M S Provisional Store

Lal Bazar is a busy part of Srinagar, and our shop in Botashah Mohalla has seen many seasons pass. It is a traditional provisional store where we keep the things people need for their daily meals. When the winter comes, the store feels a bit smaller because we are all bundled up in heavy pherans, and we stock more tea and spices to keep everyone warm. The mohalla is an old place, so the streets are narrow and people walk over from their houses just a few doors away. We have bags of rice and flour stacked in the corners. The shelves are filled with jars of spices, lentils, and basic household items like soap and matches. It is not a place with bright lights or big signs. It is just a quiet corner where we talk to the customers about the weather or the price of goods while we weigh out their sugar. The smell of the shop is a mix of all the different spices and the wooden floors. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we use candles or a torch to find what someone is looking for. It is a slow kind of business most of the day, except for the evenings when everyone is rushing to get their shopping done before dinner. We have been in this spot for a long time and know just about everyone who walks through the door to buy their monthly supplies.