Jagdish General Store

My name is on the sign outside here in Surat MSR Nagar. I open up Jagdish General Store around eight every morning when the air is still a bit cool. First thing is always the metal shutters. They make a loud noise that probably wakes up the neighbors, but that’s just how it is. I spend the first hour moving crates of milk and stacking some bread loaves that the delivery guy leaves near the door. The shop isn't huge, just enough space for the essentials. You’ve got your soaps on one side and the pulses in those big plastic jars on the other. I’ve been sitting behind this wooden counter for a long time now. The fan above my head has a bit of a wobble, but it keeps the heat away during the Surat afternoons. Most people who come in live right around the corner in MSR Nagar. They don’t say much, just ask for what they need, pay, and go. Sometimes a kid comes in for a single chocolate or a packet of chips. I keep a ledger for the regular families, though most people pay cash these days. It’s a simple life, really. I don't have any big plans to change things. The floor gets dusty because of the road outside, so I sweep it twice a day. It’s just me and the goods on the shelves.