Raju Pan Bhandar

We have been here in Ghaziabad Sector 13 for quite some time now. The shop isn't big, just a small corner where we keep everything organized. Every morning starts with cleaning the glass jars and wiping down the counter before the first person stops by. People usually come here after their meals or when they are just passing through the sector. We see the same faces every day, mostly neighbors or folks who work in the nearby offices. The smell of fresh betel leaves and cloves is always in the air here. It gets busy in the evenings, especially when the weather is nice and people are out for a walk. We don't have fancy chairs or anything, just a spot on the street side. Sometimes the traffic is loud, but you get used to it. We keep things simple because that is how it has always been. My hands are usually stained from the lime and catechu, but it is part of the work. We try to keep enough stock so nobody goes away disappointed. It is a quiet life in a way, just watching the cars go by and talking to whoever stops for a minute. Sector 13 has changed a lot since we started, with new buildings coming up, but our little spot stays mostly the same. We just focus on the task at hand and making sure the leaves are fresh every single day.