Nilkanta Kirana Store

It’s just us here at Nilkanta Kirana Store in Adajan Dn 1. Every morning, I come in and roll up the shutter. It makes a loud noise that most people in the neighborhood probably recognize by now. I start by sweeping the floor and wiping down some of the jars on the front counter. The shelves are mostly made of wood and they've started to sag a little in the middle because of all the weight from the flour bags and the oil tins. We keep things pretty simple. There isn't any fancy lighting or air conditioning here, just a couple of fans that hum all day long. Sometimes they make a clicking sound if I turn them up too high. The sunlight comes in through the front door and hits the floor in a big square. I spend a lot of time just moving things around to make more space. It feels like we never have enough room for everything we want to put out. People walk by on the street and sometimes they nod or wave as they go to work. The shop is located in a spot where it gets a bit dusty because of the road, so there is always cleaning to do. I don’t mind it much. It’s just how things are at our place in Adajan. We try to keep things organized but sometimes boxes end up piled in the corner. That’s just life here. We don't have any big signs or bright lights. It’s just a regular store for the folks living nearby who need to pick up a few items.