Deepanshi General & Kirana Store

Deepanshi General & Kirana Store is located near Ambedkar Dharmshala in Meerut Cantt. It’s a bit of a quieter spot compared to the main bazar, which I actually prefer. I’ve got a good view of the street from where I stand behind the counter. My shop is where people come when they realize they’ve run out of something in the middle of cooking dinner. I keep all the kirana essentials—daal, salt, spices, and ghee. The smell of the spices is always hanging in the air, which is something I’ve grown to love. I use an old-fashioned set of scales for the loose items, though I have a digital one now too for the people who are in a hurry. The walls are lined with boxes of biscuits and rows of shampoo sachets hanging from the ceiling. It’s a bit cramped, especially when more than three people come in at once. I usually have a radio playing some old songs in the background to keep me company. My customers are mostly people from the nearby houses who have been coming here for years. We talk about the weather or how the prices of things are going up. I don't try to sell them things they don't need; I just give them what they ask for. It’s a simple way to make a living, and it keeps me connected to the community here. I spend most of my time just making sure the jars are full and the floor is clean.