S. P. Gift & Toys

Working on Khatipura Road means dealing with a lot of noise from the bikes and rickshaws. Our shop is right in Jhotwara, and we've been here long enough that the walls need a new coat of paint. We have toys hanging from the ceiling on strings because there isn't enough shelf space for everything. There are plastic trucks, puzzles, and those soft teddy bears that get a bit dusty if they stay too long. My cousin comes in to help when school is out. We don't have a computer for bills, just a big notebook where I write everything down by hand. It works for us. Sometimes people come in asking for something we don't have, and I tell them where else to look. We aren't trying to be the biggest store. We just have a bit of everything for the local families. In the rainy season, the water sometimes splashes near the door, so we have to move the cardboard boxes back. It’s a bit of a scramble. We keep some basic stationery too, mostly for the kids who forget their pens before school. The evenings are the busiest because parents stop by after work. It’s a lot of talking and showing different colors of gift wrap. Usually, we close up around nine and head home. I usually keep a bottle of water under the desk because it gets so dry. The fan wobbles a bit if it's on high.