Dipanshu General Store

Being located on the Main Road in Sulem Sarai means there is never a quiet moment. Here at Dipanshu General Store, we are basically surrounded by the constant hum of Allahabad traffic. The shop is small and packed with all sorts of things from floor to ceiling. If you look at the shelves, you might see bags of pulses right next to boxes of biscuits. It is a bit cramped, especially when more than three people come in at once. We don't have any fancy displays or bright lights like the malls. It is just a regular shop where we try to keep track of what the neighbors are asking for. Sometimes we run out of something and have to wait for the truck to come from the main warehouse, which can take a couple of days if the traffic is bad. My brother and I take turns sitting at the counter. We spend a lot of time writing down accounts in the register and checking the dates on the milk packets. It is mostly the same routine every day. We open up, sweep the front step, and wait for the first customer. By the time evening rolls around, the street gets even busier with people heading home. We stay open until late because that’s when most people realize they forgot to buy something for dinner. It’s just honest work in a busy part of town. We don’t really think about it as a big business, just our way of making a living here.