Mukesh Kirana Stores

Out on Punayata Road, things are a bit different because of all the trucks and traffic heading out of town. Our store is right there on the edge of it all. We keep a lot of stock because people often want to buy in larger quantities here. Big sacks of grain sit on the floor and crates of soda are usually stacked near the entrance. In the afternoons it gets quite hot, so we try to keep the front shaded with a cloth. We don't have any fancy displays; things are just put where they fit on the shelves. Most of my day is spent sitting behind the wooden counter, checking the inventory and talking to drivers who stop for a snack or a bottle of water. While the walls could use a fresh coat of paint, we are usually too busy to get around to it. Sometimes the power goes out and we have to work by the light coming in from the street. Because of the road, it is a dusty place, so we spend a lot of time sweeping. People stop in because we are a convenient spot before they get too far out of the main area. We don't try to be anything special or modern. We just provide the basics that everyone needs for their kitchen and home. The work is hard and the hours are long, but that is just part of it.