Patel Kirana

You can find us at the ground floor of Tulsi Apartment on Parvatgam Road. This is the Parvat Patia area of Surat, right by the Bombay Market. Being near such a big market means there is always a lot of movement around here. We are a kirana store, so we deal in grains, oils, spices, and all the stuff you need for a kitchen. The apartment building is quite large, so many of our customers just come downstairs to grab what they need. It saves them a trip into the main market chaos. The shop is usually smelling like different spices because we keep them in open containers sometimes. I’ve been working here for years, and the routine is always the same. I weigh out the lentils and pack them in small bags. My hands are usually dusty with flour by the end of the day. We don’t have air conditioning, just the breeze from the door. It gets quite hot in Surat, but we are used to it. The shelves are made of old wood and they groan a bit under the weight of the rice bags. I have a small TV in the corner to keep me updated on the news. It’s a steady life, and I enjoy the familiarity of the neighborhood. People stop by to complain about the prices of oil, and we just agree and carry on.