Alankaar Hair Saloon

Alankaar Hair Saloon is located in Gali No. 14 of Phool Bagh Colony in Meerut. This is a residential area so most of my customers are my neighbors. It’s a quiet street compared to the main roads, which I prefer. I started this shop in a small room that used to be part of a house. You have to walk down the alleyway a bit to find me. There isn't a big sign out front, just a small one painted on the wall. I know almost everyone who walks through the door by their first name. We talk about family and how the colony is changing. I have one main chair and a smaller one for children who wiggle too much. The floor is concrete and I painted it green a few years ago to make it look a bit cleaner. I have a small radio that stays on a local station all day long. In the afternoons when it gets quiet, I sometimes sit on the step outside and watch the kids play cricket in the street. I don't use any fancy chemicals or expensive hair products. It is just soap, water, and a steady hand with the razor. People come here because they know me and they know I won't overcharge them. It’s a small life but it’s mine. I’ve been cutting hair in Phool Bagh for a long time and I don’t plan on going anywhere else.