Jay Janardhan Kirana Store

If you find yourself near the New Adgaon Naka on Hirawadi Road, you’ll see Jay Janardhan Kirana Store. It’s a straightforward kind of place. I don’t go in for fancy decorations or big signs. I just have the basics that everyone in Nashik - 422003 needs. I get up early to receive the milk and bread crates. The air in Hirawadi is still a bit cool then. I’ve got a routine: sweep the front, arrange the eggs, and check if the fridge is running properly. The fridge makes a loud humming sound that I’ve grown used to over the years. I sell a lot of lentils and loose spices that I bag myself in the afternoons when the shop is quiet. Some people prefer the pre-packaged stuff, but my regulars like to see what they are getting. The counter is covered in a layer of old laminate that’s peeling at the edges. I should probably fix it, but it doesn't really stop me from doing my job. People around New Adgaon Naka are mostly working-class, so they want things to be fast and honest. I keep a small diary for the regular customers who pay at the end of the month. It’s based on trust, which is how things should be in a neighborhood like this. By the time I close up, the street lights are the only thing shining on the dusty road outside. It’s another day finished.