Rajan Lal Rangwala

Rajan Lal Rangwala has been sitting at Shop No- 225 in Aruna Nagar for a long time. We are right on the Railway Road, so you can always hear the trains passing by in the distance or the shunting sounds from the tracks nearby. Being near the Endaruri Gate means there is a lot of local movement, people walking by or riding their cycles through the narrow lanes. Our shop is small and the shelves are stained with different colors from all the pigments and paints we handle. It’s a bit messy, with tins stacked in the corners and old brushes sitting on the wooden counter. The smell of oil and thinner is something you just get used to after working here. I sit on a low stool near the door where I can see the street life. We don't have any bright lights or big advertisements. The name is just painted on a board outside. Customers come in looking for specific shades, and we spend time opening lids and showing them what we have in stock. Sometimes the floor gets a bit slippery if something spills, so we keep sawdust around to clean it up quickly. It’s a simple way to make a living, surrounded by colors and the constant sound of the railway. We know most of the people who walk past every day, and they know us as the place on the corner near the gate. It's just home for us.