Akarshan Giftorium

Akarshan Giftorium is at Shop No B45 in Bapu Bazar, right by the New Gate. The market is always crowded, and our shop is no different. It is a tiny space, so we have boxes and items stacked all the way to the ceiling. Sometimes it feels like you have to turn sideways just to move between the shelves. We have all kinds of things tucked away—vases, frames, and little trinkets. My cousin and I run the place together. We spend a lot of our time just rearranging things so everything fits. The light at the back of the shop is a bit dim, and the floor tiles are chipped in a few places, but it’s our space. We don't have a website or do any fancy advertising. Most people just walk in because they are already shopping in the bazaar and they see something they like in the window. The street noise outside is constant, with vendors calling out and people haggling over prices. We keep a handwritten ledger for all our sales, sitting at a small stool near the front. On hot days, the fan just pushes the warm air around, so we usually stand near the entrance to catch a breeze. It is a busy, slightly chaotic way to spend the day, but we are used to it. We’ve been at Bapu Bazar long enough that the other shopkeepers feel like family. We just keep things simple and stay open until the market starts to quiet down at night.