Asoka Katakam

My place is in Vikrampuri Colony, right at D/13-E. It’s a quiet residential area near Karkhana. I’ve been working from here for quite some time now. I handle mostly architectural stuff and planning. It’s not a big firm with lots of staff. It’s usually just me. People in the colony know where I am. I don't really do much marketing or anything like that. Most of my work comes from people I know or neighbors who are doing some construction. I spend my time on the drawing board or checking site progress. It’s a lot of small details that need to be looked at so the building is solid. I’ve seen Hyderabad grow and change from this spot. The traffic in Karkhana has gotten worse over the years, but Vikrampuri stays a bit more peaceful. I like it here because I can focus on the work. Sometimes I have to go to the municipal office for permits, which is always a bit of a headache, but it’s part of the routine. I’m not looking to build the biggest buildings in the city. I just help people with their homes or small shops. It’s practical work. No big fancy speeches about design. I just try to make the space useful and safe. If the client is happy and the walls are straight, then I’m satisfied with the day’s work. It's just about being reliable and showing up when I say I will to check on things.