Sasta General Store

If you know where the HDFC ATM in Satya Niketan is, then you have probably seen Sasta General Store right next to it. Being at number 141 means we see a lot of college kids passing by all day long. This part of Delhi is always moving. We start early because the milk crates arrive before the sun is really up. I spend most of the morning just arranging the snack packets and making sure the fridge is actually cold. People come in mostly for quick things like a bottle of water or some chips while they wait for their friends. The shop is not huge, so we have to stack things pretty high on the racks. Sometimes I have to use a plastic stool to reach the top shelf where the bigger detergent packs are kept. It gets a bit chaotic when three or four people are standing in the small space in front of the counter. We do not have any fancy displays here. It is just what you see is what you get. The floor gets a bit muddy when it rains because of all the foot traffic, so we keep a mop handy. It is a simple life, just counting change and making sure the bread is fresh. Most of the regulars are the students from the nearby hostels who need some noodles or a new pen because theirs ran out right before a class. We just keep the lights on and wait for the next person to walk in. Sometimes I forget to eat my own lunch until it is already evening.