Zeba Afreen

Our place, Zeba Afreen, is tucked away in Shop No. 438 inside Shree Ram Arcade. If you know the J. L. Nehru Road area near Bowbazar, you know how hectic it gets around here. Being near Central means there is always noise and people rushing past. Inside the arcade, it’s a bit different. We’ve been in this specific spot for some time, dealing with all kinds of clothes and fabrics. It’s a small shop, so we have to use every inch of the walls to hang things up. Sometimes it feels like there isn't enough room to move, but we make it work. We usually start the day by checking what sold yesterday and rearranging the racks. Bowbazar has its own rhythm, and we’ve grown used to the way the morning starts slow and then picks up. We don't do big advertisements or anything like that. People usually just wander in while they are shopping for other things in the arcade and happen to see something they like. We try to keep the lights bright so you can actually see the colors of the fabric. It is just a simple business, really. We talk to the neighbors in the other shops, drink some tea, and keep things running. It’s just us here most days, making sure the clothes are neat and the customers find what they need. Sometimes we get a bit distracted chatting with the other shopkeepers about the local news, but we always keep an eye on the door. It’s a steady way to spend the day.