Goel Dyes & Chemicals

If you walk down Benjamin Road, you’ll find us at 329. Goel Dyes & Chemicals is written on the board. It's a narrow shop. Buckets and bags are everywhere. We deal with colors mostly. Dyes for cloth, chemicals for cleaning. It smells a bit sharp inside, like vinegar and salt. That’s just the way it is with this stuff. I spend my days weighing out powders on the old scale. People from the local garment shops come in. They need a specific blue or a deep red. We try to match what they want. It’s not always easy. Sometimes the batches vary. Benjamin Road is always crowded. Rickshaws and bikes everywhere. We've been at 329 for a long time. The walls are stained with different colors. It looks like an art project gone wrong. But we know where everything is. This shelf is for acids, that one for pigments. My son helps me out on Saturdays. He wants to change things, maybe get a computer. I tell him the ledger works fine. It’s a dusty business. You get it on your clothes. I have a pair of shoes that are permanently green. It’s okay though. It's a living. We provide what the local makers need. Just a simple chemical shop on a busy street. Nothing fancy, just barrels and bags. We keep the doors open for some air. It's just a regular day for us at 329 Benjamin Road. Colors and smells all day long.