Sitting bent over stones all day slowly killed my back. Started walking by the riverfront before shift, just twenty minutes. Small thing, but my body says thank you every morning now.

Sent money home today and my mother asked when I'll come for Janmashtami. I've been saying 'soon' for three years now. The city eats your time without asking, bhai.

The whole karkhana stops when India is batting. Boss pretends to be angry about it but he's the one shouting loudest at the screen. Yesterday we lost a wicket and honestly we all lost concentration on the stones too.

Piece-rate life

Twelve hours at the ghanti and my pay depends on how many stones I finish, not the hours I sit. Some weeks are good, some weeks I just count what I didn't earn. Anyone else on piece-rate knows this quiet stress, na.

Kishor from Surat, originally Amreli side. I polish diamonds all day — small stones, big rent, you know how it is. Not much of a phone person but thought I'll try talking here a little.