Khushi General Store

At Khushi General Store in Lucknow, things move at their own pace. We are tucked away in Moazzam Nagar, which is part of the Saadat Ganj area. It is one of those places where everyone knows everyone else’s business. My shop is not very fancy, just a regular spot where you can find soap, matches, or some spices for dinner. I start the day by sweeping the front and arranging the jars of sweets near the front so the children can see them. The summers in Saadatganj are really something, so the fan stays on full speed all day long. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we just sit there in the dark for a bit, chatting with whoever is inside. I have been running this store for years and the wooden counters are starting to show their age. We don't really have a computer or anything, just a notebook where I write things down if someone needs to pay me later in the month. People come in for a kilo of flour or just a single cigarette sometimes. It is a mix of small sales that keep the place going. I like the routine of it all. Dealing with the wholesalers can be a headache, especially when the prices change every week, but we manage somehow. It is just a small corner of Lucknow where we provide what the neighborhood needs every day.