Laxmi Stores

Laxmi Stores is at Shop Number 26 on Maldahiya Road in Varanasi. We are situated near the Patel area, which is a big landmark for anyone traveling through Maldahiya. The 221001 pin code is a busy part of town, and the road outside is almost never empty. Our shop is a modest space where we have shelves lining every available inch of the walls. It takes a bit of work to keep everything organized, especially with the dust that comes off the busy street. We start our mornings by sweeping the front step and getting the lights on. The building is older, and the ceiling is quite high, which helps keep it a little cooler during the hot months in Uttar Pradesh. We have a small wooden counter where we spend most of our time. There is a specific rhythm to the day here, from the early morning rush to the slower afternoon hours. You can hear the cycle rickshaws and the chatter of people walking by all day long. We don't have any flashy advertisements, just the name of the store above the door. It is a lot of standing and waiting, mixed with the manual work of restocking the heavy items. We have lived our lives around this shop and the people who live in the Maldahiya neighborhood.