Malhotra Traders

Working at Malhotra Traders in the Azadpur New Subzi Mandi at C-634 means waking up when most people are still fast asleep. I usually get here around four in the morning and the whole place is already buzzing with trucks and laborers. Our spot in the C-634 block is always covered in dust and bits of vegetable crates. We deal with whatever comes in from the farmers, mostly potatoes and onions, so the air always smells a bit earthy. There is a lot of shouting and haggling going on as the sun comes up. I spend most of my day sitting at a small wooden desk with a calculator and an old register that is falling apart at the edges. It is very loud with the sounds of horns and people pushing carts through the narrow lanes. Sometimes we don’t even have time to eat lunch until late in the afternoon because the flow of customers just doesn't stop. The walls of our stall are stained and the floor is uneven, but it’s been our workplace for years. We know the other traders nearby and we help each other out with change or some tea when it's slow. It’s a tough environment, especially in the summer heat or when the monsoon makes the mandi floors slippery and muddy. The main thing is just keeping the stock moving and making sure the counts are right at the end of the day.