Vivek Pan Bhadar

Our little spot is on Durga Mandir Road, right in the Hirapur area of Dhanbad. If you know where Madhav Apartment is, we are just a short walk from there. It is a modest pan shop, nothing too special to look at from the outside. We spend a lot of our time prepping the leaves and keeping the different spices and mixtures ready in their little jars. The smell of sweet tobacco and lime is always hanging around the counter. People stop by on their way home or while they are out running errands near the temple. It gets quite busy in the evenings when the weather cools down and everyone comes out for a stroll. We’ve seen the neighborhood change quite a bit over the years, with new buildings going up, but the road remains as busy as ever. The wooden counter has gotten smooth over time from people leaning on it while they chat. We don't have fancy signs or anything. It's just a place to get your pan and maybe a cold drink or a pack of cigarettes. Dealing with the Dhanbad heat means we keep the soda bottles on ice all day long. Sometimes we run out of change and have to ask the neighbor shops for help, which is how things work around here. It's a steady life, just being part of the daily routine on Durga Mandir Road.