Aman Toor

I've been at Malhar Road for a while now. The Ashapura Society area is usually busy in the mornings. I open the doors early because people start moving around by eight. It's not a big fancy place, just enough room for what we do. My desk is usually a mess of papers and coffee mugs. Some days it's just me, other days a few cousins come by to help out with the lifting and moving. We don't have a big sign or anything, just the name. Most people find us because they live nearby or their neighbor told them where we are. It gets hot in the afternoons so we keep the fans running high. Sometimes the electricity goes out for an hour but we just sit outside on the stools and wait it out. It's a simple way to make a living. I know most of the people who walk past the shop every day. We talk about the weather or how the road is getting fixed again. It’s quiet enough to get work done but there's always something happening on the street. I keep a stack of old newspapers in the corner for when things are slow. Dealing with suppliers takes up a lot of my time, especially when trucks get stuck in traffic. That's just how it goes here. Nothing stays on schedule but it all gets done eventually. I’ve lived around here long enough to know the shortcuts and where to get the best chai. It's just a regular local spot.