Ram Kishan Mehandi Art

We’ve been here at Shastri Nagar in Meerut for quite some time now, right near that stationary mart. It’s a small spot but people know where to find us. Usually, it’s just me and a couple of others sitting here with the henna cones ready. The smell of fresh mehandi is always in the air around our corner of Sector 2. It gets really crowded during the wedding season or when Karva Chauth comes around. People just line up outside near the Opp Labh Ji Sons landmark. We don’t have fancy chairs or anything, just some stools and a lot of patience. My hands are usually stained orange most of the year. That is just how it is when you do this work every day. We see a lot of families coming in, mothers bringing their daughters. Sometimes it’s quiet and we just sit and talk about things happening in the neighborhood while waiting for someone to walk in. We try to keep things simple. There’s no big sign or anything flashy, just the name Ram Kishan Mehandi Art on the board. Sometimes the cones get stuck or the light isn't great in the evening, but we manage. It's a living and we like being part of the local market here. People stop by after buying pens or notebooks from the stationary mart next door. It’s a busy little part of Meerut and we’ve seen it change a lot over the years.