Saurabh Gen Store

Saurabh Gen Store is a small place on Shivala Road in Varanasi. Living and working in Shivala means you are always in the middle of a crowd. Our shop isn't very large, so we have to be smart about where we put the crates and the new stock. I wake up early to beat the heat and get the shop opened up before the sun gets too high. Most of the people who stop by are just neighbors looking for some oil or a packet of biscuits. It gets a bit hot inside during the afternoons, so I usually sit near the front to catch whatever breeze comes off the street. The road outside is always full of cows, bikes, and people heading toward the ghats. I have to keep an eye on the jars of sweets near the front so they don't get too sticky in the humidity. We have been here on Shivala Road for some time now, and not much really changes inside the four walls. I handle the money and the ordering myself, and sometimes it gets a bit confusing when many people talk at once. But that is just how it is in Varanasi. It’s a busy life, but it keeps me occupied. I close up when the street lights come on and the crowds start to thin out a little bit. It's just a regular local shop.