Chaush General Store

Chaush General Store is located at 11-2-1194 in Nampally, right near the Dargah Chowrasta. Being so close to the Dargah means there are always people walking past the shop, especially on Thursdays. It is a very old part of Hyderabad, and the roads are quite narrow and crowded. My shop is small, but I try to keep everything from matches to big bags of rice. The dust from the road is a constant problem, so I am always wiping the glass jars. I’ve been in this spot for years, and I’ve seen the neighborhood change so much. People come in for a quick cigarette or a bottle of water while they are waiting for the bus. I don't have any fancy signs or lights, just the name of the store above the door. It’s a noisy place with the horns honking all day long, but I don’t mind it anymore. It feels like home. I know most of the people who live in the lanes behind the shop. They come here for their monthly groceries. Sometimes they ask to pay later, and I write it down in my register. That’s how it works in a place like this. We have a lot of different brands of tea because people around here are very particular about their morning cup. It's a lot of work managing the stock in such a small space, but we manage.