Bhai Chattar Singh Co

Bhai Chattar Singh Co sits out on Karur Road in Kangayam, right at number 817/2 near Veeranampalayam. It is a solid building, built to last with thick walls that keep the inside relatively cool even when the sun is beating down on the asphalt outside. I usually arrive before eight in the morning to get the keys in the lock and air the place out. There is a specific smell to this shop, a mix of old paper and the various goods we keep in the back room. It’s a smell I’ve grown used to, almost like home. We don't do much in the way of advertising or putting up big signs. People know we are here because we’ve always been here. The counter is made of heavy dark wood that has been worn smooth in the center from years of coins and bags being slid across it. I keep a small notebook for reminders because my memory isn't what it used to be. Kangayam can be a busy place with all the trade going on, and being on the Karur Road means we see a lot of travelers as well as the locals from Veeranampalayam. Sometimes the heavy trucks rumbling past make the glasses on the shelf rattle a little bit. It’s just part of the day. I spend my afternoons checking the inventory and making sure nothing has gone past its date. It’s a steady job, nothing flashy, just keeping the shop running and being there for whoever stops by to say hello or buy something.