Rajesh Bricks

Our place, Rajesh Bricks, is situated right near the bus stand. It’s a loud area with buses coming and going at all hours, but it makes it easy for people to find us. We spend a lot of time out in the sun moving heavy loads and checking on the kiln. There is always a layer of red dust on everything, including our clothes, but that is just part of the job. Being so close to the station means there’s always something happening, people walking by or drivers stopping for a chat. We aren't doing anything complicated, just mixing the earth and water and letting the fire do its thing. Some days the heat from the ovens is almost too much, especially in the middle of summer when the breeze stops. We just drink plenty of water and keep the pace steady. My cousin helps out sometimes, and we have a few regulars who come by whenever they are building a new shed or fixing a wall. It’s a simple life here near the bus stand, nothing like those big factories you see in the city. We don't have a fancy office or anything, just a small desk and a lot of open ground for the bricks to dry. If you are passing through and see the smoke from the chimney, you’ll know we are working hard at it every day. It is just basic labor but it keeps us going.