Hemant Pan Mandir And General Store

This is Hemant Pan Mandir and General Store. You can find us on Navi Shukruwari Road in the Mahal area of Nagpur. We are right next to Raam Cooler. Most people stop by for a pan after their meals, but I also keep a lot of general items so they can pick up what they need for their homes at the same time. I have those glass jars filled with different types of supari and sweets that children like. The smell of fresh betel leaves is always there in the shop. Beside the pan counter, I have shelves with batteries, pens, soaps, and biscuits. It’s a narrow shop, so I have to stand mostly. The street outside is usually busy with people going towards the main market. Being next to the cooler shop means I get some of their customers too when they come to look at appliances. I keep a small mirror on the wall and a few calendars from previous years that I never took down. The walls are painted a pale green that has faded over time. I spend a lot of my time preparing the lime paste and cutting the nuts for the pans. It’s a local spot where people stand around for a few minutes to chat about the weather or the local news. I don't have any big signs or posters, just the name written above the door. It’s a steady way to make a living in this part of Nagpur.