Agarwal Pan Bhandar

Agarwal Pan Bhandar is tucked away in Ramganj Mandi at Bazaar No 6. The bazaar is always packed with people and carts, so it can be quite a struggle just to walk through sometimes. Our shop has been in this spot for a while. It is a traditional kind of place. I sit on the raised floor and prepare the pans as people ask for them. The smells of the market are all around us—spices, vegetables, and the exhaust from the bikes. It is a very lively place to work. I know most of the other shopkeepers around here, and we often share tea in the slow afternoon hours. My hands are usually stained from the ingredients I use, but that is the sign of a day's work. We do not have a big sign or bright lights. People who live in Ramganj Mandi know exactly where we are. Sometimes the rain makes the bazaar a bit of a mess, but the customers still show up. I have a small radio that I keep on for some background music while I work. It is not a complicated business. I buy my leaves and spices, and I sell what I make. It has been the same routine for years, and I am quite content with it. Bazaar No 6 is a good place to be if you like seeing people and being part of the town's daily life.