Alam Shaikh

My name is Alam Shaikh and I run my business out of Prem Gully in Shanti Nagar, which is part of the Sion Bhendi Bazar area. It’s a lively place to be, that’s for sure. The gully is narrow and there are always people moving about. We’ve been here in Shanti Nagar for quite some time. The shop isn't much to look at from the outside, but we have what we need. I spend most of my time right here behind the small counter. It’s a family-run thing, really. My son helps me out when he’s not in school. We know almost everyone on the street by name. That’s the thing about Bhendi Bazar, you can’t really be a stranger for long. We don't have any polished brochures or a fancy website. If people want to find Alam Shaikh, they just come to Prem Gully and ask around. We do our best to keep things simple. Sometimes the electricity goes out or the rain makes the street a mess, but we just deal with it. It’s just part of life here. We open early and stay open until the street gets quiet at night. It’s hard work and the hours are long, but this is our place. We’ve built it up little by little over the years. We’re just regular people doing our daily work in a busy part of town.