Mohd Saleem Painter Jiyai

I spend most of my days out on Naya Gaon Road or around Hussain Chowk. Being a painter means I don't really stay in one spot for too long. My gear is usually piled up in a corner somewhere when I'm not using it. I’ve got brushes that have seen better days and ladders that are getting a bit heavy to carry around as I get older. People in this area know me mostly by word of mouth. I’ll be walking down the street and someone will ask if I have time to look at a damp wall or a faded door. It’s honest work, even if my clothes are always covered in splatters of white or grey. Hussain Chowk is a good place to meet people because everyone passes through there eventually. The weather really dictates my schedule. If it’s too humid, the paint won’t dry right, and if it’s raining, I’m stuck inside doing prep work. I don't have a big office with a secretary. It’s just me and my tools. I take my time with the corners because that’s where people notice the mistakes. Most of the houses around here have similar layouts, so I know my way around the local architecture pretty well by now. It’s a simple life, moving from one house to the next with a bucket in each hand.