Chowksey Medical Stores

Chowksey Medical Stores is down at Shivalaya Chowk in Gadarwara, on the road they call Shyam Talkies Road. Even though the old cinema isn't what it used to be, people still use the name. Being near the chowk means we get a lot of foot traffic throughout the day. There is always someone stopping by for a strip of tablets or some glucose powder. We have shelves stacked high, and sometimes it feels like we’re running out of space to put new boxes. Gadarwara is small enough that we know most of our customers by their faces, if not their names. We start the day early, unpacking whatever arrived the previous evening. The back room is a bit of a mess with empty cartons, so we try to clear it out when we get a spare moment. Most of the day is spent talking to people about what the doctor wrote down or just chatting about the heat. We keep a small wooden stool near the counter so the older people can sit while we prepare their orders. The ceiling fan has a bit of a rattle, but it keeps the air moving. It’s a steady life, working at the store and making sure the local families can get their medicines without a fuss. We just keep things moving and do our work.