3 S S Pan Shop

Our shop is located in Bibvewadi, specifically out towards the Sarkhej side. It is a small space, mostly just a wooden box with a counter that opens up to the street. If you look at the shelves, they are packed with different kinds of tobacco, supari, and small packets of mouth fresheners. We spend a lot of time cleaning the betel leaves and keeping them wet in a damp cloth so they stay fresh for the customers. The street outside gets dusty, especially when the big trucks pass by. We have a small light bulb hanging from a wire that flickers sometimes when the wind is strong. People stop their bikes right in front and leave the engines running while they ask for a regular pan. We don't have a chair for ourselves, we mostly just stand or sit on a small stool behind the jars. There is a small mirror on the side where people check their faces after eating. At night, the street is quieter but we stay open late because that's when most people come by after dinner. The smell of lime and katha is always on our fingers. We don't have a big sign, just the name 3 S S Pan Shop painted on the front. It’s a quiet life, just watching the traffic go by and folding leaves one after another.