Arihant Kariyana Store

Shop No 13 isn't a very big space but we make it work for what we need. Arihant Kariyana Store sits right on Anand Mahal Road where the traffic never really seems to stop. Most of my days start with me moving heavy bags of rice around to make room for the new stock. The floor is made of old concrete and it stays relatively cool in the early morning hours. I have been working here for a while now and I know exactly which shelf holds the tea leaves and which one has the salt without even having to look for them. It gets very bright in the afternoon because the sun hits the front glass directly and I usually have to squint. Sometimes the big delivery trucks block the entrance for a bit and we just have to sit and wait for them to finish. Neighbors from the nearby buildings come by for small things like a single packet of biscuits or some spices for their dinner. I keep a ledger on the counter that is getting pretty full of notes. The walls could probably use some fresh paint but they have looked this way for many years now. I like the smell of the spices when the bags are first opened. It is a bit loud because of the cars on Anand Mahal Road but you get used to it. We don't have a big staff here, just us making sure the shelves stay mostly full. (251 words)