Manoj General Store

Started the shop near Dafi Power House years ago. Bhagwanpur is a busy area, especially with all the people coming and going near Naipura. Most days are the same here at Manoj General Store. I open up early when it’s still quiet and start arranging the biscuit packets and the soap bars. It gets dusty because of the road, so there is a lot of cleaning to do every single morning. People from around the power house stop by for their daily things like milk or maybe some matches. I don’t have everything, but I try to keep the basics that people ask for most. Sometimes the supplies don’t come on time and the shelves look a bit thin, but that’s just how it goes. The fan in the corner makes a lot of noise but it helps in the Varanasi heat. I know most of the faces that walk in, they live just a few streets away. We talk about the weather or the traffic while I look for change in the drawer. It’s not a big fancy place, just a regular shop with sacks of flour and jars of candy on the counter. The kids come after school for those small snacks. It’s a lot of sitting and waiting sometimes, but it keeps me busy. I’ve lived in this part of Varanasi for a long time so it feels right being here.