Prakesh Stores

Prakesh Stores is situated along Jalpa Devi Road, right in the middle of the Visheshwarganj and Kabir Chaura area. It’s a very old part of Varanasi, and the streets show it. There’s a lot of history around here, but for us, it’s just where we work every day. The shop has a big front opening that stays open from morning until late at night. We get a mix of all kinds of people, from laborers to families living in the nearby lanes. We sell the basic things that everyone needs. The shelves are wooden and quite old, sagging a little in the middle under the weight of the goods. We don't have a computer or anything like that; we just use a calculator and a notebook. Sometimes the power goes out, and we have to use a battery light or just wait for the sun to help us see. It gets very noisy with all the traffic on Jalpa Devi Road, so you have to speak up when you're talking to us. We’ve got a routine of opening up, cleaning the front, and checking what needs to be ordered. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s ours. We just keep our heads down and serve the people who walk through the door. Usually, by the time we close, the street has finally started to quiet down a little bit. It is a long day, but it feels right to be here.