M. M. Jariwala

Being right across from Saifee High School means we hear the bell ring all day. Banian Street is a tight squeeze, especially when the trucks are trying to move through Pydhonie. Our shop is at Number 5 on A. E. Road. It’s a busy spot. Inside, there is stuff everywhere. We deal with jari and threads, so there are always spools and boxes stacked up. Sometimes it feels like there isn't enough room to turn around. We’ve been here long enough that the walls could use a new coat of paint, but there’s never a good time to stop and do it. The local workers drop by often. We keep the doors open to catch whatever breeze comes down the street, but mostly it’s just the smell of the city. We have a couple of old chairs for when someone wants to sit and look at the stock. It’s not a quiet place. You can hear the scooters and the shouting from the market. We start early and stay until the sun is well down. It’s mostly about getting the orders right and making sure we don't run out of the common colors. My hands are usually stained or dusty by the end of the afternoon. That’s just how it is working with these materials. We don't do much talking except for what’s needed for the business and the daily routines.