Chhaya Ladies Beauty Parlour

My little parlour is located at 51 Nilgunj Road in Kolkata, not too far from Prabartak Pally. It’s a humble place, honestly. I started it because I wanted something of my own in the neighborhood. Inside, I have a couple of stations set up for threading and hair work. It’s usually full of the sound of women talking about their families or what they’re cooking for dinner. I don’t have a big staff, so things are very personal here. I know whose skin is sensitive and who likes their eyebrows a certain way without them even having to ask me. The curtains are a bit faded from the sun, but they keep the privacy for the ladies inside. I spend a lot of my time making sure the wax is at the right temperature and the threads are stocked up. Sometimes the local kids run past the door making a racket, but mostly it’s a peaceful spot away from the busy road. I keep a small mirror in the back for myself and a bigger one for the customers. It’s not like those fancy places you see on TV with the white sofas. We have regular wooden chairs and a fan that wobbles a bit. It feels real, and that’s why the local ladies like coming back here month after month. It is just a part of the daily life on Nilgunj Road for us.