Natraj Kirana Store

Natraj Kirana Store sits right on Mandia Road. It is a busy street and we get a lot of people just passing through. I have been behind this counter for more years than I can count. We stock all the usual things like lentils, spices, soaps, and cooking oil. The shop is small and the shelves go all the way up to the ceiling. I have to use a wooden ladder to reach the top items when someone asks. Sometimes the jars get a bit dusty because of the heavy traffic outside on Mandia Road. I know which brand of tea most of my regulars like. We don't have those fancy scanners, I just add everything up on a small calculator or sometimes just in my head. It’s a local shop for local people. We hear a lot of gossip and news from the neighborhood every day. Sometimes the delivery guys are late and I have to explain to the customers why we are out of sugar or salt. It happens. The floor is made of old stone and it’s worn down where people stand to wait. I keep a small stool near the door to sit on when things are slow. Dealing with change is the hardest part, everyone always brings big notes for small things. We try to be helpful and keep the prices fair for everyone. It’s a simple life on a busy road. I wouldn't know what else to do if I wasn't here at the store.