Lakshmi Balaji Steels

If you drive down the Main Road in Autonagar, you’ll see Lakshmi Balaji Steels at door number 53. It’s right in the middle of all the mechanical shops and industrial activity. This part of town is always loud with the sound of engines and metal hitting metal. We fit right in. Our shop is mostly filled with different types of steel rods and sheets stacked up high. It’s a bit of a maze inside if you don't know where you’re going. We’ve had to reorganize the layout a dozen times to make more room. My boots are pretty worn out from walking on the concrete floor all day. We deal with a lot of different customers, from small-scale welders to guys working on bigger construction sites. Everyone is usually in a hurry, so we try to move fast. Sometimes we run out of a specific size and have to wait for the next truck, which can be a pain for everyone involved. We don't have a receptionist or anything. If the phone rings, whoever is closest to it picks it up. Usually, we are too busy cutting or loading to spend much time chatting, but we know the regulars by name. It’s a basic operation. We focus on getting the orders right and making sure the stacks are safe so nothing falls over. It’s hard work, but it’s what we know. We aren't trying to be the biggest, just reliable for the guys who come in day in and day out.