Anandamela Gariahat

If you know Gariahat Market, you know how it is. It’s always packed, especially before the festivals. Anandamela is right on the ground floor, shop number G 9, on Gariahat Road in Ballygunge. We’ve been here in this market for a long time. It’s a small shop, but we pack a lot into it. Dealing with the heat in the summer is the hardest part, even with the small fan we have clipped to the shelf. We sell various items, mostly things people need for their homes or for special occasions. It’s a lot of talking to customers all day long, showing them what we have and haggling over prices sometimes. The market starts early and goes on until late at night. I usually have my tea while standing at the counter because there isn’t much room to sit down. The floor is a bit uneven, so you have to watch your step when you walk in. My father started this place, and I’ve just kept it going. We aren't trying to change the world or anything; we just want to make sure the people who come in get what they’re looking for. Sometimes the rain floods the street outside, and we have to put up boards to keep the water out. It’s just part of being in Ballygunge. We know all the other shopkeepers, and we help each other out when things get busy.