Pandey Pan Bhandar

Sonia Vihar Gali Number 24 B-205 is where I set up my small shop. It’s tucked away in the lane, so you have to know where you’re going to find me. I’ve lived in Sonia Vihar most of my life. My shop is basically just a wooden counter and some shelves for cigarettes and candies. The main thing is the pan, though. I spend hours folding the leaves and putting in the right amount of supari and katha. Everyone has their own way they like it. Some want it sweet, some want it strong. I remember what the regulars like, so they don’t even have to ask. The gali is narrow and always full of kids playing or people chatting. It gets very hot in the afternoons, so I usually pull down the shade and rest for a bit. There’s a small radio that I keep on for the news and some old songs. It’s not a big business by any means. It’s just me and my small corner. Sometimes the monsoon rains flood the street a little, and I have to put my stock on the higher shelves. We all help each other out in Gali 24. If I’m short on change, the guy across the way gives me some. It’s a tight community here. I’ve been making pan at B-205 for as long as I can remember, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.