Narasimhaswamy Store

If you walk down B.R Hills Road in Balepete, you will find Narasimhaswamy Store at 58-6-93. It’s a corner spot that has been part of the neighborhood for a long time. I wake up early to sweep the front step and arrange the jars of sweets and snacks so the kids can see them on their way to school. The store is packed with all sorts of things, from cooking oil to light bulbs. I often find myself rearranging the bags of rice and flour to make more room for new stock. It’s a bit of a squeeze when more than three people are inside at once. I know most of the people who come in by their first names and we usually talk about how the prices of things keep going up or what’s happening at the temple. The wooden counter is worn smooth in the spots where people lean while they wait for me to weigh out their items. I use an old scale that still works perfectly fine. Sometimes I forget to turn off the radio in the back and it plays local songs all afternoon. It isn't a fancy supermarket, but we have most of what a household needs for the day. In the evenings, the street lights come on and the store feels a bit cozy with the yellow light bulbs inside. I like the routine of it all, even when it’s tiring.