Sri Sakthi Rice & Oil Mills

Perumalpet is where we sit, specifically on Muthumariamman Kovil Street at No.16/82A. It’s a busy spot most mornings. My family has been around this area for quite a while now. The mill stays loud during the day because there is always rice to hull or seeds to press for oil. People walk in with their bags and wait around talking about the weather or the price of things these days. It gets dusty in the shop, which is just how it goes when you’re working with grain and heavy machinery. We don’t have fancy chairs or anything, just a few benches for when the line gets long. Sometimes the rain makes the street muddy, but people still find their way here. Most of the folks who come by are neighbors we’ve known for years. You can smell the fresh oil from down the road when the machines are really going. It’s hard work, and the floors are always stained with oil or covered in husks. We keep the doors open to let some air in because it gets really hot back where the engines are running. My hands are usually messy by noon. There isn't much to say other than we spend our hours making sure the bags are filled and the machines don't break down on us. It’s just a normal place where we get the work done and go home when the sun goes down. Most days it is just about managing the noise and the dust while keeping things moving.