Jay Mata Di Pan Shop

Wagholi has changed a lot lately with all the new buildings, but our pan shop is still just doing the same thing we’ve always done. We are right on the side of the road where the dust from the trucks usually blows in. I spend a lot of my time wiping down the counter because of that. It’s a basic setup with just enough room for me to stand and a few customers to wait. I make sure to keep the betel leaves damp under a wet cloth so they don’t dry out in the heat. It’s hot work in the summer, but we have a small fan that helps a bit. People stopping their cars on the way through Wagholi are usually in a hurry, so I have to be fast with my hands. I don’t really bother with fancy decorations or anything. The jars are old and the wooden shelves have some chips in them, but they work fine. I’ve been making pan since I was a young man and I don’t see myself doing anything else. It’s good to talk to the locals and hear the news about what’s happening in the area. When the sun goes down, we turn on the single bulb and keep going until the traffic thins out. It’s a long day every day, but I’ve got used to the routine. The work is steady and it keeps me out of trouble.