Bharat Vijay Stores

Bharat Vijay Stores is tucked away in the Thakur Village area of Budhwar Peth. Budhwar Peth is one of those places where the lanes are narrow and everything feels very old. Our store is no different. We have been here for a long time and the building shows its age. The shelves are made of heavy wood and go all the way up to the ceiling. We have to use a small wooden ladder to reach the items on the top. It’s a general store, so we carry a bit of everything that people in the neighborhood might run out of. There is no air conditioning, just the breeze that comes through the front door and a couple of wall fans. We know most of the people who come in by their first names. They usually stop for a chat while they are buying their groceries. The floor is made of old stone and it has some cracks in it, but it’s sturdy. We spend a lot of time unpacking crates and putting things on the shelves. It’s a bit of a squeeze when the delivery truck comes because the lane is so small. We have to move quickly to get everything inside so we don't block the path for everyone else. It’s a busy life but it’s what we know.