Balaji Paan House

You can find Balaji Paan House over in Raviwar Peth, right by the Avenue Road Circle. We are located above Sri Kalki Jewels at number 261, near Phulwala Chowk. It is a very crowded part of the city, and the streets are always full of people and vehicles. Our shop is just a small space where we prepare various types of paan and keep a few other items like mouth fresheners. I’ve been working here for years, and I know most of the people who pass by this circle every day. The stairs leading up can be a bit steep for some, but people still come up for their favorite mix. I have my containers of supari, gulkand, and various spices arranged on the shelf behind me. The workspace is small, so I have to keep it very tidy to be able to move around. Sometimes the noise from the market below is so loud we have to shout a bit to hear each other. We don't use any fancy machines; everything is done by hand with a small knife and a spoon. The light from the window isn't great, so I have a small bulb hanging right over my counter. It’s a humble business, and we just focus on making the paan exactly how the customer asks for it. Life in Raviwar Peth is fast, but we just stay in our corner doing our work. We close up once the market gets quiet, usually quite late in the evening when everyone goes home.