Shri Laxmi Fancy & General Store

If you walk down Khai Road in Nayapura, you’ll find our little shop tucked in among the other buildings. We call it Shri Laxmi Fancy & General Store. I started this place because I wanted something of my own near home. Most days, I am here from morning until quite late in the evening. The "fancy" part of the name basically means we carry things like colorful bangles, hair clips, and some basic makeup that the local girls look for. Then we have the general side, which is the usual stuff like toothbrushes, notebooks for the kids, and snacks. Nayapura is a crowded area, so there is always someone passing by the door. I spend a lot of time rearranging the small items on the glass counters because things tend to get messy when customers are looking through the different shades of thread or buttons. It’s a small space, so you have to be careful not to knock anything over when you walk in. The fan hums in the corner all day, trying to keep the air moving in the heat. My wife often comes in the afternoon to sit with me and help out while I go grab a tea from the stall nearby. We don’t do any big advertising or anything. People just know we are here on Khai Road if they need a safety pin or a packet of biscuits. It’s a quiet way to make a living and we like being part of the local community.