Santoshi Pan Dukan

This is a small pan shop near the Goal Building in Manaitand. We are right there in the heart of Dhanbad. I spend my day preparing the betel leaves. It’s a specific kind of work. You have to keep the leaves moist and the lime paste just right. We also sell things like cigarettes, matches, and small candies. It’s a tiny space, just enough for me to stand and reach everything. People stop by on their way home from work. They want a quick pan and a bit of a chat. I’ve seen the neighborhood change a lot over the years. The Goal Building is still there, but everything else feels different. My hands are always stained from the ingredients I use. It doesn't wash off easily. We have a small mirror on the wall for customers to check their faces after they eat the pan. It’s a bit of a tradition. The evening is our busiest time. The smell of the sweet tobacco and the supari is always in the air. I don't have any big machines, just my hands and a small knife. It’s a simple way to earn a living. I know most of the people who pass by every day. Some of them have been coming to me for years. We don't need a lot of space to do what we do. Just a small corner on the street. I keep a little radio playing some old songs to pass the time. It gets dark early in the winter but the street lamps keep the area bright.