Sharada Pan Bhandar

Running this pan shop on Senapati Bapat Marg keeps us on our toes. The traffic out there is always loud, and cars are constantly honking, but we stay focused on the counter. Sharada Pan Bhandar has been our daily life for years. We start early, getting the leaves washed and sorted. The smell of lime and betel nut is always stuck to my clothes. People stop by on their way home from work, or sometimes drivers pull over real quick for a sweet pan. It’s a small space, so things can get a bit cluttered with the different jars and tins we use. We don't have fancy signs or anything like that. Just the usual stuff you’d find at a local stand. Sometimes the rain blows in and we have to pull the plastic sheets down fast to keep the goods dry. It’s mostly just me or my brother behind the wooden desk. We know what most of our regulars want before they even say a word. It’s about getting the fold right so it doesn't fall apart when they take a bite. We aren't trying to change the world, just serving a good pan to whoever walks up. The street lights flick on in the evening and that’s when we get the most people coming through. It stays busy until late, then we pack up, wash the stone counter, and head home to do it again tomorrow. It’s a bit of a grind, but the community here is good.