M. Sadak Ali & Brothers

M. Sadak Ali & Brothers is found at 4, Mere Weather Road. We are tucked right behind the Taj Mahal Hotel and just across from the Singapore Airlines office, so it is a very busy part of Colaba. Even though the area is full of tourists and big fancy hotels, our shop feels a lot more grounded. It is a family-run thing, and you can tell by the way we argue over where to put the new stock or who forgot to lock the back cupboard. The space is a bit cramped because we try to fit a lot in, but that is just how it is in this part of Mumbai. We have been here through all sorts of changes in the city. You can hear the tourists walking by and the taxis honking constantly, but inside, we just focus on the carpets and the trade. It is a bit of an old-fashioned way of doing business, sitting down with a cup of tea and talking through things rather than rushing. We do not have any glossy brochures. The rugs speak for themselves when you see the colors and feel the wool. Sometimes the air conditioning struggles with the heat, but we make do. It is a lot of lifting and carrying, and our backs feel it by the end of the day, but being so close to the heart of Colaba makes it interesting every single day.