Wood Shine

We are down at Navsarjan Industrial Co-Operative Society, just off the Udhna Magdalla Road. Most days here start early because the heat gets a bit much by noon if you're trying to work with the finishes. Wood Shine isn't one of those fancy places with a lobby or a receptionist. It’s mostly just us, a lot of sandpaper, and that smell of varnish that never really leaves your clothes even after you’ve washed them a few times. We’ve been in this spot near Santinath Mill for a good while now. The neighbors know us by the sound of the sanders going. Sometimes the dust gets everywhere, but that’s just how it is when you’re trying to get a surface smooth. We take in old furniture that looks like it’s seen better days and try to make it look decent again. It’s not always easy work, and my hands are usually stained with some kind of oil or stain by the time I head home. People from around Surat drop by with their old tables or chairs, and we just talk about what needs doing over some tea. We don't have a big corporate setup, just a practical workspace where we get things done. It can get pretty loud when the machines are all running at once. We usually have a radio playing somewhere in the back to keep us going. It’s a simple operation, really. We just focus on the wood and making sure the polish dries right before the dust settles on it.