Aashish Metal

Aashish Metal is tucked away on the first floor of a building in S K Lane, over in the Kumbarpet area. If you’ve ever been to Kucha Number 13, you know how narrow and busy those streets are. It’s a real challenge getting materials in and out sometimes, especially being on the first floor, but we’ve gotten used to the logistics of it. We deal with various metal items and keep a lot of stock squeezed into our space. It’s a bit of a maze inside with all the shelves and stacks. We don’t have a polished showroom. It’s just a place where business happens between the noise of the market and the constant movement of people outside. We spend our mornings checking inventory and talking to suppliers. Sometimes the light in the lane isn't great, so we have to keep the big bulbs on all day. It’s a family-run kind of vibe here. We know the other shopkeepers on the lane, and we often help each other out. Dealing with metal means our hands are usually a bit grimy, and there’s always a metallic smell in the air. We don’t put on any acts for people. We just tell them what we have and what the price is. It’s a practical way to run things in a place like Kumbarpet where everyone is busy and looking for something specific for their own projects.