Rasika Pan Shop

Up in Viman Nagar at Dhore Galli, you’ll find Rasika Pan Shop. It’s funny because Viman Nagar has become so modern lately with all the big offices and fancy cafes, but our little corner in Dhore Galli still feels like the old days. I get a mix of people coming in. Some are students from the nearby colleges who are just curious, and others are workers who have been living in this area for thirty years. The shop is tucked away a bit, so you have to know where you’re going to find it. I keep it simple here. I don't have any of those fancy flavored drinks or expensive snacks, just good pan and a few cigarettes. The shelves are a bit crooked and the floor is just plain concrete, but it’s clean enough for us. I start the day by washing the floor and setting out the bowls of water for the leaves. The smell of the tobacco and the sweet syrup fills the space by noon. I don't talk much unless someone talks to me first, but I listen to everything. You hear a lot of gossip standing behind a counter like this. My family lives not too far away, so sometimes my kids come by after school to say hello before heading home. It’s a small life, but it belongs to us. I don't really want for much else besides a steady stream of customers and some cool weather.