Bajarang Pan

Bajarang Pan is right here in Udhna. It is a small place, not much bigger than a cupboard really. Most people stop by while they are walking to the station or finishing their work for the day. It gets very crowded in the evenings when everyone is heading home. The smell of tobacco and betel nut is always around the shop. We have all the jars lined up on the shelf where we can reach them. Some of the jars are a bit old and the lids are tricky to get off. We have been sitting in this exact spot for years. The street noise in Udhna is always something else. You hear the horns and the people shouting all day long. We just stay in our little corner and do our work. Sometimes we run out of change and have to ask the neighbor shop for some coins. It happens more than you would think. We make the pans one by one as people ask for them. Everyone has their own way they like it prepared. Some want more lime, some want it very sweet. We do not write anything down, we just remember the orders. The wooden counter is worn down from all the years of use. It is a bit messy with the leaves and the water, but that is a pan shop for you. We do not have a big sign or any flashing lights. People just know we are here. We sit on our stools and wait for the next person.