K. G. CUTTING

K. G. CUTTING is located right in the heart of Mumbai, specifically at Kharwa Galli. We’re in the Omar Fatemohamed Shed, occupying shops 10, 11, and Nc. If you know the 400004 area, you know how packed and busy these streets are. It’s a real squeeze sometimes getting through the lanes. Our shops stay filled with the sound of cutting and the smell of metal or whatever material we happen to be working on. Even though it is a small, cramped space, we’ve made the most of it over the years. You'll see scraps on the floor and tools hanging from every wall. We’ve been in this shed for a long time, so almost everyone in the galli knows who we are. It is a noisy, lively place to spend the day. Since we don't have air conditioning, the sea breeze is helpful when it manages to reach us through the narrow gaps between buildings. We usually start early when the market wakes up and stay until the lights in the alley go dim. There’s no front desk or secretary here, just the owners and the workers right there on the shop floor. We handle things as they come. It might feel a bit chaotic to an outsider, but that’s just how Mumbai life is. The tea guy knows exactly how many sugars everyone wants. We keep the door open for ventilation, so we see all the neighbors walking by all day. It's a small community in this shed, and everyone looks out for each other.