Sainath Provision Stores

Being at 17, Viraj Township keeps me busy most of the time. The road here, Jahangirpura Main Road, is always noisy with scooters and cars going past. I opened Sainath Provision Stores because the neighborhood needed a place close by for daily essentials. We are located near the Saroli Jakat Naka, so it’s easy for people to find us. The floor is made of grey stone and it stays surprisingly cool even when Surat gets very humid and sticky. I spend a lot of time counting packets of biscuits and checking the dates on the milk bottles. People in Adajan Dn are regulars who live nearby. They don’t even have to tell me what they want sometimes. I just see them coming and start reaching for their favorite brand of tea or detergent. The shelves are wooden, and they've got some deep scratches from years of moving heavy cans and boxes across them. I try to keep things organized, but on busy mornings, the counter gets a bit messy with open crates. There’s a stray cat that sits outside sometimes, waiting for a bit of scrap or some milk. I don't mind her. The electricity goes off once in a while, and then we just sit in the dark talking to whoever is in the shop until the power comes back. It’s a simple life. No big computer systems here, just a thick notebook where I write things down. When the sun goes down, the street lights come on and the shop feels cozy. We stay open until late because people always forget something for their dinner.