Mass Salon

Down here in Melakalkandarkottai, things move at their own pace. The shop is located near Thiru Vi Ka Thidal in Trichy, which is a place most locals know pretty well. I’ve spent many years in this spot, watching the neighborhood change while I stay busy with my scissors. It’s often very hot in Trichy, so the ceiling fan is always running at full speed, humming away while I work. The floor is made of simple stone, which stays a bit cooler than the pavement outside. I don’t have any fancy assistants, so I do everything from sweeping up the hair to washing the towels at the end of the day. Customers are mostly people from nearby houses who have been coming to me since they were young. We talk about the local festivals or how the prices of things are going up in the market. I keep a plastic bottle of water nearby because talking and cutting hair all day makes you thirsty. There’s a small mirror near the back that’s a bit silvered at the edges, but it still works fine. I like the routine of it all, the sound of the spray bottle and the snip of the blades. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s honest work and it keeps me connected to the people around here. By the time I pull down the shutter in the evening, I’m tired, but I’m ready for a quiet night at home before starting over.