Prayosha Beauty Parlour

Prayosha Beauty Parlour is on the first floor of the Shopping Villa Complex on Naranpura Road. Being right behind the Naranpura Bus Stand means there is a constant flow of people moving around outside. You can hear the buses pulling in and out and the conductors shouting all day. To get to us, you have to walk up the stairs of the complex to shop number 4. The space is bright and has big mirrors that reflect the light from the windows. It is a very typical Naranpura establishment, serving the middle-class families that live in the nearby flats. I usually arrive around ten in the morning to open the shutters and start the day. The air conditioner is a bit old and hums loudly, but it is necessary when the Ahmedabad heat kicks in. We have a regular routine of threading, waxing, and the occasional hair coloring. I don't really do much to promote the place; the sign on the balcony of the complex is usually enough for people to find us. Sometimes the neighbors from the other shops in the villa come by to borrow a matchbox or just to chat for a minute. It is a small community within the building. By the end of the day, my back usually aches from standing, but that is just part of the job. We keep the magazines on the table updated so waiting customers have something to read.