Mahadev Super Store

Living and working in Surat is fast. Our shop is over in Siddhi Vinayak Park on the Palanpur Jakatnaka Road. Since we are right near the vegetable market, it’s always crowded outside. People buy their fresh greens there and then come to us for everything else like soap, spices, and grains. The "super store" name is maybe a bit much, it’s just a decent sized shop with lots of stuff crammed in. I try to keep the pulses in clear jars so people can see what they’re getting. The heat in Surat can be something else, so the fridge is always working hard to keep the drinks cold. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we have to use candles until the generator kicks in. It’s a bit of a struggle to keep everything tidy when you have hundreds of items in a small space. My brother helps me with the accounts in the evening because I’m not very good with the computer stuff. We still write a lot of things down in a notebook. The customers are mostly families living in the nearby apartments. They want their stuff quick and they want it right. I do my best to keep up with the rush, especially on Sunday mornings when everyone is out shopping at once. We sell a lot of snacks because kids come in after school. It’s a noisy, busy place but it’s our livelihood and we do what we can to keep it going.