Clearing Agent

Our small office is tucked away in Vimlabai Chawl, over in New Shyam Nagar in Jogeshwari East. It’s a tight space, but it’s where we do all our work. Being a clearing agent in Mumbai means you are always on your toes. We handle the paperwork that most people find confusing. The room is usually filled with the smell of incense and old paper. We don't have any fancy air conditioning or leather chairs. It’s just a few of us working on old wooden tables. Outside, the street is always loud with people and rickshaws. We know everyone in the neighborhood, and they know us. Most of our clients just walk in because they live nearby or heard about us from a neighbor. We don't do any marketing. We just help people get their goods through the complicated systems at the port or the airport. Sometimes we have to run across the city to get a single signature. It’s a lot of walking and a lot of waiting in lines. We take our tea together in the afternoon when things settle down. The walls are covered with calendars and phone numbers scribbled in pen. It’s a humble place, but it works for us. We just keep track of the rules and make sure the documents are correct. It’s simple, honest work in a busy part of town.