Vijay Solanki

This is Vijay Solanki speaking for our family spot here at the Solanki and Sons Compound. We are located on Azad Road in Vile Parle East. This place has been around for many years and you can see it in the bricks and the old gate that squeaks every time someone comes in. My father worked here before me and now I’m the one looking after things. It’s a bit of a crowded area especially with the station being nearby. You can always hear the trains passing and the noise of the traffic outside. Inside the compound, it’s a different world. We have our own way of doing things that might seem a bit slow to outsiders, but it works for us. I spend a lot of my time talking to the workers and making sure everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing. Sometimes the rain gets inside through the roof leaks during monsoon, so we have to move things around. We don't have a fancy reception desk or a person in a suit greeting you. If you come by, you’ll likely find me in my shirt sleeves with a cup of chai. We just take one day at a time and try to keep our customers happy without making any big promises we can't keep. It's just honest work in a busy part of Mumbai. We've stayed small on purpose because it's easier to manage that way.