Balajee General Store

Balajee General Store is located on Jhariya Road in Dhanbad. We are quite close to the Mines Rescue Ground, which is a big landmark around here. Since we are in Dhanbad, there is always a layer of coal dust on everything, so I spend a lot of my time wiping down the jars and packets. The road outside is always busy with trucks and people going toward the mines. I opened this shop because I wanted to stay close to my house. I sell the usual things people need like rice, cooking oil, and those big yellow bars of washing soap. The shop interior is quite dark, but I have a tube light that works most of the time when the power is on. I have a big register where I write down what people owe me. Many of my customers work in the mines and they pay me at the end of the month when they get their wages. It is a system that works on trust. I have a small radio that plays old songs in the background while I wait for people to come in. The afternoons are slow and quiet, especially when it is hot outside. I usually take a small nap on my chair during that time. My son comes to help me in the evenings when the crowd picks up. It is not a fancy life, but it is a steady one and it keeps us going.