Nikita Jaiswal

You can find me at 145/H/1, Ananda Palit Road, which is in the Entally area of Kolkata. I’m quite close to the Haldirams there, which is a good landmark for people who aren't familiar with the side streets. My setup is pretty small and simple. It is basically just a room where I can sit down with students and focus on their lessons. Entally is a busy place, and Ananda Palit Road has its own life with people coming and going all day. The building I am in is tucked away a little bit, so it isn't too noisy once you get inside. I don't have a big corporate office or a team of secretaries. It is just me answering the phone and doing the teaching. I’ve got some basic chairs and a table that I’ve used for years. It isn't about having the best furniture; it’s about having a quiet space to think. I spend a lot of my time preparing notes and marking work. It is a very straightforward way to earn a living. I don't use any fancy language or try to sound more important than I am. Most of the people who come here are from around the neighborhood. We just get on with the work that needs to be done. Sometimes the electricity goes off and we have to wait a bit, but that is just how things are sometimes. It’s a very real, local life here, and I wouldn't have it any other way to be honest.