Argya Aushadhalay

Argya Aushadhalay is right near the 16 Number Bus Stop in Kaveri Nagar. It’s listed as 13/6 on the paperwork but most people just look for the spot opposite the Lonawala Bus Stop. It’s a busy corner of Chinchwad near Nepean Sea Road. A lot of people come off the buses throughout the day. The shop is filled with rows of glass jars and cardboard boxes of medicine. It smells like dried herbs and some of the stronger tonics we keep in the back. My family has been running Argya Aushadhalay for a long time. There's an old wooden counter where we weigh things out for people who come in with their prescriptions. It’s not a modern-looking place at all. The floor tiles are worn down from years of customers walking in and out. Sometimes the rain leaks in a little near the front door so a bucket stays there. We know most of the people who live around Kaveri Nagar by their first names. It’s a small community even with all the bus traffic. The shop stays open until late because that’s when people get home from work and realize they need something. Standing on your feet all day is hard work but we like the routine. There's always someone stopping by to chat while they wait for the next bus. We just keep the doors open and the shelves stocked for whoever needs us and that's about it.