Pheruman General Store

Our shop is on Ram Trith Road in Amritsar, right at Shop No.3. If you look for the 31 Cantt Bharti Office, we are just opposite that. Being near the Cantt means we see a lot of different people every day. Pheruman General Store is what we call it, though most people just say they are going to the corner shop. It is a small place but I try to keep it packed with everything from batteries to washing powder. The winters here in Amritsar are really cold, so I keep the shutter halfway down sometimes to block the wind. In the mornings, I have my tea while waiting for the first customer to walk in. It's usually someone looking for cigarettes or a matchbox. I don't have a computer system here, I just do the math in my head or on a small calculator. Sometimes I make a mistake and have to fix it while the customer waits. The shelves are made of old wood and they creak a bit. I spend my afternoons checking the expiry dates on the milk packets and bread. It's a lot of small tasks that never seem to end. But it’s a good way to earn a living. People around here are friendly, and we often chat about the local news or the weather while I bag their items. It's just a regular life in a busy city.