Gujarat Surgical Corporation

The business is tucked away in Hajapatel’S Pole on Relief Road. We are right behind the Calico Dom, which is a big landmark in this part of the old city. If you’ve ever been to Relief Road, you know it’s a maze of people, scooters, and shops. Our space is in one of those narrow lanes where it’s hard to move a cart, let alone a car. We deal with surgical supplies, so the place is always packed with cardboard boxes full of medical equipment. It’s a bit of a squeeze inside. We spend our days checking lists and packing orders to go out to clinics or hospitals. It is a lot of standing and reaching for things on high shelves. The air in the pole is always a bit still and it gets very hot in the middle of the day. We usually step out to the main road for a bit of air or a quick snack from the street vendors. The old building has its quirks, like creaky floors and walls that have seen better days. It is a very traditional way of working in Ahmedabad. We don’t have any fancy displays or a reception desk. It’s just us among the boxes of gloves and instruments. We know most of the other shopkeepers around here, and we all just try to navigate the crowds together. It’s a busy, cramped, and noisy way to spend the day.