#KiranasOfIndia have been more than just a place to buy goods, it has been hubs of conversations, community and traditional version of a chai shop meeting. It’s a beating heart of a neighbourhood, a familiar world with a face that knows you. But do you know them?
We bring you one such story of Veena. Here goes.
Veena runs a Kirana store in Bangalore. When you ask her why, she will shrug her shoulders nonchalantly but in an endearing way and say, because I know the business. Her coyness is charming and we egg her on to tell us more about the history of her skills. She simply smiles like the answer is so obvious, “My family did the same thing.” Running a Kirana business was a hereditary trait for her. She has been running Darshan stores for the last four years and came upon it by chance. The building owner had an empty spot and asked her to do what felt most natural to her.
Veena has a daughter, who also helps her run the store in the evenings or on the weekends. Why not during the day, you ask? Well, the daughter is an MBA-graduate working for a (surprise, surprise) tech company in Bangalore. It’s a family business where her husband helps her out too during the afternoons giving her a little break.
She may not be well-versed with technology but is an astute businesswoman and quick to respond to her customers. With a smile on her face and a phone in hand, she continues her conversation, animatedly. When you look at her, it seems like she was made for the Kirana world.
