Haseena Mehendi Designer

I work out of Heera Panna Apartment, over in Khatiwala Tank. It’s on the main road, number 183 to be exact, right opposite the water tank. Indore is a city that loves its celebrations, and that’s where my work comes in. I’ve been doing mehendi for a long time now. It’s not a big studio with a sign outside; it’s more of a personal thing. Most people find me through word of mouth or because they live in the same building. During the wedding season, my hands are always stained orange or dark brown from the henna. It’s a lot of sitting and being patient. The apartment can get a bit tight when a whole family comes over for a bridal booking, but we make space. We sit on the floor or the sofas, and I just start drawing. The smell of fresh mehendi is always in the air here. I don't use stencils; it’s all done by hand, line by line. Sometimes my back hurts from leaning over for hours, but seeing the final design on someone's hands makes it okay. I also go to people’s houses if they need me to. It’s simple work, but it’s what I know. People come here when they have a festival or a daughter getting married. We talk about the wedding plans and drink tea while the henna dries. It’s a quiet way to make a living in a busy city like Indore.