Kamalika

Tucked away at 5, Jadunath, Ramakant Sen Ln is Kamalika, which is right by the Sreemani Market Bus Stop in the Simla and Machuabazar area. It’s a really old part of the city, so the lanes are narrow and there’s always a lot of activity. You can hear the buses pulling up and the conductors shouting out the stops all day long. The building itself has that old-fashioned charm, maybe a bit worn out at the edges but it holds up. Inside, we have our stock laid out on various shelves and tables. It’s a bit of a squeeze when more than three people are inside at once, but we make it work. We spend a lot of time sorting through things and making sure everything is where it should be. The lighting isn't the brightest, but it’s enough to see what we are doing. We usually open up early before the market gets too crowded. There’s a tea shop nearby that brings us snacks in the afternoon. Sometimes the rain leaks in a little near the front door if the wind is blowing the right way, so we keep some old towels handy. It’s a very local atmosphere, where we know most of the people walking past. We don't have fancy displays, just the items we have and a place to sit while we talk to the regulars. It stays busy until late evening when the market starts to quiet down.