Mamata General Store

Mamata General Store is located right in CIDCO N 4, near Jaibhavani Nagar. It’s a small space, Shop No.3 to be exact, and we have been here for quite a while. The shop is usually full of stuff from the floor to the ceiling, so it can feel a bit cramped when three or four people come in at once. Aurangabad gets really hot in the summer months, so the stone floor here feels nice and cool under my feet. We keep most of the basic things people need for their homes, like detergent, matchboxes, and different kinds of lentils. There is always someone coming in for a single egg or a pouch of shampoo. It’s mostly families from the nearby houses who shop with us. I spend a lot of my day just counting change and chatting with neighbors about the local news. Sometimes the supply of bread is late and I have to explain that to the regulars who come for their breakfast. The sign outside is a bit faded from the sun, but everyone knows where we are. It is just a regular local store where people come because it’s close to their gate. We don't do anything special, just keep the doors open from morning until late at night. Sometimes the stray dogs sleep right in front of the step, and we have to nudge them to let customers in.