Gupta Bhandar Store

Gupta Bhandar Store sits right at Shivaji Chowk. Most people know the spot because we are so close to the Kali Mandir. You can hear the temple bells from the front door during the evening aarti. The chowk is always a bit crowded with people waiting for rickshaws or just meeting up. Our shop has been in the family for a good while now. We keep the usual things, lots of spices, grains, and some snacks. The shelves go all the way to the ceiling and I have to use a little wooden ladder to reach the top ones. Sometimes I forget where I put things, but I usually find them after a minute. The floor is made of old stone and it stays cool even when the sun is hitting the street hard outside. We don’t have a big sign or anything flashy. People just know where Gupta Bhandar is because they’ve been coming here since they were small. We talk about the weather or the price of vegetables with the customers. It’s not a fancy business, just a way to make a living and stay busy. The mornings are the best time because it’s still cool and the street is just waking up. We sweep the front and wait for the first person to come in for their morning supplies. We don't have any staff, just us family members working the counter and helping out. It is a quiet life.