Gayen Bani Mill

The mill is out here in Gundut village, which is part of the Perua post area. It is a quiet spot most of the time, except when the machines are running. We are located in Sabang, inside West Midnapur. You can find us if you look for the sound of the engines. The building is old and made of brick, and the roof is corrugated metal that makes a lot of noise when it rains. We spend our mornings opening up the heavy wooden doors and checking the belts on the grinders. There is always dust in the air, a fine powder that settles on everything including our hair and clothes. We don't mind it much anymore. The local farmers bring their grain on cycles or small carts. We talk about the harvest and the rain. Sometimes the power goes out, and the whole village goes silent. We just sit on the bench outside and wait. It’s a simple life. We don’t have fancy computers or a big office. Just a desk with a ledger and a calculator. Our hands are usually rough from handling the sacks all day. By the time we close up and head home, the sun is usually setting over the fields. We’ve been doing this for years, just keeping the mill going for the people around here. It’s honest work, even if it’s loud and messy most of the time.