Jamalu General Store

If you ever find yourself on Hapur Road in Meerut, you might notice Jamalu General Store. We are located at 32, 14, right near Rosy Public School. The morning starts early for us because the school kids start arriving and they always want pens, notebooks, or maybe some snacks before their classes begin. It gets quite chaotic for about an hour. The shop is a simple place. We have shelves lined with everything from cooking oil to washing powder. It isn't very large, so we have to use every inch of space we have. Sometimes I have to climb a ladder to reach the stuff stored near the ceiling. It’s hard work, but it’s what we do. The noise from the Hapur Road traffic is constant, a mix of buses and rickshaws. We’ve seen the neighborhood change a lot over the years. Some shops closed down, others opened up, but we stayed right here. My clothes usually have a bit of flour or dust on them by midday. I don't mind. It's a real job. We don't have fancy displays or any of that. Just practical things that people in Meerut need every day. When the sun goes down, the street lights flicker on and we start thinking about closing up. It’s a long day, but seeing the familiar faces makes it okay. We are just a local store doing our bit, making sure the shelves stay full for the neighbors.