New Shiv Hair Dressers

New Shiv Hair Dressers is sitting right by the bus stand in Umaria Kudari, which is part of Jabalpur. We are in Ward No 9. Being near the bus stand means we see a lot of different people every day. Some are locals who live right here, and others are just passing through and need a quick haircut before they catch their next bus. The shop is quite basic with a couple of wooden chairs and large mirrors that have some spots on them. We have the radio playing most of the time to drown out the sound of the buses revving their engines outside. It’s a dusty spot, so I’m always wiping down the counters. I’ve been cutting hair here since I was a young man. The light comes in through the front door because we don’t have many windows. When it rains, the mud from the bus stand gets tracked in, so I have to mop the floor quite often. We do simple haircuts and shaves for the men. There’s a small bench where people sit and wait, usually reading the newspaper or just chatting about the local politics. It’s a small-town life, and everyone knows everyone else’s business. We don't have any fancy signs or advertisements. People just know we are here by the bus stand. It’s a steady job and it keeps me busy from morning until the last bus leaves.