Beli Ram Jain & Sons

Dariba Kalan is a place with a lot of history. Beli Ram Jain & Sons is located at 1661, right in the heart of it. We have the P.B. Box 1152 if people want to write to us, though not many do that anymore. This shop has seen many generations pass through its doors. The street is famous, but we just see it as our daily walk to work. It’s a bit cramped inside with all the records and items we keep. We don’t use computers for everything. Some things are still written down in ledgers because that’s what we trust. It smells like old paper and maybe a bit of incense in the mornings. We open the heavy shutters every day and wait for the regulars. Some days are slow, others are a mad rush. We take it as it comes. We aren't interested in being the biggest. We just want to stay open and keep the family name going. My sons help out when they aren't at school. It’s a lot of responsibility, keeping up a place this old. The walls are thick, which helps in the summer heat. We keep a small stool near the door for anyone who needs to sit. It’s not much, but it’s ours. We plan to stay here for a long time yet. Sometimes the neighbor's dog comes in to say hello and we usually give him a biscuit if we have one.