Monika Gems

Monika Gems is tucked between Shop No. 128 and the Champawati Ji Ka Mandir in Johari Bazar, which is one of the busiest places you could ever imagine. Being so close to the temple means we hear the bells and the prayers all day long. It is a very small shop, squeezed in like everything else in this bazar. There is barely enough room for three people to stand inside at the same time. The walls are lined with small wooden cabinets where we keep everything tucked away. We don't have big bright lights or neon signs. We mostly rely on the light coming in from the street and a few old bulbs. The street outside is always packed with tourists and locals, and the noise of the market is constant. Sometimes people stop in just to escape the sun for a minute. We have been in this spot for years, and we have seen the bazar change quite a bit, but the temple stays the same. Our floor is made of old stone that stays cool even when it is baking outside. We sit on small cushions on the floor to do our work because it is more comfortable than chairs in such a tight space. It is a simple life here in the middle of all the gems and the crowds. We just keep our heads down and handle our business day by day. This is how we have always done things.