Shankar Store

Being right at the Kankroli Bus Stand means Shankar Store is never really quiet. We get the dust from the road and the noise of the conductors shouting all day long. I spend most of my time behind the counter, reaching for things on the top shelves. We sell a bit of everything, the kind of stuff people realize they forgot right as they are getting on a bus. It’s a small shop and we have to cram everything in. Sometimes it’s hard to find where I put the smaller items. We don't have a computer to track things, just my memory and a notebook. I’ve known most of the bus drivers for years. They stop in for a quick chat or a cold drink when they have a break. The light in here isn't the best, especially in the corners. We keep the door wide open to let some air in, though it brings in the fumes too. It’s just me and a helper usually. We aren't trying to be a supermarket or anything big. We are just a local store that’s been here at the bus stand for a long time. People know they can find me here from early morning until late evening. It’s a steady way to live. I see thousands of faces every week, most of them just passing through Kankroli to somewhere else. It’s just the way it is here at the station.