Krishna Jarda

The shop stays on the Main Road in Patna where the noise never really stops. It is busy outside with rickshaws and buses, but inside at Krishna Jarda, it’s mostly just me and the jars. The scent of the tobacco and other things we sell is quite strong and sticks to your skin after a long day. I spend most of my time behind the counter, reaching for things on the shelves that are a bit dusty. We’ve been in this spot in the Indian Nation building for a long time, and the walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint. Sometimes the rain gets quite bad and leaks a bit near the front door, so we have to put a bucket there. It’s not a big space, but it’s enough to keep the stock and give the regulars what they need. Most people who come in do not even have to say their order anymore because I already know what they want. I have lived in Patna my whole life and this shop is just a part of the city's daily grind. Dealing with the heat in the summer is the hardest part since the fan does not do much. We do not have any fancy displays or anything like that. It’s just a simple shop where we work hard and go home once the sun sets. We try to keep enough stock so no one leaves disappointed.