Chikara

If you're driving down Old Delhi Road in Sector 14, you’ve probably passed us. We are right there where the traffic always seems to crawl. Chikara is a small operation. The shop isn't very large, and it can get quite dusty with all the cars and trucks going by outside. We’ve been here for a while, and we know most of the other shopkeepers on the block. It’s a lot of standing around and talking to customers who pop in to see what we have. We don't have any of those fancy displays you see in the malls. Everything is just laid out on shelves or in boxes. It’s easier that way. Sometimes the AC doesn't work right when it's really hot out, so we just open the door and put a fan on. It’s a bit noisy with the horns honking all day, but you get used to it. We keep things pretty simple. There’s a small counter where we handle the money and a bench for people to sit if they’re waiting for someone. We aren't trying to be the biggest place in Gurgaon, just a reliable one. We open up early and stay until the evening traffic starts to thin out. It’s just a normal business, nothing too complicated about it. We see all kinds of people coming through, and we just try to help them find what they need without any fuss. The sign outside is a bit faded from the sun, but people still find us.