Gaurav Pan Bhandar

The Palwal Bus Stand Chowk is never really quiet. There are buses pulling in and out at all hours, and the drivers are always honking their horns. Our pan shop is right there in the middle of all that chaos. I spend my whole day watching people run to catch their rides or waiting for a connection. They usually do not have much time to talk, so I have to be fast with my hands. I keep the betel leaves soaking in cool water to stay fresh because the heat at the chowk can be really bad in the summer months. There is a lot of dust from the road and the tires, so I have to keep my containers closed tight when I am not using them. It is a small stall, just big enough for me to sit and keep my supplies organized. I have a little light that hangs from the ceiling for when it gets dark in the evening. People from all over the state pass through this chowk. Some are just passing through and others live right here in Palwal. I hear a lot of stories from the travelers who stop for a minute to catch their breath. My back hurts sometimes from sitting in the same spot all day, but you get used to it after a while. The wooden counter is worn down where I chop the nuts. I do not use any fancy machines, just my hands and a small knife.