R.N. Singh Pan Shop

R.N. Singh Pan Shop is a tiny spot located in Ulubari, right on the G S Road in Guwahati. It is more of a stall than a big store, but we have been here for a long time. People know exactly where to find us. I spend my whole day making pan. I have my containers of betel nut, lime, and all the sweet fillings laid out right in front of me. My fingers are often stained with the colors of the ingredients. It’s a busy life because the traffic never stops on this road. People pull over their scooters for a quick minute just to get a pan or a packet of cigarettes. We also keep a few jars of sweets for the kids and some cold bottles of soda in a small fridge. The fridge hums loudly all day. It’s a very small space, so I have to keep everything within arm's reach. There is no room to walk around inside. I sit on a high stool and watch the city go by. Sometimes it gets very dusty from the road construction, so I’m always wiping down the glass jars. It’s not a fancy business. It’s just a pan shop where you get exactly what you ask for. I know how my regulars like their pan, so I don't even have to ask them anymore. We just exchange a nod and I start making it. It’s a simple way to earn a living.