Sham Lall & Sons

The shop at 128/357 in Kidwai Nagar has been around for a long time. Being Sham Lall & Sons, there is a bit of history in these walls, even if we don’t talk about it much. It’s located in the H-2 block, which is a busy little pocket. Every morning, we sweep the front step and arrange the displays. The shelves are made of dark wood and they’re packed tight. We don't use a computer for everything; there are still plenty of handwritten ledgers and notebooks lying around. It feels more real that way. Customers come in and they often remember my father or my grandfather. We spend a lot of time just talking to people who walk through the door. It’s not just about selling things; it’s about being part of the neighborhood. The ceiling fan wobbles a bit when it's on high, but it keeps the air moving during the dusty months. We have boxes tucked under the counters and in the loft area upstairs. It’s a bit of a maze if you don't know your way around. We don't have a fancy lunchroom, so we just eat at the back desk. The food always smells like spices, which mixes with the smell of the old paper and the goods. By evening, the street outside gets crowded with people coming home from work. We turn off the main lights, lock up the registers, and head home ourselves. It’s steady work and it’s what we know.