Rasi General Store

If you find yourself at Mettu Kadai in Kottampatti, you’ll likely see Rasi General Store right there on the Trichy Main Road. Melur is just a short trip away, but this spot feels like its own little world. I spend most of my time behind the wooden desk, looking out at the traffic going toward Madurai. We keep a lot of basic things like lentils, different types of oils, and the usual household items that people around here need. It gets quite dusty being so close to the main highway, so I’m always wiping down the glass jars. The shop isn't very large, so we utilize every inch of wall space for hanging packets of shampoo or snacks. In the afternoons, when the sun is really hot, the shop gets a bit quiet and I catch up on my bookkeeping in an old diary. Locals usually stop by in the mornings to get what they need for dinner. There’s a certain rhythm to it that doesn't really change much from year to year. I know most of the people who come in by name, and we talk about the rains or the price of crops. We don't have any fancy computer systems or anything like that. Everything is done manually, and we like it that way. It’s just a straightforward place where you can get your groceries without any fuss or complication. We keep things running and handle the daily chores as they come.