something you get used to after a week, a heavy scent of different seeds and presses. It’s a busy spot because we are right at the start of the street. People are always rushing past the door on their way to other parts of the bazaar. Our building is quite old and has these thick stone walls that stay cool even when Madurai is boiling outside. We have a few big metal drums in the back and some smaller containers up front for people to see. There isn't much room for sitting down, so we are usually on our feet all day. We don't do any big advertising or try to look like a modern supermarket. We are just a traditional store in a traditional market. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we have to use candles, which makes the whole place look like it’s from another century. It’s a simple life, focused on the inventory and the people who come in with their own bottles to fill. I’ve been here since I was a young man and I don't know any other way of working. It keeps me busy enough.