R K Pan Center

You can find us in Karol Bagh on Street No 15, at 2333/117. It’s a narrow street and can get very crowded, especially in the evenings. R K Pan Center isn't much to look at, just a small counter with all our jars and leaves laid out. We spend a lot of time cleaning the betel leaves and getting the mixtures ready. It’s a job that requires a lot of sitting in one spot. People stop by after their dinner or while they’re out shopping in the market. The lights from the other shops make the street quite bright at night. Sometimes we stay open quite late if there are still people walking around. The wooden counter is stained from years of work, no matter how much we scrub it. We have a small radio that plays old songs in the background, though it’s hard to hear over the scooters. It’s a simple life, just making pan for the neighborhood. We know which regular likes more lime or who wants their pan extra sweet. We don't have any employees, just family members taking turns behind the small counter. Sometimes the supply of leaves isn't great during the dry season, so we have to make do with what we get. It’s just our little corner of Karol Bagh and we’ve been here as long as I can remember.