Kalyani Kerala Store

I open the shutters every morning here at G-4 in the Gajanand Apartment. It is a quiet corner of Mei Colony on the 9th Main in Makarpura. The shop isn’t huge, but we make use of every inch of space on the shelves. Most of the time, I am busy unpacking crates that come in with stocks from back home. You will find the usual things people look for when they want a taste of Kerala, like certain oils or those specific snacks that are hard to find elsewhere in the city. The floor is grey stone and stays cool even when it is hot outside. Sometimes the delivery trucks block the narrow lane for a bit, and we have to move things quickly so the neighbors can get their cars out. We don’t have fancy lighting or big signs, just a simple place where we keep things organized as much as possible. It gets a bit crowded on Sunday afternoons when everyone has some free time to shop. I usually sit behind the small counter near the door, checking the lists and making sure we haven't run out of the basic stuff people need for their daily cooking. It is just a regular routine of stocking, cleaning, and talking to the folks who live nearby. We have been in this spot for a while now, and the walls could probably use a new coat of paint, but for now, it works just fine for what we do.