Delhi Loha Bhandar

Naraina is always a bit of a chaotic place, especially around Lohamandi where everything is about iron and steel. Our spot is at Y-14, specifically Room No. 4, which is a small space but we make it work for us. You can hear the sounds of metal clanging against metal all day long here. It's the kind of noise that stays in your ears even after you go home. We spend a lot of time on the phone or talking to drivers who are trying to navigate the narrow lanes around the bhandar. It’s not a quiet job. The dust gets everywhere, on the ledgers, the chairs, and even the lunch boxes if you aren't careful. We’ve seen the market change over the years, but the basic way we do things stays the same. We write things down, we check the weight, and we move the stock. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we just sit outside for a bit until it comes back. Delhi Loha Bhandar isn't a huge corporation, it’s just us in a small room trying to keep up with the orders that come through. It gets crowded when more than three people are inside at once. Most of the guys have been working in this lane for years so we all know each other. It’s a lot of sweating and heavy lifting but that’s the nature of the business in this part of town.