Akash Kaleens

Up here at Rookhar Ghat, things feel a bit different than the busier parts of town. Akash Kaleens is where we spend our time, and as the name suggests, it is all about the rugs here. You walk in and the first thing you notice is that smell of wool and maybe a little bit of dye. It is a heavy, earthy smell, but we have grown to like it over the years. We have rugs stacked everywhere. Some are rolled up tight and leaning against the walls, while others are spread out on the floor so you can see the patterns properly. Rookhar Ghat is an interesting area to work in. It has its own slow pace. We aren't in a big hurry most of the time. We spend a lot of our day just moving these heavy pieces around. If you have ever tried to flip over a large handmade rug, you know it is quite a workout. We don't have any fancy displays or bright flashing lights in the shop. It is just the rugs and us. Sometimes we sit and talk about the weave or the way the colors came out in a particular batch. It is a very tactile job. Your hands get a bit rough from the fibers, and there is always a bit of lint on your clothes by the end of the day. People come by to look, and we just let them take their time. There is no pressure here. We just stay busy with our inventory and keep the place organized.