Vinod Kapoor & Sons

Down in Chandni Chowk, things never really slow down. Our shop, Vinod Kapoor & Sons, is in Kucha Chaudhary at 32-33. It’s one of those old parts of Delhi where the lanes are so thin you can almost touch both walls if you stretch your arms. We’ve been here for generations, really. The shop has that old smell of paper and wood. It’s a bit dark inside, but we have some good lights to help us see what we’re doing. Most of our day is spent talking to old customers who have been buying from us since my father’s time. We sit on the floor cushions sometimes because it’s more comfortable than the wooden chairs we have. There’s always a glass of water ready for anyone who comes in from the heat. The Kucha is always packed with people moving goods on their backs or on little carts. It’s loud and it’s messy, but it’s where we belong. We don't use much technology, just the basics to keep the accounts right. We know where every single item is kept, even if the shelves look a bit chaotic to an outsider. It’s a traditional way of doing business and it works for us. When the sun starts to set, we lock up the heavy doors and head home, ready to do it all again the next morning. It is a long walk to the main road but we are used to the exercise.