Shantinath Kirana

Being right near KDK College means there is always noise and movement outside Gaikwad Bhavan. We get a lot of students coming in for snacks or a quick bottle of water between their classes. Nagpur gets very hot, so the shade of the building helps a little bit during those long summers. I’ve been running Shantinath Kirana at Jagnade Chowk for a while now and the neighborhood has changed quite a bit over the years. We stock the basic things people need for their kitchens like different types of dal, rice, and cooking oils. I spend a lot of time weighing out things and packing them into bags for the regular customers who live in the apartments nearby. The trucks come by with deliveries a few times a week and we have to move quickly to get everything inside before it blocks the road. It’s not a fancy place, just a regular shop with shelves reaching up to the ceiling. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we just sit by the door where there is a bit of a breeze. My neighbors often stop by just to say hello even if they don't need to buy anything that day. It feels good to be part of the community here. The floor needs sweeping every few hours because of all the feet coming in and out. It’s a steady kind of life and I don’t mind the routine at all.