Babu Image Beauty Saloon

Pipeline Main Road is always moving. We are at No. 65/1, right near the Vinayaka Hotel. If you are from Malleswaram, you probably know the smell of coffee and tiffin that drifts over from the hotel in the mornings. Babu Image Beauty Saloon has been a part of this street for a long time. Bangalore has grown so big, but this part of town still feels like the old days to me. I start my day early, getting the shop ready before the breakfast crowd hits the hotel. The shop isn’t anything too special to look at from the outside. Inside, we have the usual setup—mirrors, chairs, and a small shelf for the creams and oils we use. I like the sound of the city outside while I work. It’s a mix of traffic and people talking as they walk by. Sometimes a customer will come in after their meal at Vinayaka and fall asleep in the chair while I’m working. I don't mind. It means they are comfortable and trust me. We see a lot of different people, from young tech workers to the older uncles who have lived in Malleswaram for fifty years. I try to treat everyone the same. It’s a steady rhythm of cutting, shaving, and sweeping. The floor never stays clean for long, but that’s a sign of a good day. I’m happy to be here in this neighborhood.