Mahesh stores - 1

Baana Kathadi(Kite), Bombay Kathadi, Goli,Maanja nool, Siruvandi nool, Peruvandi nool, Stickers, Pens, Pencils, Paattu pusthagam, Pambaram, Kadalai urundai, Vathal, Butter biscuit, Thenga biscuit, Burfi, Jeera mittai, Then mittai, Kadalai mittai, Koli soda, Kaali mark soda, Spencers colour, Spencers soda, ginger ale, patchai vaalai, Poovan or manjal vazhai, peyan, Rasthaali, Malai vazhai, vethilai paakku, muttai, Kaja beedi, Ganesh beedi, Tobacco leaves, Kali paakku, Filter Wills, Gold flakes, scissors, charminar, Ajantha paakku, koku paakku, strong mittai, chiclate(chewing gums), bubble gums, Poondu urukai, mangai oorkai, lime oorkai, ……..

yes, you name it and I have sold most of them in during my school life and still maintained my probity and integrity!!!. Well, We owned a vethilai paaku kadai (Corner shop), between 1977 and 1994 in Chennai, Mannadi area, started on my brother’s nick name Mahesh! I started helping my appa, when I was 9 years old and almost ran the show between 1980 and 84, i.e. five years of my high school evenings (roughly between year six and tenth ) including the quarterly and half yearly term leave days were spent in the shop. 

The shop was our main bread winner after the set backs appa had at his work and became a main source of income for Amma. The shop helped her fleeting shopping visits to the local Fish market and kothavaal chavadi! This piece is my first in an attempt to serialise the nostalgic sprinklers of late 70's and early 80's, the life that was around our corner shop.