Vigneswara General Stores

Vigneswara General Stores is situated in Kankipadu, right opposite the bus stand in Vijayawada. Being across from the buses means we see all kinds of people, from locals to folks just passing through on their way somewhere else. The shop gets quite a lot of dust from the road, so we are always dusting off the bottles and packets. We sell things like snacks, cold soda, cigarettes, and basic groceries. It can get very loud with the bus horns and the conductors shouting out destinations all day long. We don't have much room for sitting down, as the space is mostly taken up by boxes and bags of grain. When the weather is really hot, the cold water and soft drinks sell out fast. We keep the fridge humming in the corner even when the power flickers. It is a busy life, standing behind the counter and watching the world go by through the open front. We don't really do any big advertising, people just see us when they get off the bus or walk to the market. Sometimes someone comes in just for a bit of change or to ask for directions, and we help them out while we work. It is a straightforward business, nothing fancy about it. We just keep the shelves full and the door open for anyone who needs a quick thing before they catch their next ride home or to their work for the day.