Barnwal General Store

Running Barnwal General Store here at Steel Gate is a daily routine that we have gotten quite used to over the years. Our shop is right on the Main Road in Saraidhela, so there is always the sound of traffic and horns in the background. Most mornings start with pulling up the heavy iron shutters and sweeping the front because the Dhanbad dust settles on everything overnight. We have got all kinds of things crammed onto the shelves, from packets of biscuits and local spices to soaps and washing powders. It is not the biggest place in the world, and sometimes the boxes are stacked a bit too high, but we know where everything is kept. People from the Saraidhela area stop by on their way home to pick up things they forgot, and we spend a lot of our time just weighing out goods or looking for change in the wooden drawer. The heat in the summer can be a bit much, especially when the sun hits the front of the shop, but the ceiling fan keeps things bearable enough. We do not have any fancy signs or modern displays, just the same racks we have used for a long time. It is a simple way to make a living, and being part of the noise and bustle of the Main Road feels right. We just try to keep the essentials in stock so that the neighbors do not have to go too far.