Munna General Stoe

Munna General Stoe is right at the Tahseenganj Chouraha on Hardoi Road in Lucknow. Being at a major crossing means there is never a quiet moment with all the horns and people shouting outside. The shop is always a bit dusty because of the traffic, so we spend a lot of time wiping things down with an old cloth. We carry all the basics like tea, sugar, and various snacks that people grab while they are waiting for their transport. Inside the shop, it is a bit dark in the back where we keep the larger sacks of rice and flour. We have a small stool behind the counter, but there is rarely a chance to sit down for more than five minutes. My brother and I take turns running the place from morning until late at night. We see hundreds of different people every day since it is such a busy intersection. Some are regulars who live nearby, and others are just passing through Lucknow. The shelves are made of wood and they are starting to sag a little under the weight of the tins. We keep a notebook handy to write down when we are running low on something. It is a loud and busy way to spend the day, but we are used to the rhythm of the chouraha by now. We just focus on getting the items to the customers as fast as they ask for them.