Parmar Mahesh Kumar Ambalal

My name is Mahesh and I have been at this spot on Ankur Ranna Park Road in Vadodara for years. People around here just call me by my name. The shop is officially Parmar Mahesh Kumar Ambalal, but the sign is a bit faded now. It’s right on the main road, so it gets a bit noisy with all the rickshaws and bikes passing by. I open up around nine every morning unless the rain is too heavy. Inside, it is filled with all sorts of things I have collected over the years for work. It is not organized like those big stores in the mall. I know exactly which shelf has what I need, though. My wife sometimes brings me lunch in a tiffin box around one o'clock. We sit on the wooden stools and talk about the kids. The light in the back of the shop is a bit dim, so I do most of the tricky work near the front door where the sun hits. It is a steady pace. I don't like to rush things. If a customer is in a hurry, I tell them to come back later. Quality takes time, even if it’s just a simple job. The walls need a new coat of paint, but I haven't found the time to move all the furniture out. Maybe next year. For now, it stays as it is. It's just a regular life here in Vadodara and I am happy enough with how things have turned out over the years.