Basith Flower Stall

You’ll find us at number 11 in Malad East, right in the Shivaji Nagar area. It’s not a huge shop, just a stall really. I’ve been working here for a long time now. The street gets very crowded in the evenings, and sometimes it's hard for people to even stand and look at what we have. I usually start the day by cleaning up the floor because there’s always bits of leaves and broken petals everywhere. It’s a constant battle to keep things tidy. We get our stock from the main market. Sometimes the marigolds are really bright, and other times they’re a bit pale. I just take what they give me. People come here for all sorts of reasons. Some need something for a small prayer at home, and others are just grabbing a few roses for a friend. I don’t use any fancy machines or anything. I just use my hands and some basic string to tie things together. The humidity in Malad can be tough on the flowers. They don’t last forever, you know. I try to keep them shaded as much as I can. Sometimes the neighbors come by just to chat while I’m trimming the stems. It’s a busy spot, and my feet usually ache by the end of the shift. But it’s okay. We’ve been here long enough that most people know where to find us when they need something green.