Atul Kumar Mehta

I’m Atul Kumar Mehta and I work out of 107 Apsara Appartment in Dandia Bazar. This is an older part of Vadodara, and the building has been here for years. Living and working in the same general area means I see the same faces every day. Dandia Bazar is a place with a lot of history and very narrow streets that get quite packed during festival times. My office is basically one of the rooms in the apartment that I’ve set up with a desk, a computer, and a lot of books and folders. It is a quiet space compared to the street noise below. From my window, I can see the rooftops of other old buildings and the monkeys that sometimes jump across the balconies. It isn't a corporate setup by any means. It’s just me and sometimes a helper. People usually call before they come over because finding a parking spot for a car in Dandia Bazar can be a real headache. I prefer it this way. It feels more personal to meet people in a home-like setting. The lift in the building is one of those old ones with the collapsible metal gate, and it creaks a bit, but it always gets you to the first floor. It is a very simple, practical way to run things. I’ve spent most of my career in this neighborhood, and I don't see any reason to change it now.