Ast Engineers

You can find Ast Engineers on the first floor of Balaram Bhavan, which is right there on Grant Road. It’s one of those older buildings that has seen a lot of history. Number 107 is our little corner of it. The stairs are a bit steep and the hallways can be a little dark, but it’s got a solid feel to it. Working at Grant Road means there’s always noise—trains, cars, people shouting—but once you’re inside the office, it settles down a bit. We’ve filled the space with our tools and computers. It’s not a showroom; it’s a working office for engineers. We have grease stains on some of the manuals and the keyboards are well-worn. The walls are lined with old projects and maybe a calendar from three years ago that nobody bothered to take down. We don’t really mind the clutter; it makes the place feel like ours. During the rains, the dampness gets into everything, and we have to be careful with the paperwork. We spend our hours looking at designs and checking figures. It’s steady work. We usually head out for a quick bite at one of the local stalls nearby, where the food is fast and hot. Being in Balaram Bhavan means being part of a community of small businesses all trying to make it through the week. We aren't doing anything revolutionary, just putting in the hours and making sure the jobs are finished properly before we lock up. The old ceiling fan clicks on every rotation but we're used to it.