Omprakash General Stores

Starting the day early here at Nagpur 440008 is just how things go. Omprakash General Stores has been sitting on this corner for a while now. We open up the shutters around eight in the morning and start checking what came in the night before. Usually, it's just me or my brother behind the counter. The shelves get a bit dusty because of the road outside, so wiping them down is the first job. We sell the usual things people need for their kitchens and homes. Sometimes the milk delivery is late and everyone waits outside chatting. It’s not a big fancy place, just a room filled with sacks and boxes. People come in for a single pen or a whole bag of rice. I try to remember where everything is, but sometimes a box gets moved and I have to hunt for it while the customer waits. We don't have a computer system or anything, just a notebook and a pen for keeping track of things. The fan overhead makes a bit of noise but it keeps us cool during the Nagpur heat. Most people around here know our faces. We don't do much advertising because everyone just walks over when they run out of salt or soap. It’s a quiet life, mostly just stocking shelves and talking to the regulars who stop by on their way home from work. Sometimes we stay open late if someone calls and says they’re coming.