Murali Pan Bhandar

Murali Pan Bhandar is at Tonk Phatak, SB-114. If you know the area, it’s not hard to find us. It’s a small shop, mostly just a counter and some shelves for the betel leaves and jars of different ingredients. I spend most of my day standing there, folding leaves and talking to people who stop their scooters for a quick minute. We’ve got the usual stuff, different types of tobacco and the sweet pans that the ladies like. The jars are old but they hold everything just fine. Sometimes the light inside the shop flickers a bit, but it doesn't really bother anyone. It gets really crowded during the festival seasons or when there’s a wedding nearby in the colony. People just stand around, chew, and talk about the news or the weather. Tonk Phatak is always loud with the trains and the cars, but inside the shop, it’s just the sound of the small fan. I keep the leaves fresh in a wet cloth so they don't dry out in the heat. It’s a simple job, really. I’ve been doing this for a long time at SB-114. You see a lot of different people in a day. Some are in a big rush, others want to stay and chat for ten minutes. I don't mind either way. It's just how the business is. We open up early and don't close until the street gets quiet at night. That is the whole day.