Garg General Store

I run the general store here in Narela. It’s a basic shop where we keep all the things people need for their daily lives. I open the shutters early every morning, usually before most people are even awake. I like the quiet of the morning in Narela before the trucks and the crowds start moving. The shelves are packed with everything from flour and pulses to soap and biscuits. Keeping everything in its right place is a challenge, but with people coming in and out all day, it gets a bit messy by the evening anyway. My son helps me out once he finishes his studies for the day. We know almost everyone who walks through the door because they live just a few streets away. While I weigh out the sugar or pack the tea, we talk about the weather or how the local market is doing. The shop isn't very large, so we have to use every bit of space, even hanging things from the hooks on the ceiling. It gets quite busy in the evenings when people are coming home from work and realize they forgot to buy milk or bread. I’ve been behind this counter for many years, seeing the kids in the neighborhood grow up and start coming in to buy things for their own homes. It’s a steady life. There’s always something to restock or a floor to sweep, but I don’t mind. It’s just a neighborhood store in Narela.