Anupama Apte

Working out of Bibwewadi Phase II in the GIDC Estate can be quite a different experience compared to a regular office. Our unit is at 689 4 5, right in the middle of the industrial activity. You can always hear the sound of machines or trucks moving nearby. It is a dusty area, which is just part of being in an estate like this. We spend most of our time inside the workspace trying to keep things organized. The floor is concrete and the ceiling is high, which helps with the ventilation. We don't have any fancy art on the walls or plush carpets. It is a workspace meant for getting things done. I usually arrive early before the sun gets too hot. The drive into the estate is always a bit bumpy because of the heavy vehicles that use these roads every day. My small office area is partitioned off from the main space so I can focus on the paperwork. We have a few wooden benches for when people come over to discuss things. It is not the kind of place where you come for a luxury experience. It is where we put in the hours and handle the day-to-day requirements of the business. Most of our neighbors are also busy with their own production, so there is a sense of shared effort in the air. We keep a large cooler of water in the corner which everyone uses throughout the day.