Hostess

This is Shanthi Nikethan, a ladies hostel run by Kavita Rai. We are located on the 6th Cross, just off the 7th Main in a fairly quiet part of Bangalore. We’ve been around for a long time, providing a place for women who come to the city for work or studies. The hostel is basically a large house that we’ve converted to accommodate more people. It isn't a luxury place, but it provides the essentials like a bed and a roof over your head. We try to keep a decent atmosphere for everyone who stays here. Kavita is usually the one dealing with the day-to-day issues, like fixing a leaky tap or sorting out the room assignments. We don’t have a website or any big advertisements. People usually find us because a friend told them about the place. It’s a very simple operation. Sometimes the kitchen gets a bit crowded in the mornings when everyone is trying to get ready at once, but we manage. We aren't trying to be a big chain of hostels. It’s just a local business run by real people. We know the local shops and the area very well. We just focus on keeping the place running smoothly so the residents have a safe place to stay. It’s not a fancy life, but it’s a good one. We just take things one day at a time here at the hostel and make sure everyone is okay. It is a simple life for us here.