L. Krishna Kumar & Co.

Our office is right on Palace Street in Paralakhemundi. Being near the bus stand means it’s always lively outside, with people rushing to catch their rides and vendors shouting. L. Krishna Kumar & Co. has been part of this village for a long time. The building itself is an older one, which gives it a bit of character, though the walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint. Inside, it’s mostly just desks piled high with ledgers and folders. We do a lot of paperwork here, and the sound of the ceiling fan is a constant backdrop to our conversations. Paralakhemundi is the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, so we often spend more time talking to visitors about their families than we do about business. It gets quite dusty during the dry season, especially with the buses kicking up dirt from the road. We try to keep the files organized, but it’s a never-ending battle with all the records we keep. In the evenings, the light in the office gets a bit dim, but we usually stay until the last bus has left the stand. It’s a quiet life in a way, despite the noise outside. We are just a group of people working together in a small town, trying to keep our records straight and our neighbors happy. It’s a simple, honest way to spend the work week here in Gjapati district.