A Wood-Crafts Corner

If you’ve ever walked down Panchkuian Road, you know it’s a bit of a mess with all the furniture shops lined up. We are at Plot No. 71/3, right opposite Metro Pillar No-3. It’s noisy because of the traffic and the metro overhead, but that’s just how it is here. A Wood-Crafts Corner is what we call the place. Most days, there’s a thick layer of sawdust on everything because we are always cutting or sanding something. It’s not a fancy place with glass windows or air conditioning. We keep the front open so people can see the wood. My hands are usually stained with polish or have a few splinters. That’s just part of the job. We have different kinds of wood stacked up in the back. Some of it has been sitting there for a month, some just arrived this morning. People stop by when they’re getting off the metro at the pillar. They ask about a table or a stool. We don’t have a big sales pitch. We just show them what’s ready or tell them how long it’ll take to make something else. The tea stall nearby brings us chai twice a day, and that’s when we take a break. It’s a simple routine. We’ve been at this spot for a while now and the neighbors know us. It’s just a regular local shop doing wood stuff. Nothing more to it really.