Anil Kirana

Living and working in Patna on Daldali Road feels like you’re always in the middle of a crowd. Our shop is right by the P M C Hospital, so it’s never really quiet until very late at night. I start my day by unloading the crates of milk that arrive in the early hours. It’s hard work on the back, but it has to be done before the first customers show up. We have all the usual kirana items like spices, lentils, and cleaning supplies tucked into the corners. The shop is narrow, so I have to be careful how I stack the bags of sugar or they’ll tip over. I’ve lived in this area my whole life, so I know most of the stories of the people who walk past. Some stop to chat about the weather or the price of onions, which seems to go up every week lately. I don't use a computer or anything like that, just a notebook and a pen to keep track of what I need to order next. The fan above my head makes a clicking noise that I’ve stopped hearing after all these years. It’s just a regular place for regular things. When the rains come, the road gets messy, but people still find their way here for their daily needs. I just hope the roof doesn’t leak this year like it did last July. It is just a part of running a shop in this neighborhood.