Ashok Pan Centre

If you go down Pur Road into bazar No 3, you’ll find us. It’s a small space, but for a pan shop, you don't need a lot of room. We spend our time prepping leaves and getting all the ingredients lined up. The bazar is a tight squeeze sometimes, with people and cycles everywhere, but it’s got a good energy to it. Most of our customers are folks who have been coming here for years. They don't even have to say what they want half the time; we just know. We stay open pretty late because that’s when people want to stop by after their dinner or while they’re out for a walk. It’s a lot of repetitive work, folding and tucking, but it’s what we do. The smell of the betel leaves is something you get used to after the first week. We don't put on any acts here. It’s just a counter and some jars. Sometimes the rain makes the bazar a bit of a mess, but folks still find their way to bazar No 3. We keep the light on and the supplies ready. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s steady. You meet all kinds of people in a pan shop. From the guys working on the road to the shop owners nearby, everyone stops by for a minute or two to talk. It's just how life goes in this part of town.