Pankaj General Store

Pankaj General Store is located on Mandia Road, specifically in Ashapura Nagar 206. It’s one of those shops where things are stacked from the floor to the ceiling. I try to keep it organized, but when new stock comes in, boxes just end up wherever there is a gap. We have a bit of everything, from soap and shampoo to bags of flour and lentils. The kids from Ashapura Nagar come in every afternoon after school looking for snacks or small toys. I’ve lived in this area for years, so I know most families by name. The shop front faces Mandia Road, so we get a lot of noise from the passing trucks and bikes. It gets a bit hot in the afternoons, but I have a small stool behind the counter where I sit when it's quiet. I keep a ledger where I write down what we need to order for next week. Sometimes the lights flicker when the load is high on the street. I don't mind. The floor is made of old tiles that are worn down in the spots where people stand the most. It’s a basic neighborhood store. We don't have fancy displays or glass aisles. Just shelves and the things people need for their homes. I usually close up once the street lights come on and the traffic thins out. It is a long day but I enjoy seeing the neighbors and keeping the shelves full.