Jaywant V Kushte

Shaikh Kalbadevi is a place that never really stops moving. We are located at Shop No 31 in Pathva Chawl. It’s one of those old buildings that has a lot of history in the walls. You have to navigate through the narrow lanes to find us, but once you’re here, it’s a familiar spot for many. The shop isn’t very big, just enough room for us and a few customers at a time. Jaywant V Kushte is the name on the board, though most people just come in and start talking like they’ve known us forever. Living and working in a chawl means you’re never really alone. There’s always the sound of neighbors and the smell of food cooking nearby. It’s a very local way of doing things. We don’t have a website or anything like that. We just open the shutters in the morning and see who walks in. The shop has been here through many monsoons and many summers. Everything inside is practical. We have our tools and our supplies organized in a way that only we really understand. Sometimes the lights flicker when the heavy machinery in the next shop starts up, but we just keep working. It’s a simple life in Shaikh Kalbadevi. We don’t try to be something we aren't. We just provide what people need and keep our spot in Pathva Chawl running as long as we can. It’s honest work and we like it that way.