Nilesh Jain

Our spot is at 41, Manik Bhwan, right in the Gumanpura area of Kota. We are very close to the SBBJ bank, so that is how most people find us if they are lost in the maze of streets. Gumanpura is one of those places that never seems to stop moving. There are always scooters zooming past and people shouting to each other across the street about one thing or another. Inside Manik Bhwan, it is a bit calmer, but you can still hear the city pulse outside. Nilesh stays busy with the day-to-day operations here. The office is filled with the usual stuff like old ledgers and a computer that hums a bit too loudly when it gets hot. We have a window that looks out onto the street, which is good for people-watching when we take a small break. The floor is tiled and easy to sweep, which is lucky because the dust from the Rajasthan roads gets everywhere if you leave a window open for even ten minutes. We don't have a big sign out front, just the name on the door. People who know us just walk in without knocking half the time. There is no waiting room or anything like that. If the chairs are full, you just stand for a bit and lean against the wall. It is a very local way of doing things. We have a small stove in the corner for tea. It is just a regular place.