Balaji Stores

Balaji Stores is located at 5-A/190 in Vivek Vihar. It’s just a regular neighborhood shop where we keep all the basic stuff people need for their homes. I wake up early to get the shutters open because the milk van comes at 6 AM. The shelves are packed with everything from soap to pulses. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze inside, especially when we get a new shipment of sacks that need to be put away. I’ve been running this store for several years now. My wife helps me out in the evenings when the school kids come in for snacks. We know almost everyone who lives on this block. Some people have been buying from us since their kids were little. The floor is made of old tiles that have faded over time. We have a small fridge for cold drinks that hums loudly all day. Sometimes the cat from next door wanders in and hides behind the rice bags. I don't mind as long as she stays out of the way. It’s a quiet life for the most part, except for the occasional festive season when everyone wants things at the last minute. We don't have a computer system or anything, just a thick notebook where I write down what we need to order next. It works for us and our neighbors like the way we do things here.