R K Patakha Wala

Started the shop in Kishanpole Bazar years ago. It is a busy spot. During Diwali, the whole street is full of people and we barely have time to eat. We stock different kinds of crackers, mostly the ones people ask for every year. It’s not a big fancy place, just a regular shop with shelves full of boxes. Sometimes the weather gets humid and we worry about the stock, so we have to be careful. The neighbors know us well. We open early and stay late when the season is on. My brother helps out with the accounts while I handle the customers who come in. Kishanpole is a crowded area, so parking is always a bit of a headache for people visiting. We just keep doing what we do. It’s hard work during the festivals, but the rest of the year is mostly quiet. We spend that time cleaning up or talking to the suppliers about what new things might come next year. Some kids come in with their parents and get really excited looking at the colorful labels on the sparklers. It reminds me of when I was younger. We don’t do much advertising; people just know we are here at number 11. It’s a simple life running a patakha shop in this part of town. Our family has been in this trade for a while, and we just like seeing the sky light up, even if it means we are working while everyone else is celebrating.