John Provisional Store

The air here in Telbal is usually crisp, especially in the mornings. John Provisional Store is located in the Hazaratbal area of Srinagar, zip code 190006. It’s a quiet spot most of the time, though you get the occasional crowd heading toward the shrine. I usually start the day by sweeping the front step. The shop itself is small and packed with all sorts of household goods. You have to squeeze past the crates sometimes. I’ve lived in Srinagar all my life, so this feels like home. The winters are the hardest part because the cold creeps through the door cracks. I keep a small heater near my feet while I wait for people to come in. Most of the folks who live around Telbal are regulars. They don’t need to tell me what they want; I usually already know. It’s not one of those modern supermarkets where everything is under bright lights. It's just wooden shelves and a dim bulb. I spend a lot of time looking out at the street, watching the weather change. When the tourists are around, the vibe changes a bit, but mostly it's just the same local families. Running a provisional store isn't about anything fancy. It's just about having the basic stuff ready when someone runs out at home. The day ends when the sun goes down behind the mountains and it gets too cold to stay open in the evening.