Piyali Saloon

You can find us on the ground floor over in Kestopur, right near the Baisakhi Foot Bridge. That bridge is a busy spot, so there are always people walking back and forth, and a lot of them end up poking their heads into the saloon. Kolkata can be a very busy place, and Kestopur is no exception. Our shop is just a small, straightforward room with the basic setup for hair cutting. We don’t have much in the way of decoration, just some old posters on the wall and the mirrors. The chairs have been around for a long time, so they are broken in and comfortable enough for a quick sit. I spend most of my day standing on the tiled floor, which can get a bit cold in the winter months. We get a lot of office workers and students who need a quick trim before they go about their business. It’s not the kind of place where you spend hours; it’s more about getting in and getting out with a decent haircut. Sometimes the tea stall next door brings over a cup and we have a quick chat between customers. The fan hums a bit loud, but nobody seems to mind it. We just keep things moving and try to stay on top of the sweepings. It is a very basic operation, but it serves the people around the foot bridge well enough for their daily needs.