Sharp Tools

The morning at 9/10, Sharp Nagar usually starts with the sound of the shutters going up around eight. Sitra Road is already getting loud by then with the buses and people heading to work. We’ve been here in Kalapatty for quite some time, just doing what we do with the tools and equipment. It’s a dusty job, and my hands are usually a mess by noon, but that is how it goes when you’re working with hardware. Some days are slower than others. We sit and have tea from the stall nearby when the power goes out, which happens more than we'd like. Sharp Tools isn't a fancy place with air conditioning or soft chairs. It is just a workspace where we get things sorted. People from the neighborhood drop by asking for this or that, and we try to find whatever they need in the back. The shelves are a bit disorganized, but we know where everything is. It gets hot in the afternoons, so we keep the fans running full blast. Sometimes the neighbors come in just to chat about the local news. We don't have a big corporate setup here. It is just a few of us trying to make a living and keeping the machines running for whoever needs them. When the sun goes down, we lock up and head home, ready to do the same thing tomorrow. It’s a simple life, but it keeps us busy and out of trouble.