Metta Raja Gopal

Visakhapatnam is a great city to live in, and I’ve been based here with Metta Raja Gopal for a long time. Our office is in the 530001 area, which is near the heart of the older part of town. It’s a simple setup. We have a few wooden desks, a couple of filing cabinets that have seen better days, and a lot of notebooks. I usually start the day by opening the shutters and letting some air in, though it’s usually quite salty because we are so close to the ocean. There isn't anything fancy about how we operate. We just take orders or handle requests as they come in. It’s a one-on-one kind of business. I don't have a big website or a social media person. Most people just call my mobile or drop by if they’re in the neighborhood. The walk to the local tea stall is my favorite part of the afternoon. You get to hear all the gossip about the port and the ships. Vizag is growing fast, but this little corner of 530001 stays pretty much the same. I don't try to be something I'm not. It’s just me, Metta Raja Gopal, working through the piles of paper and making sure the bills are paid. It’s honest work and it keeps me busy. The lights flicker sometimes when the storm comes in, but we just keep a candle handy and wait it out.