Ahmad Publications Pvt. Ltd.

Ahmad Publications Pvt. Ltd. is based in the Hira Complex. You have to find Qutubuddin Lane first, which is right near the Daryapur Masjid. Being so close to the mosque means we hear the Azaan very clearly throughout the day, which gives a nice rhythm to our working hours. The complex itself is always busy with people coming and going for different reasons. Our space is mostly filled with books, which is what you would expect from a publisher. There are stacks of them everywhere you look, some waiting to be packed up and others just arrived fresh from the printers. It smells like old paper and fresh ink in here, which is a scent you get used to after a few years. We spend a lot of time on the phone or just sorting through various manuscripts and proofs. It is definitely not a fancy corporate office with glass walls or modern art. We have sturdy wooden tables and some old metal filing cabinets that have seen better days. Sometimes the lane outside gets really crowded with rickshaws and bikes, making it quite a challenge to get our deliveries in or out, but we always manage to find a way. The people around here are friendly enough once you get to know them. We have been in this part of the city for a long time, so we know the local chai stall and the shopkeepers nearby. It’s just work.