Ajay Pan & Tea Corner

This little shop in Sushant Lok D 44 is where I spend most of my day. It is not a very big space, just enough for the tea stove and the jars of snacks and the pan supplies. I get here early in the morning when it is still dark to take the milk delivery. The stove takes a bit of time to get going, but once it does, the smell of ginger and tea leaves fills the corner. People from the nearby houses come by while walking their dogs or on their way to the office. I have a few benches outside where people sit and talk about the news or the weather. The tea kettle is almost always whistling. I spend a lot of time cleaning the beetle leaves and keeping the glass jars organized so I can find things quickly when it gets crowded. Sometimes the kids from the neighborhood come by for some sweets or a cold drink. The street outside can get dusty, so I am always sweeping the front area to keep it looking decent. It is a simple life here. I know most of the people who walk past by name. When the monsoon comes, I have to pull down the plastic sheets to keep the rain out, but people still huddle under the small roof to have their tea. It is just how it is. I have been at this spot for years and the neighborhood has changed around me.