Rajesh Kirana Store

Rajesh Kirana Store is located near the square in Ganesh Peth, Nagpur. There is a mandir right nearby, so you can often hear the temple bells from inside the shop. I deal mostly in groceries, what we call kirana items. I have large open sacks of different kinds of rice and dal sitting on the floor. People like to see the quality before they buy, so I keep the tops rolled down. The air in the shop smells like a mix of turmeric, coriander, and raw sugar. It’s a bit of an old-fashioned way of doing things, but my customers prefer it. I use a manual scale with iron weights for some things, though I have a digital one for the smaller packets. The shop is tucked into a corner near the main intersection, so it stays busy with people passing through the square. I have a wooden desk where I sit and write out bills by hand. The ceiling fan wobbles a bit when it's on high speed, making a rhythmic clicking sound. I've got shelves that go all the way up to the ceiling, and I have to use a wooden ladder to reach the tea boxes or the taller jars of pickles. I open up around nine and usually stay until the last temple service is over in the evening. It’s a quiet life, mostly just weighing out kilos of flour and chatting with the ladies who come to buy their weekly supplies.