Aamina Urdu School

You can find us over on the 5th floor of Rudra Square, right at the Judges Bunglow Cross Road in Bodakdev. Being up that high means we get a decent view of the traffic below, but we mostly focus on what’s happening in the classrooms. Aamina Urdu School is where local kids come to pick up the language and learn their lessons. Since we are in an office building, it feels a bit different than a traditional school with a big yard. The elevator is usually busy in the mornings with students and teachers heading up. Sometimes it’s faster just to take the stairs if you aren’t carrying too many books. The rooms are filled with the sounds of children reciting their letters. We have whiteboards that have been erased so many times they’re starting to look a bit grey. It's a tight-knit spot where everyone knows each other’s names. We spend a lot of time organizing the daily schedule and making sure there’s enough chalk and pens for everyone. Sometimes the afternoon heat makes the rooms a bit stuffy despite the fans spinning at full speed. It isn’t a glamorous setup, but it’s where the work gets done every day. Parents drop their kids off at the entrance of Rudra Square and wait for them near the shops downstairs when school is over. It’s just our daily routine here in Ahmedabad. The traffic outside never really stops, but up here on the fifth floor, we just keep going with our lessons.