Patel Provision Stores

We run the shop at Shop No 4 in the Somaiya Shopping Center in Malad West, near Wadgoan Budruk. We are right by Pawan Restaurant, so there is always a smell of food drifting over. This is a typical provision store where we sell all the daily essentials people need for their kitchens. We have bags of rice, lentils, spices, and all the small things like soap and matches. The shelves are packed tight. It is a busy place, especially in the mornings and right before dinner when everyone realizes they forgot to buy something. We know most of the people who come in because they live in the apartments nearby. We chat about the weather or the local news while we weigh out the grains. It is a lot of standing on our feet all day. We don't have a computerized billing system or anything; we still write things down or just remember the prices. Sometimes the kids from the school nearby come in for snacks and make a lot of noise. It is a lively atmosphere. We work long hours, from early morning until late at night, seven days a week usually. It is just what you do when you have a shop. We keep the place clean and make sure the stock is fresh. It is simple work but it keeps us busy.