Vinayak Florist

Being a florist in Matunga means you get used to the early mornings. We are situated right near the Aashray Hotel, which is a good landmark for people who haven't been to this part of the neighborhood before. At Vinayak Florist, the floor is almost always a bit damp because we are constantly watering the stems and trimming the leaves. It smells like a mix of wet dirt and whatever is in bloom that day, which is better than the car exhaust from the street outside. We have buckets lining the walls and a big table in the middle where all the cutting happens. The hotel nearby brings in a lot of people walking by, so we see many faces throughout the day. Some people just stop to look at the colors while others are in a hurry to get somewhere. Our shop isn't very large, so things can get a little tight when a new shipment of roses or lilies arrives in the morning. We have to move quickly to get everything into water before the heat starts to wilt the petals. It is a lot of standing on your feet and dealing with thorns, and my fingers usually have a few small scratches by the end of the shift. We just try to keep the flowers fresh and the shop tidy enough so people can walk through without tripping over a bucket.