Soni General Store Paota

Living and working right on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway here in Paota means things are always moving fast outside. The Soni family has had this store for a long time now, and we mostly just try to keep the shelves full of what the local families need. It is a bit different from the shops in the city because we get a mix of people just passing through and the regulars who live just down the lane. The wind blows a lot of sand off the highway, so we spend a lot of time cleaning. We have the usual kirana items, like different types of rice and pulses, plus some stationery for the kids going to school. We don't have a big team, just a couple of us making sure everything is in order. The shelves are wooden and a bit old, and sometimes we have to stack the boxes on the floor when a new delivery comes in. It gets quiet in the mid-afternoon when the sun is high, and that is usually when we do our accounts or restock the cold drinks. There is no air conditioning, just a ceiling fan that has been spinning for years. People come in, grab what they need, maybe talk about the weather or the road traffic, and then they are on their way. It is a simple life and we like it that way. No big drama, just keeping the shop running day after day.