Chetan Gupta

I've been working here at Masjid Bunder West 14/2/33 for as long as I can remember. The area is always crowded, and my spot is right in the middle of all that chaos. My name is Chetan Gupta, and this is where I spend most of my waking hours. It’s a small space, packed with ledger books and samples that have been sitting on the shelves for way too long. People are always rushing past the door, and the noise from the street never really stops until very late at night. Dealing with traders and suppliers in this part of Mumbai is a whole different world. You have to be quick, or you’ll get left behind. I don’t have a big staff, just me and a helper who’s been with me since he was a kid. We manage the accounts, talk to the wholesalers, and try to make sure everything gets where it needs to go on time. Sometimes the rains make it hard because the roof leaks a little near the back entrance, but we just put a bucket there and keep going. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s what I know. I don’t see myself doing anything else or being anywhere else than right here in this cramped little office in Masjid Bunder. It’s been a long road but we’re still here, doing our thing every day.