Aai Mata General Store

In the middle of Sadashiv Peth in Pune, our little shop, Aai Mata General Store, sits among the old buildings and busy lanes. If you know Pune, you know Sadashiv Peth is a place with a lot of history and very narrow streets. Our store is just like the area—a bit old-fashioned and very practical. We sell the things that families around here need every single day. We’ve got rows of jars filled with snacks, different types of soaps, and all those small household items that you only realize you’ve run out of at the last minute. The shop isn't huge, so we use every inch of wall space we have. Sometimes it feels a bit crowded when three or four people are inside at once, but we manage. We aren't trying to be a fancy outlet; we just want to be the place where you can get your washing powder or a bottle of oil without any fuss. The wooden counter is where we spend most of our day, counting change and chatting with the neighbors. We open up early and don't really close until the sun is well down. It’s honest work, and we’ve been doing it long enough that it just feels like part of our lives now. No big slogans or missions, just a regular shop for the Peth locals who need their daily essentials.