Shrey Pan & Cold Drinks

We are right across from the Lamington Road Police Station here in Katargam. Being near the station means there’s always something going on outside. We sell pan and have a fridge full of cold drinks. The fridge is probably the most important thing we own, especially when the weather gets really hot. It makes a loud buzzing sound, but it keeps the soda cold. We have a small bench outside where a couple of people can sit, but usually they just stand around and talk. We get a lot of police officers coming over for a drink or a smoke, and plenty of people who are just passing through Katargam. The shelves are filled with different kinds of snacks and cigarettes. We try to keep the floor clean, but with people coming in from the dusty road, it’s a constant battle. We’ve got a small television in the corner that we keep on for the news or some cricket if a match is on. It’s a simple setup. We don’t have a website or anything like that. People just know we are here because they see the sign when they go past the police station. It’s a family-run thing, so we take turns being behind the counter. Some days are slow and we just sit and watch the traffic, but other times it’s one person after another for hours. We just do our bit and keep the drinks cold for whoever needs them.