Sharma Pan Corner

This part of Malviya Nagar stays busy until late at night. We’re located on the Shivalik Geetanjali Road, which sees a lot of traffic. The shop is just a small stall, really. I’ve spent more time here than at my own house lately. You see all kinds of people stopping by. Some are in big cars, others are just walking home from the market. I keep the betel leaves soaked in water so they stay cool. It’s a bit of a trick to get the fold right every time, but I’ve been doing it so long I don’t even have to look anymore. The jars of gulkand and cherries are lined up on the shelf. It’s not a complicated business. I open up in the morning and stay until the last few people head home for the night. Sometimes it’s quiet and I just sit and watch the street. Other times, four cars pull up at once and it’s a big rush. I don’t have a big team or anything, just me and occasionally a boy to help with cleaning the counter. We don’t have a big menu. People usually just ask for their regular mix. It’s a bit dusty because of the road, but that’s the way it is in Delhi. I like the routine of it. It’s just a small corner shop, nothing more than that, and we like it that way.