Pooja General Store

The X Road in Moinabad is always a bit chaotic, and our store sits right in the middle of it at Himayath Nagar. We have two units, 3-9 and 3-10, but they both feel pretty full of stuff. Being at a crossroads means we see all sorts of people, from locals we know by name to travelers who just need a cold drink or a pack of biscuits. The shelves are packed with everything from notebooks to shampoo bottles. We try to keep things where people can find them, but every now and then, something gets lost in the back of a cupboard. My wife and I take turns behind the counter, especially during the busy morning hours when the kids are heading to school. We don't have any of those fancy scanning machines; we just know the prices by heart or check the labels. The fridge hums quite loudly, which can be annoying when the shop is quiet, but it keeps the water cold. Sometimes the local dogs sit under the awning to get out of the sun, and we don't mind as long as they stay out of the way. It’s a lot of hours to put in, usually opening before seven and not closing until late at night. We just keep the doors open and wait for whoever needs something. It’s a simple life at the X Road, just keeping the shelves stocked and the floor swept. It feels like we've been doing this since the road was first paved.