Jay Ambe Kirana Store

Shop number two hundred and sixty-five in Vijaya Nagar is where I spend almost all my waking hours. Jay Ambe Kirana Store is in the Udhna part of Surat, right near Harinagar-2. The air here always smells a bit like spices and grains because of all the sacks we keep open. It’s a traditional kirana store, so don’t expect any shopping carts or bright neon signs. I sit on a raised platform and reach for things on the shelves for the customers who stand out front. Surat is a fast-growing city, but in this little corner, things feel a bit more slow and familiar. I know most of the families around here and what they like to cook on different days of the week. My hands are usually a bit dusty from handling the loose flour and sugar. The wooden counters have been worn down over the years where people lean on them to talk. Sometimes my nephew comes in to help me move the heavier bags of rice, but usually, it's just me. I don’t do any deliveries or online stuff, people just walk over when they need something. It’s a lot of work keeping track of all the different brands and prices as they change, but I’ve got a system that works for me. It’s a honest way to make a living and I’m glad to be part of the community here.