A Mannan And Sons

Living and working in Chandni Chawk means you are never in a quiet place. A Mannan And Sons is located right on Nai Sarak, at No. 4134. If you know this part of the city, you know how the Main Sadak is always packed with people, rickshaws, and carts. Our shop is one of those places that has been around for a long time. The sign outside is a bit faded from the sun and the rain. Inside, it’s a maze of shelves that go all the way up to the ceiling. We have to use a wooden ladder to reach the stuff at the top, and it’s a bit shaky. My father and brothers are usually here, and we often argue about where we put a certain ledger or a specific box. It’s a family thing. We drink a lot of tea throughout the day, usually served in those small clay cups. The floor is old wood that creaks when you walk near the back office. We don't have a computer system that does everything for us; we still write a lot of things down in big registers with red covers. When the monsoon hits, the street outside floods a little, and we have to put boards across the entrance. It’s a lot of work keeping everything dry. We know most of the other shopkeepers on this block by name. It’s a crowded life, but we don't know any other way.