Naveen General Store

Naveen General Store is over in the Aitmadhpur area of Agra. If you know the neighborhood, it is a fairly quiet spot compared to the main city center. I usually open up the shop early in the morning before the sun gets too hot. The shelves are mostly filled with things like flour, pulses, cooking oil, and those small packets of spices that everyone uses. We also keep some stationery and basic household cleaners in the corner. It is a bit cramped inside because I try to fit in as much variety as possible. The floor is concrete and shows a bit of wear from all the people coming in and out over the years. During the day, kids from the local houses come by for sweets or small toys. It is a very local kind of place where I know most people by their names or at least their faces. Sometimes the electricity goes off for an hour or two and we just leave the front door wide open to let the light in. I spend a lot of time just dusting the jars and making sure the inventory is right. It is a simple way to earn a living and the people in Aitmadhpur seem to appreciate having a shop nearby where they do not have to travel far for basic needs. We do not have any big signs or bright lights, just the name over the door and the daily routine.