Munnar Hardwares

Up here on Nadayar Road in Devikulam, things move a bit slower than in the big cities down the hill. We have our hardware shop right on the side of the road. It is often misty in the mornings, which makes the metal tools feel cold when we first open up the heavy shutters. We stock everything from basic nails and hammers to plumbing pipes and big paint buckets. The shop is full of the smell of oil and new metal which we have gotten used to. People from the nearby tea estates often come in because they need something fixed or they are building a small shed on their land. We spend a lot of time searching through bins for the right sized screw or a specific bolt. It is not a modern place with fancy lights or glass counters. We just use the natural light coming through the door and a few bulbs overhead when it gets dark. There is a wooden counter where we do all our math and keep the cash box. Sometimes the weather gets really wet, and we have to move everything back so the inventory does not get damp from the rain. We know most of the people who walk past because it is a small community here. You can see the hills from the front step when the clouds clear up. We keep a pot of water for anyone who is thirsty. It is a simple place for local needs.