Chapter 25 Market center

5th, Shravana, 1965

Today Ortson has come to visit the Market Center after work to buy necessities for himself.

And for the novelty, he is also carrying his camera around his bound with a strap around his neck.

Whenever Ortson finds something beautiful or interesting he will capture the moment with his camera, children running, stall owner selling and preparing commodities, and people walking on the street, occasionally Ortson would spot beautiful women down the road doing work, chatting with each other, and occasionally laughing with full of charm.

After one month of living inside the Tower Ortson has enough money to buy necessities for daily use.

Ortson started to search for stores by observing the banners hung on top of it.

This world has its roots in fantasy and it can also be seen in the naming sense such as Imbert's Parchment Boutique, Tolman's Tomes, Fastred's Magic Books, and Quality Cures.

Among those many fantasy names, there were also grocery and vegetable shops curating toward the general populace.

Ortson enters one of the grocery shop called Stop & Shop, stands in the queue of customer waiting for their turn, and wait for the shopkeeper to arrange his order.

'It would have been fast if this was a mart-style store, where all the products were arranged on shelves and I just need to roam around to find the item I want.'

After ten minutes the middle-aged shopkeeper greets Ortson, after completing a transaction with those before Ortson.

Creating a list of items before shopping is a good habit for economically challenged people.

Habitually Ortson takes out a slip of paper that has all the items written on it and gives it to the shopkeeper.

"I want these items written on the list.

"Wait for a minute."

The shopkeeper disappears behind the wall to collect all the items on the list leaving Ortson behind.

After a few moments, the shopkeeper returns with all the items Ortson ordered and he starts putting them on the counter one by one.

"A shaving blade with additional blades."

"A shaving foam."

"A nail cutter."

"A soap."

"A shampoo."

"A packet for tea."

"A packet for coffee."

"And a set of Utensils."

The shopkeeper starts calculating the total cost with the help of an abacus.

"It will be a total of 290₸."

Ortson completes the transaction and walks out of the grocery shop with a paper bag containing all the items.

'I need to renovate the apartment. That's why next stop the tool shop.'

Ortson enters a nearby tool store named Hammer & Nail while carrying the packages in both hands.

Ortson first puts the package on the countertop and takes out another list of items needed to renovate his room and gives it to the shopkeeper who looks like a bodybuilder with muscle bursting from his shirt.

"I need all of these items on the list?"

"Let me see, wooden planks, hammer, nail, chisel, wooden polish, tape. sanders."

The shopkeeper keeps reading the total list needed by Ortson

"We have them, I will get them packaged."

The shopkeeper collected all the items needed by Ortson And Packed them nicely.

'My work for today is done.'

But Ortson forgot one problem, He does neither have the strength nor capacity to carry these packages by himself and it's late-night right now.

"Mister does your store has delivery services?"

"No."

"How about this, If you deliver the package to my address I will also pay for the delivery."

"Deal.

Ortson returned to his room 404 in the apartment with the delivery in tow.

Right now the room is very cramped due to all the packages left on the floor, and he has no strength to clean the room.

Ortson puts down the camera on the desktop and falls head down on his pillow for his much-needed sleep.