Ganesh Kirana Co

Tilak Bazar is a crowded place, and being at Ganesh Kirana Co in Khari Baoli means you are always in the middle of it. Our address is 270-B, Katra Peran, and if you know this part of Delhi, you know how tight the lanes are. There is always a strong smell of spices in the air here, sometimes it makes you sneeze if the chili bags are being moved. We deal with heavy sacks of pulses and grains all day long. My hands are always a bit rough from handling the jute bags and the old weighing scale. It’s not a quiet job at all. You have the constant sound of handcarts clicking on the stones and people shouting to get through the crowd. We keep the store open late because the market never really seems to sleep. It’s a bit of a maze getting here, but the locals and the regular traders know the way between the stalls. I spend my afternoon writing down orders in a ledger that’s seen better days and has tea stains on the cover. The walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but there is never really a good time to stop and do it. We focus on getting the stock in and getting it out to the people who need it for their kitchens. It is hard work and the dust gets everywhere, but it is what we have been doing for a long time now.