Jai Ma Pan Shop

We’re tucked away in Vidya Nagar over at 4 Bungalows, number 163/2. It’s a small corner where I’ve been sitting for years now. The shop isn't much more than a wooden counter and some shelves for the jars. I get the fresh leaves delivered every morning and I have to sort through them to pick out the best ones. The ones that are too small or torn get tossed. Most people in Vidya Nagar know where I am, even if there’s no big sign. I see the same people every day after they finish their lunch or when they’re heading home from work. They like the way I mix the ingredients, not too much of one thing. It’s a quiet spot compared to the main roads, but we still get a good flow of people. I keep the jars of colorful bits and the bottles of syrup lined up just right. Sometimes the neighborhood kids come by for a piece of candy. I don't have a lot of help, so if I'm not here, the shutter is down. It's a simple way to spend the day, watching the world go by from behind the counter. My hands are always stained a little red, and the smell of tobacco and sweet spices stays on my clothes long after I go home. Sometimes people stay and talk for a bit too long, but I don't mind the company while I work.