Gulmarg Gents Salon

If you look for us in Fategarh, we are at Shop No 1 near Chirayu Hospital and the Jamun Masjid. It’s a busy corner of Bhopal. There is always something happening outside, with people going to the hospital or heading to the mosque. Our shop is small but we keep it functional. I open up early and the first thing I do is set out the towels. We use a lot of towels every day. The chairs are old but they are comfortable enough for a twenty-minute sit. Most of the men who come in are regulars from the local streets. They don't say much, just sit down and let us get to work. We have the usual clippers and different sizes of combs lined up on the shelf. The light isn't the brightest, but it works for what we do. Sometimes when it rains, people pop in just to stay dry for a minute before getting their hair done. We don't mind. It's a community spot more than anything else. You can hear the sounds from the Masjid throughout the day which gives the place a certain rhythm. We just stay focused on the necklines and the sideburns. It is simple work but it needs a steady hand and a bit of patience. By the end of the night, my back usually aches a bit from standing, but it feels good to close the shutters and go home for the night.