Zeenat Mens Parlour

Down here in Andheri East, you'll find us at Shop No 5 on Plot No 368/4, right there in the Kaml building area. It’s a busy part of Mumbai, as you probably know if you live around here or work nearby. The shop is small, but we’ve made the most of the space we have over the years. I’ve been working in this parlour for quite some time now, and I’ve seen the neighborhood change quite a bit as new buildings go up. There’s always the sound of traffic and horns outside, but inside we just focus on the hair and the work. We have some decent chairs and enough light to see exactly what we are doing with every cut. I spend my mornings getting everything ready, making sure the towels are clean and the spray bottles are full of water. People around here are always in a rush because of the fast Mumbai pace, so I try to work efficiently without rushing the actual cut itself. It’s a good feeling to see someone walk out looking fresh and a little more confident. I don’t think much about making the shop look like those fancy places in the malls. We just have the basics that work. Sometimes the rain gets really heavy during the monsoon and people run into the shop just to stay dry for a minute. I don't mind that at all; it's part of being in this city. We’ve become a small part of the daily life for the folks living in and around this plot. It’s just honest work, day in and day out, and we like being right here in Andheri.