Prakash Stors

Prakash Stors is right here on Karve Road at 15/3. If you know this part of Pune, you know how busy it gets. The shop is small, but we try to keep everything people might need for their houses. I’ve been working here since I was much younger. My father started it, and now I’m the one opening the shutter every morning. Karve Road has changed so much since we first opened. There are more cars now and fewer trees. We don't have a computer system or anything like that; I just write everything down in a big register. It’s easier for me to keep track that way. The shelves are wooden and they’ve been there forever. Sometimes the light bulbs flicker a bit, but they still work. People stop by on their way back from work to pick up milk or packets of biscuits. We know most of our neighbors by name. It’s a friendly place, even if it’s a bit cramped inside. I usually keep a chair outside on the pavement when it's not too crowded, just to get some fresh air. The shop doesn't have a big sign, just Prakash Stors painted on the top. We stay open until late at night because that is when most people have time to shop. It's a simple life, just staying at the shop and talking to the people who walk in. It is just a plain neighborhood store.