Mahesh General Stores

Mahatma Phule Peth is an old part of Pune and our shop at 462 has been part of the landscape for a long time. Mahesh General Stores is in a very traditional area, and the streets are quite narrow, so you mostly see people walking or on scooters. I start my day by cleaning the threshold and lighting a bit of incense near the register. We stock everything from grains and oils to small household items that people might need in a hurry. The wooden shelves are old and have a bit of a sag in them from the weight of all the jars. I like the smell of the shop, which is a mix of various spices and soap. Sometimes the traffic outside gets backed up, and the noise of the bikes can be quite loud, but that is just how it is in this part of the city. I have a small stool behind the counter where I sit and read the paper when things are slow. We don't do much advertising; people just know we are here. A lot of my customers are elderly people who have lived in this Peth for their whole lives. We keep a ledger for the regulars, and they usually settle their bills at the start of the month. It is a steady life, and I don't think I would know what to do with myself if I wasn't here every day.