Poonam General

Poonam General is a small shop located in the Praladghat area of Varanasi. We are very close to the Shiv Mandir, which is a big landmark around here. I’ve been running this place since I was much younger, following in my uncle's footsteps. It’s a typical corner store where you can find anything from incense sticks for prayer to cold drinks for the heat. The lanes in this part of Varanasi are very narrow, so we don’t get big delivery trucks coming right to our door. We have to carry all the heavy stock in by hand or use those small wooden carts from the main road. It’s a lot of physical effort, but that’s just how things work in this old part of town. The store is usually quiet during the hottest part of the afternoon, then it picks up again when the temple gets busy with visitors. I know almost everyone in the 221001 neighborhood by sight. We don't have any fancy neon signs or expensive advertisements. Just the name of the shop painted simply above the entrance. People come here because they have been coming here for years. Sometimes I just sit outside on a small stool and talk to the neighbors while I wait for the next customer. It’s a slower pace of life compared to the big cities, and I like it that way. We keep the basic staples in stock.