Prakhar Gems

Prakhar Gems is tucked away at 2395, Shri Shyam Bhawan. We are on the street called Kanwatiyon Ka Khurra, which is right in the Ramanj Bazar area. It is a very narrow street, and if a rickshaw is coming through, everyone has to lean against the walls to let it pass. Shri Shyam Bhawan is an old building with a heavy wooden door that always squeaks. We spend our days inside Prakhar Gems looking at different stones under small lamps. The light in the bazar isn't great, so we rely on our desk lights a lot. It gets noisy outside with all the shouting and the bells from the cycles, but once you step inside 2395, it’s a bit quieter. We have some metal cupboards where we keep our tools and the things we are working on. There is a small sink in the back that leaks a tiny bit, so we put a plastic bucket under it. Ramanj Bazar is a place where everyone knows everyone’s business. We’ve been here long enough that the tea seller knows exactly how much sugar we want without us saying a word. It’s a busy, dusty place, but Prakhar Gems fits right in. We don't have a lot of space, just enough for a couple of chairs and our worktables. Every morning we sweep the front step before we start our work for the day. It is just how we do things here.