P. Chander Bhan Krishan Lal & Sons

Our shop, P. Chander Bhan Krishan Lal & Sons, sits right at 3483, Hauz Qazi Chowk. It is a very busy intersection and there is always something going on outside our door. The building is old, with those narrow stairs that you have to be careful on. We have been here for a long time, and the name on the board outside has faded a bit over the years. Inside, it smells like old paper and metal. We don't use computers for everything because the old ledgers still work just fine for us. There are four of us who handle the daily business. We know most of the people who walk by because they’ve been coming to this chowk for decades. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we just sit by the window to use the natural light. It’s not the kind of place with bright lights or glass counters. We have wooden shelves that go all the way to the ceiling. You need a ladder to reach the top ones. The tea man knows exactly how we like our chai and brings it over without us even asking. The ceiling fan makes a clicking sound on the high setting, but it works fine so we leave it alone. It’s a rhythm we’ve gotten used to. We don't try to be something we aren't. We are just a local business in an old part of town, trying to keep things moving. Every day is pretty much the same.