Birju General Store

You can find us at B-356 in Gandhi Market. Hari Nagar is a crowded place and the market is always buzzing with people and scooters. I’ve had this store for a long time. It’s just a typical general store with everything from soap and oil to notebooks and pens. I sit at the front on a small wooden chair. The shelves go all the way up to the ceiling. I have to use a long stick with a hook to get the packets from the top shelf. It’s a bit of a trick to not drop them on someone's head. Customers come in all day for small things like matches or batteries. The market gets very busy on weekends. Sometimes it’s hard to even walk in the aisle because of the boxes. I try to keep things tidy but with so many items, it’s a constant struggle. My son comes in after his college classes to help me out for a few hours. We have a small radio that plays the old songs. It keeps us company when there aren't many people around. The floor is old tiles that have faded over the years. I know most of the other shopkeepers in Gandhi Market. We look out for each other. If I run out of change, I go next door and they help me. It’s a good community here. We don’t do anything fancy, just sell what people need for their homes.