Ashok Saloon

Ashok Saloon has been here at Hatiara Road in Deshbandhunagar for quite a long time now. We are right at G/G-1, and if you know the area, you probably know the LG Service Centre just opposite us. That is usually how people find their way here when they first come. It is just a small local place for haircuts and shaves, nothing too fancy like those big chains you see in the city malls. We open up early in the morning, usually around 8 or 9, depending on the day. The heat in Kolkata can be a lot, so people like to get their grooming done before the sun gets too high. Inside, there are just the basic chairs and mirrors. We have a few regulars who have been coming since they were kids, and now they bring their own sons. Sometimes it gets a bit crowded on Sunday mornings, especially when there is a cricket match on the small TV we keep in the corner. We do not have a website or anything like that. People just walk in or wait their turn on the bench outside if the chairs are full. The floor gets covered in hair quickly, but we sweep it up every hour. It is just a simple shop where you can get a decent trim and talk about what is happening in the neighborhood. We try to keep things quiet and straightforward for everyone who stops by. We have seen the road change over the years, more cars and noise now, but inside the shop, the smell of talcum powder and the sound of scissors staying the same makes it feel like home.