Manglam Gents Beauty Parlour

The shop is right there on Old GT Road in Aurangabad City. Every morning, we come in and roll up the metal shutter. It makes a loud noise that everyone on the street knows. The first thing to do is always sweep the floor because dust from the road gets in overnight. We have these big mirrors that need a good wipe every single day or the dust makes it hard to see anything. It’s a gents beauty parlour, but really, it’s just where men come to get their hair cut or a clean shave. We have a few chairs that have seen better days, but they are comfortable enough. The ceiling fan wobbles a bit when it’s on high speed, but it keeps the Bihar heat away while we work. People walk in from the market area or stop their bikes outside. We don’t have a fancy waiting room, we just have some plastic chairs against the wall. Sometimes we sit and have tea when it’s quiet. We talk about the weather or how the road is always under repair. It is a simple life here. We don’t use any high-tech machines, just our hands, some scissors, and a steady razor. The smell of talcum powder and cheap aftershave is always in the air. By the time evening comes, our backs are usually a bit tired, but we finish the last customer, lock the door, and head home to do it all again tomorrow.