Ankit Pan Shop

Our little spot is at 19/84 in Santosh Nagar, over in Dharavi. It’s not much of a shop, more like a small stall tucked into the corner of the lane. We have the betel leaves lined up and the jars of different fillings all within reach. I spend most of my time standing here, watching the world go by on the street. It’s always loud in Dharavi. There are bikes passing and people talking at the top of their lungs. I know almost everyone who walks past this corner. We keep the leaves fresh by keeping them under a wet cloth throughout the day. It’s a lot of small movements, folding and tucking the ingredients. My fingers are usually stained a bit green or red from the lime and the juices. We also keep some small things like matches and cigarettes for people who need them in a hurry. The radio plays in the background most of the time. It’s a bit scratchy and old, but it keeps me company when it's quiet. Sometimes the rain comes down hard and we have to pull the plastic sheet over the front of the stall. We’ve been here for years. It’s a simple life. I open up early and stay until quite late. People stop for a minute, talk about the weather or the news, and then move on. It’s just a pan shop. Nothing more to it.