South Love

If you’ve ever walked through Poorna Market, you know how packed it gets. South Love is right in the thick of it. It’s a busy spot where you can hear everyone talking at once. We started this shop because we wanted to be part of this neighborhood. The mornings are the busiest when the fresh stock comes in and we have to move boxes around in a space that never feels big enough. Our walls are covered with whatever we’re selling this week, and the floor usually has a few scuff marks from the heavy foot traffic. It’s a small shop, really. There’s no air conditioning, just a ceiling fan that hums all day. Sometimes we stand out front just to catch a bit of a breeze. People come by not just to buy things but to chat about what’s happening in the market. We know most of the regulars by their first names or at least by what they usually pick up. It gets tiring standing on your feet all day, especially when the humidity picks up, but seeing the same faces makes it okay. We don't do fancy displays. We just put things where people can reach them. Dealing with change and loose coins is basically half our day. It’s a simple way to make a living, right here in the middle of everything. We wouldn’t really want to be anywhere else. It is just a regular life in the market.