Gupta Store

Gupta Store is located right at the Bairahana Chauraha in Allahabad. It is a very busy intersection, so there is always a lot of noise and movement right outside our door. People use the chauraha as a landmark and often stop in while they are waiting for their transport. Our shop is quite packed from the floor to the ceiling. We have everything from different kinds of dals to cleaning supplies and snacks. Because the shop is small, we have to use a long wooden stick with a hook to get items down from the high shelves. It takes some practice to not drop anything. My son helps out in the evenings after he finishes his classes. During the festival seasons, the area gets incredibly crowded and we barely have time to sit down. We keep a big ledger for the people who have accounts with us. Not everyone pays right away, and that is fine because we have known them for years. The walls are a bit stained and could use some paint, but we are usually too busy to get around to it. It is a plain, hard-working shop. We don't have any big marketing ideas. We just focus on keeping the sacks full and the prices fair for the neighbors. It is a simple life running a store at a busy crossroads in Allahabad.