Saif General Store

This shop sits right in the heart of Tambakoo Mandi over in the Chaupatiyan area of Lucknow. We are very close to the Talha Masjid, so I hear the call to prayer five times every day while I’m standing here working. It’s a very old part of the city and the streets are quite narrow and always full of people, cows, and rickshaws pushing past each other. I took over this general store because it’s what my family has always done for work. The space is small but we use every single inch of the walls to hang packets of spices, shampoos, and snacks. It’s always a bit dusty because of the busy market outside, but that’s just how Lucknow is. I spend my days weighing out items and chatting with the regulars who have lived in these lanes for decades. We sell things like tea, sugar, and small household goods that people need in a hurry. Sometimes I have to step out for a minute to move my scooter because it blocks the narrow path, but usually, things flow okay. It’s a busy life here in the mandi. The heat in the summer can be really tough under these low roofs, but the old fans keep us going. I don't use a computer for the accounts; I still prefer my old paper ledger and a blue pen. It feels more real and I don't have to worry about the battery dying. People stop by after visiting the masjid, and we catch up on the local news or the price of vegetables. It’s a simple life.