Matri Saloon

Matri Saloon is located on R N Avenue in Kolkata. The zip code is 700110 if you’re looking for it on a map. It’s a straight road and we sit right along the side where most people walk to the market. It’s a busy street, so there’s always noise from the traffic and horns outside while we work. Inside, it’s a bit calmer. We have the basic setup for a barber shop. We don’t do anything flashy or high-end. It’s mostly just haircuts and shaves for the men who live around here. Some guys come in once a month, others every two weeks like clockwork. We’ve got a couple of us working here who know the regulars. We don't have a big staff or anything like that. Sometimes we drink a cup of tea while we wait for the next person to walk through the door. The lighting isn't the brightest, but we see well enough to do the job. The chairs are a bit old and the vinyl is cracked in places, but they’re comfortable enough for a quick sit. We keep our towels as clean as we can and the razors are always sharp. It’s a small business, really. We just try to do our work and go home to our families at the end of the day. R N Avenue has changed a lot over the years with new shops, but our saloon stays pretty much the same.