Jay Bhavani Hair & Care

The shop is right at the Maninagar Crossing in Maninagar East. It’s shop number one, so it’s easy to spot once you get to the right corner. We are right across from the Kashi Vishwa Nath Mahadev temple. You can hear the bells ringing from the temple in the mornings and evenings, which is actually quite nice while you're working. The traffic at the crossing can be a lot, especially when the trains are going past and the gates are down. People are always in a hurry out there. Inside the shop, it’s a bit quieter. I have the standard chairs and the big mirrors. I spend a lot of time sharpening my scissors and making sure the combs are clean. It’s a small space, but we make it work. I’ve lived in Ahmedabad my whole life so I’m used to the heat and the crowds. We don’t have a big waiting room, just a couple of stools for people to sit on while they wait their turn. I mostly handle men’s hair and shaves. It’s simple work but I take it seriously. I usually keep a radio on low in the background, playing some old songs. The floor is tiled and I spend half my day sweeping up hair. That’s just the way a barber shop is. It feels like home to me after all these years at this spot. I just open up, do the cuts, and go home when the sun goes down.