Swadeshi Tea Co.

We are located in Khatod Market, which is right on Shivaji Road in Shrirampur. Being near the railway station means we hear the trains coming and going all day long. It’s a very noisy and busy area, especially when a train just arrived and everyone is rushing through the market. The shop is tucked in among a lot of other businesses. I spend my mornings opening up the shutters and setting things out. The smell of tea is strong as soon as you step inside. We have wooden shelves that are quite old and packed with different grades of tea. I spend a lot of time talking to the regular customers who come by. Shrirampur is a place where people know each other, so there is a lot of chatting. I have to be careful when the monsoon comes because the market can get a bit muddy. I keep a rag handy to wipe the counter down every hour or so. It’s a lot of work keeping things organized in such a small space. The light from the street lamp outside flickers a bit in the evening. We don't have any fancy marketing. People just know we are here because we've been in Khatod Market for years. It's just a simple life of selling tea near the tracks. I close up when the sun goes down and the market starts to quiet a bit. It is how it is.