Anokha Barber

We've been here on Godowlia Road for a while now. If you know Varanasi, you know how busy it gets around the Godowlia Chauraha. Our shop is right there. It’s a small place, nothing fancy, just chairs and mirrors. Most people come in because they’re passing by or they live nearby and need a quick trim. It gets loud outside with all the rickshaws and people, but inside we just focus on the hair. We handle a lot of regulars who don't even have to say what they want anymore. We just know. Sometimes the power goes out or it gets too crowded, but that’s just how it is in this part of town. We don't have a website or anything. People just walk in. The floor is usually covered in hair until we get a minute to sweep. It’s honest work. We start early and stay open until the streets quiet down a bit. My hands are usually busy from morning till night. We keep the scissors sharp and the combs clean. It’s not a spa, just a place for a haircut and maybe a shave if you have the time. We see all kinds of people here, from students to old men who have been coming since they were kids. It’s just us doing what we do every day. Nothing more to it. We like being part of the neighborhood.