Khanderao Flower Merchant

I run Khanderao Flower Merchant over in Dadar West. Dadar is basically the heart of the flower business in Mumbai, so there’s no better place to be if you’re doing this kind of work. I don't have a fancy address with a suite number, just a spot in the market area where everyone knows each other. My day starts way before the sun is up. That’s when the trucks come in from the farms, and everyone is shouting and moving boxes. It’s chaotic, but it’s a rhythm I’ve known for years. I don’t consider myself a florist in the modern sense; I’m a merchant. I deal with the bulk of it, the raw stuff that comes in from the countryside. My hands are always rough from handling stems and twine all day. The shop isn't a place where you'd go for a coffee; it's a place where work happens. There are petals on the floor and empty crates stacked up in the corner. People come to me because they know I’ve been in Dadar for a long time. I don't use a computer for much; most of my business is done face-to-face with a notebook and a pen. It’s a simple way of living, but it’s what I know. Dadar West is always loud and crowded, but that’s just the energy of the market. I wouldn't know what to do with myself in a quiet office. There is always something that needs lifting.