Dr. L. Arun Clinic

Living and working in Visakhapatnam has its own rhythm, and S. L. Nagar is a busy little pocket of the city. Our clinic is tucked away here, and it’s been the center of my daily life for a long time. The salt air from the coast sometimes makes the metal fittings on the door a bit rusty, but that’s just how it is living near the sea. People walk in with sand on their shoes sometimes. The clinic isn't very large. There is the main room where I see people and a tiny space for others to wait their turn. We have a big clock on the wall that ticks quite loudly, which everyone seems to notice when it's quiet. I usually have a pile of charts on my left and a half-drunk cup of tea on my right. Most of the people who come here are from the surrounding streets in S. L. Nagar. We know which neighbor has a new grandchild and who is moving away. It is more about these connections than anything else. The floors are white tile and I try to keep them clean, though it’s a constant battle with the dust. When the power goes out, which happens now and then, we just open the windows and let the breeze in. It isn't a corporate setup by any means. It’s just me and a helper trying to stay on top of the daily grind. We stay open until the last person leaves.