Shaariq

Our place is at number 11 Patka Manzil on S. V. P. Road, right in the heart of Bhendi Bazar. If you know Bhendi Bazar, you know how packed the streets are and how the buildings are all standing right on top of each other. Shaariq is run from this small spot in the manzil. The entrance is a bit narrow, and the stairs are quite steep. We spend our days here among the sounds of the local market and the people shouting to each other across the street. It’s a very old part of town, and the building shows its age with the peeling paint and the old wooden doors. Inside, we just have the basics. A couple of fans to keep the air moving and some old cupboards for our files. It gets very hot in the summer, but the thick walls of the old building help a little bit. We don't have any corporate branding or sleek offices. It’s just us working in a space that’s been part of the neighborhood for a long time. We know the shopkeepers next door and the people who live upstairs. Most of our business is done face-to-face right here at the desk. It’s a very grounded way to work, being right in the middle of such a lively, crowded area of Mumbai. Some days are chaotic, but that’s just life in Patka Manzil.