Ushma Jariwala

My name is Ushma Jariwala and my place is located at 80 Katargam, right by the Kachra Depo Bus Stop. Even though the address says Katargam, I’m also connected to the Kothrud area in Pune. Being near a bus stop means there is always a crowd of people waiting outside. You hear the engines of the buses all day long and the conductors shouting out the stops. It’s a very active place to be. My office is just a simple room where I can focus on my tasks. I’ve been here for a long time, and I’ve seen many people come and go from that bus stop. The walls are a little thin, so I can hear the rain hitting the roof quite loudly during the monsoon season. I don’t have any big corporate goals or anything like that. I just show up every day, do the work that needs to be done, and then head home. I keep a small stove in the back to make tea when the afternoons get long. Most people who come in are from the neighborhood or someone who saw the sign while waiting for their bus. It’s a practical location for me because it’s easy to explain to anyone where we are. Just tell them the bus stop and they find it. It’s a no-frills kind of life, but it suits me just fine. I like the rhythm of it, and it keeps me connected to the town.