Pramod Kirana

Being right here on Daldali Road near P M C Hospital means we see a lot of different faces every day. It isn't just the neighbors, but folks coming in from out of town to visit patients. I opened the shutters early today because the air was actually a bit cool for once in Patna. Usually, it's just hot and dusty. I’ve got bags of rice stacked up near the back and the pulses are all in those clear jars so people can see what they’re getting. I don't really do much advertising because the shop has been in this spot long enough that people just know it's here. Some days the tea stall next door is louder than I’d like, but that’s just how it is on this street. I spend a good chunk of my time checking the dates on the biscuit packets. Nobody wants a stale Marie biscuit with their chai. My son helps out sometimes after his classes, but mostly it's just me sitting on the wooden stool near the scales. We have all the normal stuff, matches, oil, salt, and some sweets for the children who come by after the hospital visits. It’s a simple life. I try to keep the floor clean but with all the foot traffic from the main road, it’s a losing battle. I just close up when the street lights come on and head home. There is always more to do tomorrow morning when the milk arrives.