TangentsBy Ihtisham Kabir
Time <i>and</i> First Store
Time and First Store. Photo: Ihtisham Kabir
Ali Nekir Deuri is a side street off Nazimuddin Road that leads to the usual meandering old Dhaka alleys. While walking there I noticed a store. “Time and First Store,” said its sign. Inside, a tailor was working a sewing machine. I took a picture of the store and moved on. Weeks later, I was reviewing my photos when that picture popped up on my computer screen. Why had the tailor chosen this unusual name? I was intrigued. So I returned. After wandering around the neighbourhood for a bit, I found the store. The man I had seen earlier introduced himself as Md. Goni Mia. He had gentle eyes behind wide-framed glasses and thinning henna-dyed hair. I immediately asked him the reason behind the store's name. “Who knows? The previous owner named it. I recently exchanged stores with him. He has my old store.” He pointed across the street. Sure enough, there was a slightly larger store across the street. Its sign also said “Time and First Store” (in phonetic Bangla.) “See, he has renamed my old store. But the name does not matter for my business, so I left his old name untouched.” This made sense, so I moved on. “What kind of clothes do you sew as a tailor.” Surprise again. “Oh no, you should not call me a tailor. I repair and alter clothes.” Who are the customers? “Mostly clothes vendors. They buy imported bundles of second hand clothes. Some clothes are missing a button or have a rip. I repair them as needed. Then they sell them on the footpath, for example near Gulistan.” How much does he charge? “Ten or fifteen taka for each piece,” he said, pointing me to two piles of second hand clothes on the floor. “I examine each one and repair as necessary.” It sounded like Mr. Goni was in the business of quality control for the second hand clothes sold in Dhaka streets. “I too used to work on the footpath before. But now I can afford this shop,” he said. “What hours is your store open?” I asked. “I can't tell you precisely. I walk in Romna Park every morning for my health problems. If I feel better afterwards, I open the store right away. Otherwise I wait until I feel ready,” he said, adding, “But I am here until 10pm most days.” In family life, Mr. Goni has a son, two daughters and three grandchildren. His son is a vendor of lubricating oil for sewing machines used by tailors and clothes repairers. I had one last question. “Why did you exchange stores?” “Easy! My old store's electricity bill was 2000 Taka, but for this one it is only 1200. I could afford this bill, and my neighbour needed a bigger store.” I wanted to talk to the neighbour but his store was closed. Next time I visit, I really must get to the root of that name!
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