Girish General Stores

This shop, Girish General Stores, has been part of Mulund West for quite some time. We are right here in area 1. It’s a basic place, really. We sell the things you run out of at home, like salt, sugar, or maybe a notebook for the kids. I started this because I wanted to work for myself and be close to home. Most mornings, I’m here before the sun is fully up to take delivery of the bread and milk. The space is tight, and sometimes boxes are stacked in the corners because there’s nowhere else to put them. I know most of the people who walk through the door by their first name or at least I know what they usually buy. If someone is short a few rupees, we usually just settle it the next day. It’s that kind of neighborhood. Mulund has changed a lot, with bigger stores opening up, but we just keep doing what we’ve always done. The fan in the back makes a bit of a clicking noise, but it works fine. I don't spend money on fancy displays or big lights. People come here because it’s convenient and they know what they’re getting. Sometimes it gets dusty with the road work outside, so I spend a lot of time wiping down the jars. It’s a quiet life, mostly. Just selling bits and pieces to the locals and keeping things moving.