Dharam Prakash

Our place is at 69, Anakkavvor, over in Tiruvannamalai. It’s a quiet spot compared to the main town. Dharam Prakash is the name on the door, though most people around here just know us by our faces. We’ve been in this building for years. It’s got thick stone walls which help keep it cool during the hot months. We don't have much for furniture—just the essentials to get through the day. The mornings are the best time because the air is still fresh and the birds are noisy. We open the doors at eight and start organizing the tasks. It’s a lot of paperwork and talking to people who stop by to chat or ask for something. We don't use any fancy systems. We just write things down in the big books. Sometimes we sit on the porch during the afternoon slump when it is too hot to do much else. You can see the hills in the distance on a clear day. The neighborhood is friendly, everyone knows everyone else’s business. We don't try to be a big company. We are just a small outfit doing our thing at number 69. The work is steady, and that’s all we can ask for. We have our routines, like the mid-morning snack and the way we lock up at night. It’s a peaceful life, really. No big stresses, just the daily grind of keeping everything running. We like it that way and don't plan on changing much.