Jai Bharat Pan Bhandar

Agra Gate is one of those places where you see everything. I’ve been running Jai Bharat Pan Bhandar here for a long time now. The mornings are for prep work, getting the lime paste just right so it isn't too sharp. I have to be careful with how much I put on the leaf. If you do too much, it ruins the taste for the customer. We get a lot of travelers passing through because of the location. They usually want something quick. I keep the glass cases clean so they can see all the different mixtures I have. Sometimes a group of boys will stand around for an hour just talking about cricket. I don't mind as long as they aren't blocking the way for others. My back aches a bit by the afternoon from leaning over the counter so much. I usually have a tea from the stall next door around four o'clock. It’s the best part of my day. The street lights at Agra Gate come on and the whole atmosphere changes. It gets much more crowded then. I try to work faster but you can’t rush a good pan. It takes time to layer everything properly. When the festival season comes, it gets really crazy and I hardly have time to sit. That’s just how business goes in this part of town. I hope it stays.