Bharat Popat

Operating out of Benefit House on City Bank Street keeps us right in the middle of everything. Being behind the Municipal Market means there is always a crowd nearby. It is rarely quiet here, with the sounds of the market and the bank traffic blending together. I’ve been sitting at this desk for years now, watching the street change. Some shops come and go, but we stay put. Our space isn't very large, but it fits what we need. We usually start the day with a cup of tea from the stall around the corner. Most of our visitors are people who have been coming to us for a long time. They know the shortcuts through the market to reach the back street where we are. It gets hot in the summer, so we keep the fan running all day long. Sometimes the electricity acts up, but that is just part of being in this neighborhood. We don’t do a lot of fancy talking here. If someone needs something, we look into it and see what can be done. It is a straightforward way to earn a living. The paperwork piles up sometimes, but we get through it eventually. It feels good to be a part of the local scene on this street. Every day is pretty much the same, and we like it that way. We don't need much more than that.