Sai Cement Bricks

Our yard is at 241/46 in Bilikere, right near the Bilikere Bridge. It’s a handy spot because everyone knows the bridge, so we don't have to give complicated directions very often. We mostly make cement bricks here. It’s a fairly simple process, but you have to get the proportions right or the bricks just crumble. We spend most of our mornings mixing and pouring, and then the afternoons are for moving the dried bricks to the stacks. It’s a lot of lifting, so it keeps us fit, I suppose. The ground is always a bit wet from the curing process. We started this because there was a lot of small-scale construction happening around the village and people needed a reliable place to get bricks without paying for long-distance transport. We don't have a big corporate setup. It’s just a yard with some sheds and a lot of grey bricks piled up. Sometimes the machines break down and we have to spend half a day fixing them with greasy hands, which is frustrating but part of the job. We have some regulars who come by with their own small trucks to load up. We just chat for a bit, settle the bill, and they’re on their way. The bridge is a landmark for everyone, so it makes finding us very easy for first-timers. It’s a quiet life for the most part, except for the sound of the mixer.