Ashok Saini Kirana Store

Ashok Saini runs this kirana store here in Farmana Khas, and it’s about forty kilometers away from the main Rohtak town. Being out here means we have to be very careful about what we keep in stock because getting new supplies takes a whole day sometimes. The shop opens up early in the morning, usually around seven, when the village is just waking up and people need milk or tea leaves. It’s a small space packed with bags of rice, flour, and jars of sweets for the local kids who stop by on their way to school. We spend most of the day weighing out lentils or sugar for the housewives who come in with their lists. Sometimes the floor gets a bit dusty from the road outside, so we are constantly sweeping. There is an old wooden counter where Ashok sits and keeps track of who owes what in the register. It’s a lot of work keeping everything organized on the shelves. In the summer, we try to keep the drinks cool, but the fridge struggles when the electricity is patchy. We know almost everyone who walks through the door by their first name. It is just a simple life here, making sure people have what they need for their kitchens without them having to travel all the way to the city. We have been here for years and the shop is just part of the street now, serving the village the way we always have.