Jagjit General Store

The Bazaar Area in Ludhiana is a place where you have to watch your step because of the crowds and the rickshaws. Jagjit General Store has been sitting here for a long time now. It’s a narrow shop, like most of them in this part of the city, and we have things piled up from the floor almost to the ceiling. We sell a bit of everything, from washing powder to bags of lentils. During the winter, it gets really cold in the mornings, so we keep a small heater near the stool where we sit. The air is always full of the smell of spices and the sound of people bargaining outside. We don't do much bargaining here though, people know our prices are fair. The wooden floorboards have some gaps in them, and sometimes a coin might fall through if we aren't careful. We know most of the families around here by name. They send their kids over with a list written on a scrap of paper, and we spend time gathering each item and wrapping it in brown paper or a plastic bag. It’s a long day, usually staying open until late evening when the bazaar finally starts to quiet down. We don't have any assistants, just us handling the customers and the stock. It’s hard work, but it’s what we know, and the neighbors seem to appreciate having us right here in the middle of the bazaar.