Saraswati Kirana Store

Saraswati Kirana Store is sitting right there at the Akharia Chowk in Sadri, on the side that leads toward Ranakpur. It’s a small space but we pack a lot of things into it. We have big jars of lentils, rice, and sugar lined up on the wooden shelves. The shop has a specific smell, a mix of spices and soap, which I’ve grown to like over the years. I usually start the day very early, around six, to make sure we have everything ready for the morning cooking rush. People come in for small things, maybe a pack of matches or some loose tea leaves. I use an old manual scale for most of the weighing, and I keep the weights in a little wooden box. The ceiling fan hums quite loudly, especially when it’s on the highest setting in June. I know almost everyone who walks through the door by their first name. We talk about the local news or how the kids are doing in school while I wrap their items in newspaper or plastic bags. My wife often sits with me in the afternoons when the shop is quiet and we just watch the traffic at the chowk. The paint on the front door is chipped and the steps are worn down from so many people stepping on them, but it’s a sturdy building. It’s just a simple kirana store for the local people to get their daily needs without any fuss.