Vinod General Store

The mornings at Choti Chaupar are always special. I open up Vinod General Store when the city is just starting to wake up. This is a very old part of town and the walls of the shop feel like they have seen a lot of years. We stock everything from lentils and rice to small soaps and matches. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze inside because I like to keep the shelves full. If you look up, there are bags hanging from the ceiling hooks too. I know most of the people who walk through the door by their first names. They come in for their daily milk or maybe just a packet of biscuits. The floor is old stone and it stays relatively cool even when the Rajasthan heat starts to pick up outside. I don't have a computer here. I use a small wooden box for the cash and a notebook for the accounts. Sometimes the traffic outside gets so loud I have to lean over the counter to hear what a customer is asking for. It’s a simple life and there is always something to restock or move around. My son helps out in the evenings when the office crowd stops by on their way home. We just keep things moving and try to make sure we don't run out of the basics that people need every day. The ceiling fan wobbles a bit, but it keeps the air moving.