Ramjidayalji

If you go down to Kirana Oli in Itwari, you will find us at Ramjidayalji. It is an old part of the city, and the markets here have a very specific energy that you don’t find in the newer malls. The air is always thick with the scent of spices and grains because everyone around here is selling something similar. Our space is more like a warehouse than a proper shop. We have stacks of gunny bags piled high against the brick walls. The floor is made of old stone that stays cool even when the sun is beating down on the roof. We don't have any fancy signage or office furniture. Just a wooden desk where the boss sits with his ledger and a calculator. Most of our work involves moving heavy loads and checking the quality of what comes in from the farmers. We have a few guys who have been with us for twenty years, and they can tell you the weight of a bag just by lifting it. It is a noisy place, with shouting from the street and the sound of iron shutters opening and closing. We take our tea breaks sitting on the front step, watching the cycle rickshaws go by. It’s a lot of physical labor and the days are long, but there is a sense of community in Itwari that makes it worth it. We don't use much technology here, just hard work and handshakes to get things done. We've been here for a long time.