Shri Sarda General Store

I’ve been sitting at this counter in Churi Bazar for quite some time now. Shri Sarda General Store is just a small place in the middle of Sadar Bajar here in Jodhpur. Most days start early before the sun gets too hot. I unlock the shutters and sweep the front while the city is still waking up. Living and working in Jodhpur means you get used to the dust and the constant noise of bikes passing by. We keep all sorts of things on these wooden shelves, from basic household stuff to bits and pieces people suddenly realize they need. Sometimes the inventory gets a bit messy because space is tight, but I usually know exactly where everything is hidden. If a customer asks for a specific brand of soap or a packet of biscuits, I can usually reach for it without looking too hard. It’s not a fancy place with bright lights or anything. Just a regular shop where neighbors stop to talk for a minute or two while they wait for their change. My father used to say that a shop is only as good as the people who walk through the door. Lately, the heat has been a bit much, so the afternoon lull is longer than it used to be. I just sit under the fan and wait for the evening rush. It’s a simple life, really. Just keeping the shelves full and making sure the math adds up at the end of the day. It keeps me out of trouble.