Jeetmal B Parakh

Our place is right in the middle of the bustle at Udaipuriya Bazar, number 23. Jeetmal B Parakh has been the name on the door for a long time. If you know the bazaar, you know how crowded it gets with people and carts moving all day long. It's noisy and dusty, but that’s just how life is down here. We open up the shutters in the morning and stay until the light starts to fade. Inside, things are stacked where they fit. It isn't a showroom, just a workplace where we manage the daily trade. Some customers have been coming to see us for years, and we know their names and what they usually need. We don't spend money on fancy decorations because the work is what matters most. Sometimes the tea guy comes by and we take a short break, but mostly we are busy with the books or checking the stock. It is a tight space, but we have a system that works for us. Living and working in the bazaar means you see everything that goes on in the neighborhood. We are just one part of the many shops lined up here. Every day brings something a bit different, though the basic rhythm stays the same. We just keep our heads down and do what needs doing to keep the business going.