Nirankari General Store

Nirankari General Store is a small part of Ramganj. If you walk down the main lane, you’ll find us easily enough. It’s a quiet shop most of the time, except when the school nearby lets out and the kids come running for candy or cold drinks. I spend a lot of time organizing the shelves. We keep mostly the basics like soaps, toothbrushes, and different kinds of dals. Ramganj is an old area, and many families have been coming to us for decades. They don’t even have to tell me what they want half the time. I already know. The shop doesn't have a big sign or bright neon lights. It’s just a simple door and some glass jars in the window. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we sit in the dark with a flashlight until it comes back. It’s just how things are here. I try to keep the place clean, but with the wind blowing through the street, there’s always a bit of sand on the counter. We aren't trying to be the biggest store in town. We just want to make sure if someone needs a needle and thread or a bag of salt at eight at night, they can get it from us. My stool is worn out from years of sitting, and the rafters are a bit low. It’s a humble place, but it’s ours. We stay open as long as there are people walking around.