Nasheman

If you know Camac Street, you know how hectic Vardan Market can get on a Saturday afternoon. Our shop, Nasheman, is at Shop No. B-5, and it’s a tight squeeze. We’ve got shelves reaching all the way to the ceiling because there’s just no other place to put the stock. The market has its own rhythm, and you have to be fast to keep up. I’ve spent more years in this building than I care to count. The lighting in the hallways isn't the best, and you have to watch your step near the stairs. We spend a lot of time talking to people who wander in. Some are just looking to escape the humidity outside for a few minutes. We don’t mind. It’s good to have company. My brother handles the books while I try to keep the displays from looking too messy, though it’s a losing battle most days. We don't have a website or anything like that. People find us by word of mouth or by just stumbling across B-5 while they’re shopping for other things. It’s a small shop, but it’s ours. We drink a lot of chai from the stall downstairs. It’s the only way to stay awake during the slow afternoon hours. It’s a bit cramped and old-fashioned, but it’s home for us in Kolkata. The neighbors in the other stalls are mostly friends, so we help each other out when things get busy.