Devaram Jethaj

My name is Devaram Jethaj and this is my little shop in Subhash Nagar, right in the Bhato ka bas area. I’ve lived in this house for most of my life and the shop is just a part of it. I don't sell anything fancy, just the things people in the neighborhood run out of, like soap, flour, and tea. The shop is quite small and dark, but I know where every single item is kept on the shelves. I have a wooden counter that’s been worn smooth by years of use. Most of the people who come here are my neighbors, and we spend more time talking than actually selling things. I sit on a charpai outside the door when it’s not too hot and greet everyone who walks through the bas. It’s a very quiet part of town, far from the main roads. Sometimes the local kids come in with a few coins to buy some candy or a small toy. I keep my accounts in a thick register with a red cover. I don't see the need for any modern machines here. The walls have some old pictures of my family and a few religious posters. It’s a very simple existence and I don't ask for much more. I open the shop when I wake up and I close it when I’m tired. People know if the light is on, I’m open. It’s just a small corner of the world where I can be useful to my community.