Nusrat Beauty Parlour

Hazratganj is always full of life, especially near Ganj Plaza. Our shop, Nusrat Beauty Parlour, is right there across from the old Leela Cinema Hall. Everyone knows that cinema. We have been in this spot for a long time. It is a bit of a walk up the stairs, but once you are inside, it is quiet compared to the street. Lucknow people like to take their time. We do a lot of henna and threading for the ladies who are out shopping in the market. The lights in Ganj Plaza look nice in the evening. Our mirrors are a bit old and have some spots on the edges, but you can see yourself well enough. We keep some magazines on the table for when there is a wait. Usually, it is just me and one other person working here. We talk about the movies playing across the street or what is happening in the city. The tea here is good because the stall downstairs knows exactly how much sugar we like. It is not a big corporate salon with fancy uniforms. We just wear our regular clothes and do the work. Most of our regulars have been coming for years and they know where everything is. Sometimes the power goes out and we just sit by the window for a bit. It’s a simple life running a parlour in such a busy part of town.