Care Ladies Beauty Parlour

Our little shop, Care Ladies Beauty Parlour, is right on Aktha Road in the Pahariya area. Being so close to Paharia Chauraha means there is always a lot of shouting and horns from the traffic outside. It’s a busy spot in Varanasi. The shop has a blue door that sticks a bit in the rainy season. Inside, we have three chairs and a big shelf for all the hair clips and threads. My cousin helps me out when things get busy during the festival times. We don't have an air conditioner, just a big cooler that we fill with water every afternoon. It makes a lot of noise but keeps the place cool enough for the customers. The walls are painted a light green, though they could use another coat soon. Ladies come here mostly for threading their eyebrows or getting a simple braid. We talk about the local news and who is getting married next. I usually keep a pot of tea in the corner for myself and the staff. Sometimes the tea gets cold before I can even take a sip because someone walks in. We aren't trying to be like those expensive places in the big hotels. We just want to give a decent haircut for a fair price. It’s dusty work and my back usually hurts by the evening, but it’s what we do. The floor gets covered in hair quickly so the broom is never far away.