Zsk Leathers

Humuyaun Bagh is one of those places where everyone knows everyone. Zsk Leathers is at 88/421, and if you blink, you might miss the entrance because of the stacks of goods outside. It’s a tight spot. We deal with leather all day, mostly sorting and checking the quality of the skins. The air is thick with the smell of tan and some chemicals. It’s not a place for someone with a sensitive nose. We have stacks of hides piled up almost to the ceiling. The light isn't great, so we use these bright tube lights that flicker sometimes. It’s a bit of a maze inside with all the boxes and the narrow walkways between the workstations. There is no air conditioning, just a few ceiling fans that push the warm air around. We talk a lot while we work, mostly about family or the price of things at the market. There’s always someone coming in with a delivery or taking something out on a rickshaw. The street outside is narrow, so it’s always a struggle when a bigger vehicle tries to pass through. We just keep our heads down and get the work done. It’s a simple routine, and we’ve been doing it this way for a long time now. It’s home, in a way. The neighbors drop by for a chat and we share whatever snacks are going around during the mid-afternoon break.