Prem General Store

If you are ever near the Sanganer Thana in Jaipur, you will find Prem General Store right there on Tonk Road. It is a very busy spot because of the police station and all the traffic going by. We have been running this place for years. The building is old and the paint is peeling a bit near the bottom of the walls. We sell everything from detergents to local snacks. Jaipur gets incredibly hot in the summer, so the stone floor inside feels nice on the feet. We don't have a big sign, just the name painted above the door. Most people who live in Sanganer know where we are anyway. I spend most of my day sitting behind the counter. My son helps with the heavy lifting when the sacks of grain arrive. We have a lot of jars filled with toffees on the front counter for the children. Sometimes the cows wander close to the door and we have to shoo them away so they don't block the entrance. It's a lot of work keeping track of what is running out. We write everything down in a thick register with a red cover. We don't bother with computers because the old way works fine for us. It’s just a regular store for regular people. We keep the doors open as long as there is light outside. It feels good being part of the neighborhood for so long.