Abu Umair

Our place, Abu Umair, is situated in Nagarthpet, which is one of the busiest parts of the city. We are near the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple Road, so there is always a lot of foot traffic and the smell of incense and street food in the air. The lanes around Otc Road are narrow, and getting a delivery truck in here is a nightmare that I have to deal with almost every week. The plot we are on is 598/747/9A, but most people just look for the landmarks because the numbers are confusing. I’ve been working in this market for years, and it hasn't changed much, still the same old buildings and the same busy energy. We don’t have a lot of space, so everything is stacked high, and we have to be careful when we move things around. My day starts early, trying to beat the worst of the traffic, but I rarely succeed. I spend a lot of time talking to other shopkeepers nearby; we all look out for each other. It’s a loud, dusty, and cramped environment, but I wouldn't know what to do with myself in a quiet office. We just handle our daily orders and try to keep the shop organized enough so we can actually serve the people who walk in off the street. It’s honest work in a very old part of town. By evening, the temple bells start ringing and the market gets even more crowded.