Anup Gupta General Store

If you walk through the lanes of Chamanganj you will find us at 84/205 in the Charwalo Nagar area. It is a bit of a maze around here with all the narrow streets and houses packed together. We have been operating this general store for quite some time now and it feels like part of the neighborhood. The shop name is Anup Gupta General Store and that’s me behind the counter most days. I usually start the day by cleaning the front area and checking what needs to be ordered. We keep a bit of everything from lentils to washing powder. The space inside is a little cramped because we try to fit in as much stock as possible. Customers often come in just to chat for a minute while they buy their groceries. It is a very local atmosphere where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Kanpur weather is always a topic of conversation especially when the humidity gets high. Sometimes the rain floods the street a little bit and we have to put planks down for people to step on so they can reach the door. It’s not a fancy job but it’s steady. I spend a lot of time writing down accounts in a thick register because technology is sometimes more trouble than it’s worth. By the time evening comes around the street lights flicker on and the daily rush starts again.