Rastriya General Stores

Rastriya General Stores has been a part of Lahurabir for a long time. We are located right on Lahurabir Road in Varanasi. It’s a very central spot, which means we get all kinds of people coming through the doors. I’ve been working here since I was much younger, and the shop hasn't changed all that much. We carry the usual things people need for their homes. It is a bit of a squeeze sometimes because the shop is narrow and we have a lot of stock piled up. But that is just how these old stores in Varanasi are. I don't like the way those big new stores look with their glass and bright lights. Here, things are more personal. I know most of the people who live in the surrounding streets by their first names. We have long conversations over the counter while I weigh out goods or look for something in the back. It’s a bit messy sometimes, and the floor might need a sweep, but it’s a real place where real work happens. The traffic outside is always a mess, but once you step inside, it’s just a normal neighborhood store. I don't have a mission statement or any of that. I just open up in the morning, do my work, and close up when the sun goes down. It’s a simple life and it works for us here in Lahurabir. I don't see any reason to change things now.