Aai Mata Kirana Store

We have been here at Station Road in Himmat Nagar for a while now. Most mornings start early around 7 or 8 when the first milk delivery comes in. It gets quite busy since we are right at number 97. Usually, it is just me or my brother behind the counter. We keep the usual stuff like lentils, spices, soaps, and whatever else people in the neighborhood need for their kitchens. Sometimes the bags of flour arrive late and we have to stack them up quickly before the afternoon heat starts. People stop by on their way to the station or coming back from work. It is not a fancy place, just a regular kirana shop with wooden shelves that have seen better days. We try to keep everything in stock, but sometimes the supply truck does not show up on time. That is just how it goes here. The fan in the corner makes a bit of noise but it helps during those hot July afternoons. Kids usually come in for biscuits or those small packets of chips after school. We know most of the faces around Himmat Nagar by now. If someone is short a few rupees, we usually tell them to just bring it next time. It is a simple life running a shop like this. We spend most of the day weighing things out and chatting with neighbors about the weather or the local news. Nothing too exciting happens, but it keeps us busy from morning until we pull the shutters down at night.