Faiyaz Fruitwala

You can find us over at the Old Motor Stand in Bhendi Bazar, occupying stalls 57 and 58. It is a very old part of the city, and things here haven't changed much over the years. We start our day while most people are still sleeping, getting the crates off the trucks and setting everything up. The area is always crowded and noisy, with people shouting and horns honking constantly. We don't have a fancy air-conditioned shop. It’s just us and the fruit out in the open air. Sorting through the stock takes up most of our time, as we have to make sure the bruised stuff gets moved to the side. It’s a lot of heavy lifting and standing around in the heat. Some days are slow and we just sit on the wooden crates talking to the other vendors. Other days, it’s so busy we can barely keep up with the weighing and the bagging. People living in the apartments upstairs come down for their daily needs, along with folks who travel from other parts of the city. The pavement is a bit uneven and it gets muddy when it rains, so you have to watch your step. We aren't interested in looking corporate or anything like that. Just selling what we have and getting home after a long day is the main goal. It’s a simple life in a very loud neighborhood.