Panju Pan Bhandar

Out here on Srinagar Road by Raja Circle, things move fast. Panju Pan Bhandar is where I spend most of my waking hours. I have a small stool I sit on when there are no customers, but that doesn't happen often. Most of the time I am standing, reaching for jars on the top shelf. I keep my betel leaves in a special basket covered with a wet cloth to keep them from drying out in the heat. The dust from the road is a real problem, so I am always dusting the glass jars. I have some sweets and biscuits too, because kids often come by with their parents. The Raja Circle area has changed so much since I started. There are more shops now and way more cars. I remember when it was much quieter. I have a small calendar on the wall where I mark the days. My favorite time is the evening when the sun goes down and the air gets a bit cooler. I make a lot of special pans then with extra coconut and cherries for the families who stop by. I try to be quick so people don't have to wait in the sun too long. It’s not a big fancy place, just a small corner for people to get a bit of refreshment. Sometimes I run out of change.