Mithila Pan Palace

The shop has been sitting here at Sangam Vihar Budh Bazar Chowk for quite some time now. People usually know us by the Mithila Pan Palace sign, even if it’s a bit faded from the sun. It is a busy corner, especially on market days when everyone is out buying vegetables or clothes. We start early in the morning, getting things ready before the heat gets too heavy. Most of the folks who stop by are regulars who live just a few blocks away. They come for a quick chat while we put together their order. It isn’t a very big space, just enough for us to work and keep the jars lined up on the shelf. Sometimes the noise from the traffic makes it hard to hear, but we manage. We’ve seen the neighborhood change quite a bit over the years. New shops come and go, but we stay right here. My cousin helps out when it gets crowded in the evenings. We don't really do anything fancy. It's just a simple setup with a wooden counter and a few stools outside if someone wants to sit for a minute. We keep the leaves fresh and make sure everything is clean. Life moves fast at the Chowk, but inside the shop, things feel a bit slower. We just keep doing what we do every day. It's how we make a living and stay around. There is always something happening outside and we just watch it from our little spot.