Arun Pan Bhandar

I have been sitting here at Ring Road 13 for more years than I care to count. Naraina Industrial Area is always loud, with trucks rumbling past and the dust never really settling on the counters. This little spot, Arun Pan Bhandar, is where I spend most of my daylight hours. It isn't much to look at, just a simple counter and some glass jars, but it does the job. People coming off their shifts from the nearby factories stop by because they need a quick break. We have the usual stuff, like sweet pan, plain leaves, and the tobacco ones that the truck drivers seem to like. Sometimes the heat in the afternoon is unbearable, so I just sit under the small fan and wait for the evening rush to start. My hands stay stained a bit green from the betel leaves all day. It’s a messy business if you actually think about it. You have to keep the lime paste just right, not too thick or it ruins the taste. I remember when this road was much quieter, but now it’s just a constant stream of cars and noise. Sometimes I recognize the faces of the regulars, other times it’s just strangers looking for change or a quick smoke. I don't really have a big plan for the shop. It just stays the same while everything else around here gets rebuilt or painted. The roof leaks a bit when it rains hard, but we just put a bucket down and keep going. That’s how it is.