Rukmani General Store

Rukmani General Store is tucked away in Shastri Nagar, specifically near the Kanchan Naga area. It’s a bit of a walk from the main road, so it’s mostly just the locals who come by. We spend our mornings arranging the fresh loaves of bread and the milk packets that get dropped off at the door. The shop has a low ceiling, so it stays relatively cool even when it’s hot outside. We have shelves filled with household items like toothbrushes, combs, and different kinds of hair oil. There are also big sacks of flour and rice leaning against the back wall. We sell a lot of small things, like needles, thread, and buttons, which we keep in a drawer behind the counter. It’s a bit of a squeeze when more than two people are inside at the same time. We have a small window that lets in some light, but mostly we rely on a single bulb hanging from a wire. The neighborhood is fairly quiet, so we can hear the birds and the occasional scooter passing by. We know which neighbors like which brand of tea and who usually forgets to bring their own bag. It’s a slow-paced kind of place. We don't have any fancy displays, just the goods stacked where they fit. We've been doing this for a while and it’s just our daily routine.