Shabir Provisional Store

Down in Gousia Market in the Khanyar area of Srinagar, you’ll find Shabir Provisional Store. I’ve been here for quite a while now, serving the local community. Srinagar can get pretty cold in the winters, so the shop becomes a place where people huddle in for a bit while getting their groceries. We keep all the essentials like tea, sugar, flour, and the spices that are common in our kitchens. The market here is always full of life, with people moving back and forth between the stalls. My shop isn’t very large, but we pack a lot into the space we have. You can find almost any basic household item on these shelves if you look closely enough. Sometimes it’s hard to get new stock when the roads are blocked, but we do our best to stay prepared. I know most of my customers by name since they live just a few streets away. It’s a very local way of doing business. We don’t have a big corporate structure, just me and occasionally a helper to move the heavy sacks around. People come in, we talk about the day, and they go on their way. It’s a simple routine, but it’s what keeps the neighborhood going. We just aim to be a reliable spot for the people of Khanyar. It’s not about being the biggest, just about being there when someone needs a packet of salt or some fresh tea leaves. We keep the kettle going for ourselves and share a cup if someone lingers.