Ramanlal Vithaldas & Co. Mewawala

Our shop, Ramanlal Vithaldas & Co. Mewawala, is right opposite Mangaldas Market, not far from the Juma Masjid. This area is always crowded. You can hear the noise of the street from inside all day long. We’ve been here for generations, selling dry fruits and nuts. The shelves are wooden and old, piled high with almonds, cashews, and raisins. It’s a family thing, really. We grew up behind these counters. The smell of roasted nuts is something you never get tired of. Customers come in, some we've known for thirty years, and they want the same stuff their parents bought. We spend a lot of time sorting through the stock to make sure everything is right. It’s tedious work, but it matters. We don't have a modern checkout system; we still do things the old way mostly. It’s more personal that way. The shop gets very hot in the summer, but the ceiling fans keep things moving. We’re not a big supermarket chain. We’re just a local spot where people come for their snacks and baking supplies. Sometimes we run out of something because the delivery truck got stuck in traffic near the Masjid. Everyone understands. That's just life in this part of town. We stay open late most nights because that's when the market is busiest. It's a lot of work, but we like being here. It keeps us going.