Maa Kela Devi General Store

Maa Kela Devi General Store is right on Singhpur Road in the Morar area of Gwalior. We are quite close to Shree Talkies, so we often see people coming and going from the movies. It’s a good spot because there is always some movement. We sell all sorts of general items that people in the neighborhood need, from shampoo sachets to tea leaves. The shop isn't very large, so we have to use every bit of wall space to hang things up. In the mornings, I usually spend time cleaning the jars and making sure the front looks decent. Gwalior can get very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer, so the mood in the shop changes with the seasons. We have a lot of regular customers who live in the lanes nearby and they often stop to talk about the local news while they wait for their change. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we have to use a small battery light to see what we are doing. It's just the way things are. We don't have any big signs or advertisements. People just know where we are. It is a lot of work staying open all day, but it’s what we do to keep things running. We keep a small stool outside for the elderly who need a rest while shopping.