Mithlesh General Stores

If you’re walking down Damodarpur Road in Dhanbad, you’ll see us right by the Hanuman Mandir. It’s a busy stretch of road, and there’s always a bit of coal dust in the air, so I’m constantly wiping down the glass jars. Running a general store in Hirapur is about knowing what the neighborhood needs. I keep a lot of heavy staples like flour and cooking oil because families around here do a lot of cooking at home. I don’t have much room for fancy stuff, so I just stick to the basics that everyone uses every day. The shop gets quite warm in the afternoon sun, so I usually take a small break when things get quiet. I’ve had this place since my father passed it down, and not much has changed since then. The wooden drawers still stick a bit when it’s rainy, and the lightbulb in the back flickers sometimes. I enjoy the mornings when the temple bells are ringing and people stop in for a packet of biscuits on their way home. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s important to have a place where you can get what you need without a fuss. I try to be fair with everyone and keep the shelves as full as I can manage. Dhanbad is a tough city, but the people here are good neighbors to have. I will keep the shutters open as long as the neighbors keep coming by.