Basant Textile Mills

The shop is located right in Katra Ahluwalia, which is a place that’s always crowded and moving. It’s one of those old spots where everyone knows each other. We’ve been handling textiles here for years, mostly dealing with different fabrics and bulk cloth. The building isn't anything special to look at, just a regular space filled with rolls of material stacked from floor to ceiling. On a typical day, it’s quite noisy outside with the rickshaws and people passing by, but inside we just focus on the orders. We spend a lot of time counting meters and checking the weave of the fabric to make sure nothing is snagged. Sometimes the lighting isn't the best, so we have to take the cloth near the door to see the true color. It’s a small operation, really. A couple of us manage the sales and the loading. Getting trucks in and out of these narrow streets is always a bit of a headache, but we’ve gotten used to the squeeze. We don’t bother with fancy displays or anything. If someone needs cloth, they know where we are. It’s honest work, even if the lint gets everywhere and our clothes are always covered in stray threads by the end of the day. We just keep the doors open and see who comes in. The tea shop next door keeps us going with small cups of chai while we wait for the next delivery truck to arrive.