Pradeepkumar Pote

I am Pradeepkumar Pote and I spend my days in the Masjid Bunder area of Mumbai. My place is specifically in Bibwewadi Palagalli, within Ali Channel. If you have ever been to Masjid Bunder, you know it is one of the busiest trading hubs in the whole city. There are people everywhere, and the streets are so narrow that you can barely walk sometimes when the handcarts are passing through. I have been in this spot for many years now, and the building itself is quite old. It has that distinct smell of old wood and spices that you only find in this part of town. My office is small and a bit dark because the buildings are so close together, but I’ve got a good fan and plenty of work to keep me busy. We don't have a receptionist or a waiting room with magazines. People just walk in, find a stool to sit on, and we start talking about the business. It’s a very traditional way of working, where a person's word actually means something. I usually get a lot of tea from the local stall because it’s the only way to stay awake in the afternoon heat. The noise outside is constant, but it feels like the heartbeat of the city to me. I don’t think I could work in a quiet, modern office building after being here for so long. It’s real work for real people.