Ainulwara Gems

Our shop is tucked inside Daroga Ji Ka Nohra at number 846, right along Haldiyon Ka Rasta in Johari Bazar. It’s one of those old parts of the city where the lanes are so narrow you can barely fit a bike through them. We’ve been operating out of this spot for a very long time. The building is old and has that specific smell of aged stone and paper. We deal with gems, mostly just sitting on the floor on white sheets, which is the traditional way here. It’s a slow process of sorting and grading. We don't have a big sign outside or any bright neon lights. You really have to know where you are going to find us. The atmosphere is usually quite calm compared to the main road outside. We spend our days talking to other traders and drinking water from earthen pots. There’s no air conditioning, just the thick walls of the old building keeping us somewhat cool. We keep our gems in small paper folds or little plastic boxes. It’s not a fancy setup, but it’s been working for us for generations. Sometimes the rain leaks in a little from the roof, and we have to move everything around. It’s just how things are in this part of town. We just keep doing what we know every day.