Ma Gayatri General Store

Our shop, Ma Gayatri General Store, sits on a corner in Etmadpur. It is a quiet part of Agra if you compare it to the main city, but there is always someone passing by. I spend a lot of time counting the stock and making sure we have not run out of salt or cooking oil. The building is a bit old, and the paint is peeling near the bottom of the walls where the rain hits. We have a lot of jars on the counter filled with colorful candies for the kids who come by after school. They usually have a few coins and take a long time to choose just one thing. My brother helps me on the weekends when it gets a bit more crowded with people doing their weekly shopping. We have a small radio that plays local songs, though the reception is not always great. The light inside is a bit dim because the windows are small, but we know where everything is kept. If you need a lightbulb or some washing powder, we probably have it tucked away somewhere. It is a simple way to earn a living. We do not have a computer for bills, just a thick notebook and a pen that I keep behind my ear. Sometimes we talk to the neighbors about the weather or the price of vegetables while we weigh out their lentils. It is just us here every day.