Jai Maa Santoshi Daily Needs

Open the shop around 8 AM. Nandanvan Main Road is already busy by then. People are going to work or heading toward the bank. I’ve got Shope No Gs2 here, and it’s a bit of a tight squeeze when the new stock arrives. Daily needs means everything from matches to cleaning powder. I spend a lot of time on my feet, mostly reaching for things on the top shelves. The floor is old tile and it’s seen better days. Nagpur summers are no joke, the heat comes right through the front door. We don’t have fancy AC, just a couple of wall fans that rattle a bit when they’re on high speed. Opposite Chanda Bank is a good landmark, so people find us easily enough. Sometimes I get the order wrong and have to call the guy back, but we sort it out. It’s mostly regular families from Nandanvan Colony who come in. They know where the bread is kept and sometimes they just grab it and wait for me to finish with another customer. I write down what we’re low on in a small notebook with a chewed-up pen. It’s not very high-tech. There’s always a bit of dust on the bottom shelves no matter how much I sweep. By the time evening comes, my back usually aches a bit, but that’s part of the job. It’s a quiet life, just serving the neighborhood one small item at a time. I close up when the street lights start flickering.