Ramesh Panshop

Being right opposite the vegetable market in Sultan Bazar means there is never a quiet moment here. From the time I open at 4-5-768 until I close late at night, there is a constant stream of people walking past. Some are just finished with their vegetable shopping and want a quick pan or a cigarette before they head home. The smell of the market is very strong, especially in the rainy season when things get a bit messy on the street. At Ramesh Panshop, I keep my supplies in these small wooden drawers, mostly betel leaves, lime, and all the different nuts and spices. It is a tiny spot, so I have to stay organized or I lose track of where the matches or the change is kept. People often stop by just to ask for directions or to see what time the buses are running through Sultan Bazar-Koti. This part of Hyderabad is always active and the energy here is quite high all day long. I have a small mirror on the wall and a few pictures of gods, which is pretty standard for shops around here. Sometimes the heat makes the leaves wilt faster, so I have to keep them wrapped in wet cloth throughout the shift. It is a simple life, just standing here and talking to the regulars who have been coming for years. We don't have a lot of room to move around, but it works for us.