Deepak General Store

Deepak General Store is a small spot right near Padaw Teja Chowk. If you stand outside the door, you can see everything happening in the square. It’s a good place to be because people are always gathered there for one reason or another. I start my day by sweeping the front step and checking if any of the milk packets leaked in the crates overnight. The shop is quite narrow, so I have to be careful how I stack the boxes of washing powder and the bags of rice so people don’t trip. I know most of the neighbors by their first names and we often talk about the weather or local news while I weigh out their sugar. The kids come in after school for little treats, and they usually take forever to decide which one they want. I don’t mind much, it’s just part of the day. The ceiling is a bit low and we have a single bulb that hangs down over the counter where I keep the cash box. It’s an old metal box that has seen better days, but it works fine. Sometimes the neighbors just pop their head in to say hello without buying anything. That’s just how it is around the chowk. We don't have any big signs or bright lights, just the name written above the door. It’s a steady way to spend the years, watching the town grow up around us.