Shahji Provisional Store

Up here in Srinagar, at Shari Bhat in the Alamgari Bazar area, the days feel a bit different. Our store, Shahji Provisional Store, is right in the middle of the local bustle. The bazar is always alive with people buying things for their kitchens. We keep a lot of the basics that everyone uses every day. The shop isn't very large, so we have to be careful about where we stack the crates. In the winter, it gets quite chilly, so we stay wrapped up while waiting for customers. The streets in Alamgari Bazar can be narrow, and when it rains, it gets a bit muddy outside. We spend time sweeping the front to keep it decent. You hear a lot of chatter from the neighbors all day long. Some people come in just to say hello and maybe buy one small packet. We know most of the families around Shari Bhat by their names. It’s a simple setup, wooden shelves and a few jars on the front desk. We don't bother with fancy displays. If we have it, it's on the shelf. If we don't, we tell them when the next truck might come. It’s a slow and steady way to live. We’ve seen the neighborhood change a bit over the years, but the shop stays pretty much the same. It’s a lot of work but it’s what we know how to do. The ceiling has some water stains from old leaks, but we fix it when we can.