Durga Novelty

Down at 2385, 4th Crossing on Nahargarh Road, things are always a bit tight. Chandpole Bazar is one of those places where you really feel the history of Jaipur. Durga Novelty is tucked away there, and it’s a small shop, maybe smaller than what most people expect. We have heaps of small items, ribbons, and little decorations piled up. It feels a bit like a maze inside sometimes. I’ve been working in this area for years, so I know most of the other shopkeepers around the crossing. We talk over the low walls or while standing in the street. The shop doesn't have air conditioning, so we just use the ceiling fans and keep the front open to the street air. It gets quite dusty with all the people walking past, but we wipe the counters down every few hours. It’s a very old-fashioned way of doing things, I suppose. I don't use a computer for anything; I just write things down in a big ledger book. Sometimes the electricity goes out for an hour or two, and we just use flashlights or sit in the dark and talk to whoever is in the shop. It’s not a polished place, but it’s our place. You have to be careful not to trip over the boxes near the entrance. It’s just a busy, messy, honest little shop in the middle of the bazaar.