Mani Lal & Bros.

If you know Chawri Bazar, you know how incredibly crowded and historic it is. Mani Lal & Bros. is right there at number 6. It’s one of those old spots in a very old part of the city. The lanes are narrow, and you have to dodge rickshaws and carts just to get to the door. Our building has been standing for a long time. It has high ceilings and thick walls that keep it a bit cooler than the street outside. We don’t have a website or a marketing team. We just have our name, Mani Lal & Bros., on the front. At number 6, the day starts early. You can hear the shutters of all the shops going up at the same time. It’s a noisy, vibrant place to be. Inside, we have old wooden counters and shelves that are packed with things. It’s not organized in a way that a computer would understand, but we know where every single item is kept. Working in Chawri Bazar means you are part of a community. We know the tea seller and the other shop owners on the row. It’s a bit chaotic, but it’s a good kind of chaos. We just focus on the people who come in and the work that needs doing. It’s simple and direct, just like the address. There’s no need for anything fancy when you’ve been in the same spot for years.