Sampath Saloon

Being on the Main Road in Dondaparthy means we see a lot of people passing by all day. We are right opposite the Sri Erukumamba Temple, so on Fridays, the bells are ringing constantly and it gets really crowded outside. The saloon is just a basic place with the usual big mirrors and those old-style chairs that have been here since we opened. We keep the door open mostly to let some air in because the ceiling fan doesn't always do the trick in this Vizag humidity. You'll find a lot of newspapers scattered around for people to read while they wait their turn. Most of our regulars are men from the nearby houses who just want a quick trim or a shave before heading to work. We don't have a fancy waiting area, just a wooden bench against the wall. Sometimes the temple crowds make it hard for people to park their bikes out front, but nobody seems to mind much. We’ve got the same blue tiles on the floor that have been there for years, and they’ve seen a lot of hair swept over them. It’s a bit noisy with the buses honking on the road, but that’s just part of being in this area. We just keep our heads down and do the work, one customer after another at Sampath Saloon.