Storekeeper

My name is Ch Srinivasa Rao, and I’m the son of Yedukondalu. I run the Storekeeper business on Goluguri Vari Street in Pentapadu. It’s right here in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. The street gets pretty busy during the day with people moving back and forth. I’m usually at the shop quite early to get a head start before the sun gets too strong. My days are spent mostly moving items around and checking my lists. It’s a lot of counting and double-counting to make sure nothing is missing. The building is older, so it has a certain smell of dust and old paper that I’ve grown used to over the years. I use a small wooden table for all my paperwork. Sometimes the tea boy brings me a glass from the stall down the road, and that’s the highlight of my morning. I don't really have a big staff, so if something needs moving, I’m the one doing it myself. My back hurts a bit by the end of the day from all the bending and lifting, but that’s just how it is. I try to keep everything in its proper place, though sometimes things get mixed up when I’m in a rush to finish. People in Pentapadu know me well enough, so they just walk in and ask for what they need. It’s a simple way to make a living, and I’ve been doing it for long enough that it feels like second nature now. I shut the doors late and head home.