Jiteesh Provision Store

I open the shutters every morning around seven or so. KSR Road is usually quiet then, just a few people heading to work early. The shop at 2-18-49 has been here a while now. Hampankatta gets busy later, and the noise from the street starts coming inside. There’s a lot to do before the first few customers show up. I usually start by checking the milk crates and making sure the packets aren’t leaking. The shelves are filled with the usual stuff people need, like dal, rice, and different kinds of soaps. Sometimes the floor gets dusty because of the road construction nearby, so I have to sweep it twice a day. It’s not a fancy place, just a regular provision store with wooden counters and some old jars for sweets. Most people who come in live right around the corner. They know where everything is, so they don't ask many questions. We have these large bags of grain sitting near the back wall. Moving them around is hard on the back, but it has to be done to keep things fresh. The ceiling fan wobbles a bit when it’s on high, but it keeps the air moving. My hands usually smell like spices or detergent by the time the sun goes down. It’s just how it is here in Hampankatta. There’s always another delivery truck coming or someone asking for a specific brand of tea we just ran out of.