Chandan Store

Chandan Store has been sitting here in Chembur West for quite a long time. It’s a typical neighborhood shop where we sell a little bit of everything. The shelves go all the way up to the ceiling, so we have to use a wooden ladder to reach the stuff on top. It’s a bit dusty up there, but we try to keep things organized. We don't have a computer system to track everything; we just know where things are because we put them there ourselves. The floor is made of old stone, and it’s worn down in the spots where people stand the most. We open up early in the morning and stay open until late in the evening. There is usually a crate of glass bottles by the door and some bags of grain stacked near the counter. We don't spend money on advertising or fancy signs. Most of our customers are people who live on the same street and have been coming here since they were kids. Sometimes we run out of things, and we have to tell people to come back tomorrow after the delivery truck arrives. It's a small business, run by just a couple of us who know the neighborhood well. We spend our time checking expiry dates, sweeping the front step, and chatting with the people who stop by to pick up their daily essentials. It’s just a simple life here in the store.