Akash General Stores

Jodhan Bora Bazar is a busy spot, and that’s where you’ll find Akash General Stores. It’s a small space, so we have to use every inch of the walls to hang things up. We’ve got everything from toothbrushes to snacks to light bulbs. The floor is a bit uneven, so you have to watch your step when you come in. I’ve been working here for years, and I know exactly which floorboard creaks. Kids come in after school for candy, and their parents come in later for kitchen supplies. It’s a lot of small transactions all day long. The bazar is always noisy with people talking and bicycles going by. Sometimes I forget to eat lunch because there’s a steady stream of people wanting one or two things. We don't have any air conditioning, just the breeze from the front door if we're lucky. I spend my evenings restacking the shelves because things get moved around a lot during the rush. It’s not a glamorous life, but it keeps me busy. Most of the people who come in are neighbors, so we end up talking about the weather or the local news quite a bit. I spend a lot of time writing down what we owe people and what they owe us in a little notebook. It’s just a regular store in Jodhan. Nothing more to it than that, really. We just keep the doors open and see who comes in to buy a few bits and pieces.