Suyog Kirana Bhandar

If you go to Itwari in Nagpur, you know how crowded Jagnath Road gets. That is where Suyog Kirana Bhandar is, at Shop No 4. We are right near the police station, which is a good landmark for people trying to find us. This area is a major trading hub, so there is always the smell of dried chilies and turmeric in the air. I have been here since early morning, unloading crates of oil bottles. The shop is long and narrow, so I have to be careful how I stack the bags of grain so people can still walk through. It gets really hot in Nagpur, and today is no different, even with the door open. I have a few big jars of loose biscuits and candies right at the front for the kids. My ledger is sitting on the desk, half-full of notes about what the wholesalers owe me. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of everything when the shop gets crowded. People come from all over the city to shop in Itwari because they think things are cheaper here. I just try to keep my prices fair and the stock fresh. The walls are lined with wooden shelves that my father put up years ago. They are sturdy but look a bit worn out now. I will probably close up around eight tonight if the crowd thins out by then. It is just hard work and long hours, but we keep going every day.