Gandhi Pan Bhandar

Number 17 on Barakhamba Road has been our spot for a long time now. Connaught Place is always moving fast and it’s very noisy. People stop by for a minute while they’re walking to the metro station or their office building. The shop is quite small, just enough space for the jars and the fresh leaves. We keep everything laid out on the wooden counter. It’s a bit of a tradition in our family to run this place. My father was here before me and he taught me everything. We see everyone from office workers in expensive suits to tourists who look a bit lost. The jars are filled with all different mixtures, seeds, and nuts. Sometimes the sidewalk gets very crowded right in front of us. We have a small stool in the corner for ourselves but mostly people just stand while they wait. We don't have a website or any of that modern stuff. We just open the shutters in the morning and stay until the evening. The sounds of traffic from Barakhamba Road are constant and you get used to it. We’ve seen the area change a lot over the years. New tall buildings coming up and old shops closing down around us. But we just stay here in our little corner. It’s a simple trade. You prepare the leaf, add the bits, and hand it over. We keep it practical and easy for everyone who stops by our small counter.