Anupam Novelty Store

If you walk down Bajirao Road near the Kansara Pole, you’ll find us. Anupam Novelty Store has been sitting here for a good while. It’s an old part of Vadodara, so the buildings are close together and the lanes are narrow and crowded. Inside, I’ve got all sorts of small things crammed onto the wooden shelves. We have gift items, bangles, some stationery, and little trinkets that catch the eye. It’s the kind of place where you have to look closely to see everything we have hidden in the corners. I usually start the day by dusting the glass counters because the road outside stays busy and the dust just settles everywhere. I sit on a stool behind the counter and wait for customers. Some days it’s very quiet and I just listen to the radio or talk to the guy in the shop next door about the weather. Then suddenly four or five people come in at once looking for something specific for a wedding or a birthday party. I don't always have exactly what they want, but I usually have something close enough that they leave happy. The lighting in here isn't the brightest, but it works fine for what we do. I like being near the Pole because there’s always something happening on the street. It feels like being part of the history of the city, even if we’re just selling small plastic toys and hair clips most of the time.