Classic Gems

Our place, Classic Gems, is at Shop 336 in the Jain Dharmshala Building on M. I. Road. It’s a well-known spot because of the dharmshala, so people usually don't have much trouble finding us. The building is old and has that specific feel to it, with thick walls and a lot of history. We’ve been set up here for many years. It’s a small shop, but we’ve managed to fit everything we need inside. We spend most of the day looking at stones, sorting them by size and color. It takes a lot of patience, and sometimes the light in the building isn't the best, so we have to use extra lamps. We get a mix of people coming in—some are tourists who are just curious, and others are regulars who have been coming to us for a long time. We don't do much in the way of fancy displays. Most of the good stuff is kept in the back or in drawers. We talk to everyone who comes in, whether they buy something or not. Sometimes we just talk about the weather or how much the city has changed since we first started out here. It’s a quiet way to spend the day, even with the noise of the traffic outside on M. I. Road. We just keep doing what we do, one day at a time. It’s not a complicated life but it keeps us moving and the days go by pretty fast.