Kumar Variety

Being at Birsa Chowk in Ranchi means there is always noise from the street. At Kumar Variety, the day starts by rolling up the heavy metal shutter and seeing what needs restocking. We have all sorts of things packed into the shelves, from plastic buckets and brooms to snacks and notebooks. It gets a bit messy because space is tight in 834003, and sometimes a box of soap ends up next to the batteries. The light inside isn’t very bright, but we know where everything is tucked away. Customers usually come in asking for something specific they forgot at the bigger market. We spend a lot of time counting out small change or explaining that the bread hasn’t arrived yet. Sometimes the kids from the nearby houses run in for a single chocolate or a pencil. It can get hot in the afternoons when the sun hits the front of the shop directly. We don’t have fancy displays, just wooden racks and glass jars filled with sweets. Most of the work is just moving heavy crates or writing down what we need to buy for tomorrow. It is a simple way to spend the day, talking to neighbors and keeping the shelves full. Sometimes the rain leaks a little near the door, so we have to move the flour bags quickly. It’s just how things are here on the ground, keeping busy until it is time to close.