S. M. Industries

S. M. Industries is tucked away in Tayebji Terrace, right at Number 77 on Ranjana Deshmukh Marg. Being in Parel, Mumbai 12, means we are right in the thick of everything. The building itself is quite old and has that specific smell of damp stone and old wood that you find in this part of the city. We have a small space on the ground floor where we keep our machinery. It is always a bit of a squeeze to get materials in and out because the street outside is so crowded with delivery vans and people walking to the station. We spend our hours doing industrial work, mostly small metal components that go into bigger machines. The noise from the street never really stops, so we just get used to the shouting and the horns. It can get very humid in the workshop, especially during the rainy season when the walls start to sweat. We don't have much in the way of decor; it is just shelves full of metal stock and a few benches for assembly. Most of us have been working here for years, so we know the rhythms of the neighborhood. We grab lunch from the stalls nearby and eat quickly so we can get back to the machines. It is not a glamorous job, but it is steady. We are just one of many small shops trying to get things done in Mumbai.