Manish General Store

Manish General Store is tucked away in Meena Market, right here in Indira Nagar. If you know Lucknow, you probably know where Pradeep Sweet House is, and we’re just right across from there. It’s a busy spot, especially in the evenings when everyone is out getting their snacks. I spend a lot of time sitting behind the wooden counter, watching the traffic go by. The shop is filled with all sorts of things, from washing powder to different types of rice. I try to keep the shelves organized, but things always end up getting a bit mixed up by midday. It’s just how a neighborhood store works. People come in for a single pack of matches or a whole month’s worth of groceries. I’ve seen kids grow up coming here, first for candies and now they come for things for their own houses. The walls could use a fresh coat of paint, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Usually, it’s quiet in the afternoons when the sun is hitting the street, so I take that time to check what’s running low. I write it all down in a battered notebook. It’s a lot of work keeping track of everything, but I’ve gotten used to the rhythm of it. When the lights go on in the market at night, the whole place feels different. We stay open until the last few people head home. I think I’ve been doing this long enough that the shop feels like my second home now.