Akbarali & Co.

We are located at 358 E.R. Road in the middle of Bhendi Bazar. It’s a very old area of Mumbai and the streets are always packed with people and vendors. Our shop isn't big, but it’s been here for quite some time. The building shows its age with the narrow hallways and the way the paint peels a little in the corners. Every morning we roll up the shutter and let the air in, though the air is mostly just exhaust and street smells. It gets very loud with the honking and the shouting from the market outside. We have stacks of items everywhere and we have to be careful not to trip over things. The light inside is a bit dim, so we use a few extra lamps even during the day. We spend our hours talking to the regulars and sorting through the inventory. There is no air conditioning, just a couple of ceiling fans that have been wobbling for years. We get used to the heat after a while. Lunch is usually something brought from home or picked up from a stall nearby. It’s a busy life here and there’s never a quiet moment until we close up for the night. We don't have any fancy displays. It's just us, the stock, and the constant hum of the bazar. It’s a bit of a squeeze but it works for us.