Bismillah Store

Bismillah Store is at number 21 in Padavedu, not too far from Arani. It’s a small place where we keep the essentials that people in this area need every day. We open up early because the farmers and laborers are out before the sun is fully up. The shop is tucked away, so if you aren’t from around here, you might miss it. We have shelves for the soaps and biscuits, and then the bigger bags of grain are kept on the floor. It’s usually just one or two of us working. We know most of the kids who come in for a single chocolate or a packet of chips after school. The walls could probably use a new coat of paint, but we haven’t gotten around to it yet. Sometimes we sit outside on a stool when it’s quiet just to catch a breeze. When the supply truck comes from Arani, we have to clear a path so we can get the new crates inside. It’s a simple life and we don't try to make it more than it is. We just sell what people ask for and try to keep enough change in the drawer. The light inside flickers sometimes if the power is acting up, which happens quite a bit. It’s just a normal neighborhood shop for normal people. We have a small radio that plays mostly old songs.