Al-Zubedi Medical Hall

Running a pharmacy like Al-Zubedi Medical Hall on Parrda Gate Road in King Koti is a lot different from a regular shop. We are at Shop No 3-5-782/H/6, right across from the Government Hospital here in Hyderabad. Because of the location, we see a lot of people who are worried or in a hurry. It’s a high-pressure environment sometimes. I’ve spent countless hours behind this counter, looking for specific tablets or syrups among the hundreds of boxes we keep. The street outside is always packed with ambulances and people coming and going from the hospital. It’s noisy and the air is full of exhaust fumes from the traffic. I don't really have a set routine because you never know who is going to walk through the door next. We stay open late because health issues don't follow a schedule. My hands are always a bit dry from handling so much paper and packaging. I have a small stool behind the counter, but I rarely get to use it for long. The light inside is a bit harsh, those long white tube lights, but you need to see the labels clearly. It’s a serious job, and I take it one customer at a time. Hyderabad is a big city, but in this little corner of King Koti, everything feels very immediate and urgent. I just do my part and go home tired.