Aabhushan Times

Vithalwadi in Kalbadevi is one of those places that never really stops. Our office is on the 3rd floor, numbers 46 to 48. Getting up those stairs can be a bit of a workout if you are carrying bags. The building is old, like most things in this part of Mumbai. Inside Aabhushan Times, it is a bit quieter than the street downstairs, but you can still hear the shouting of the loaders and the bells of the temples nearby. We deal with jewelry items, so there are lots of small drawers and little packets everywhere. Everything has its place, even if it looks like a mess to someone else. The light isn't the best, so we use these heavy desk lamps to see what we are doing. Kalbadevi is so crowded that sometimes just getting to the office from the station takes twenty minutes. We usually have our lunch together right at the desks because there isn't much room for a separate canteen. It is a busy life here. People are always dropping in to show us new designs or to pick up an order. We’ve been in this spot for a while now. The walls could use a fresh coat of paint, but nobody really has the time to stop work for that. Sometimes the power fluctuations mean we have to stop and wait for the backup to kick in. It gives us a minute to stretch our legs and maybe get some water. It’s just a simple way to work.