Rajshree Pan Bhandar

Being on Kankroli Jal Chakki Road means there is never a quiet moment. Rajshree Pan Bhandar is just a small stall, really. I spend most of my day sitting on a raised wooden platform. I’ve got all the jars of betel nuts and different pastes lined up in front of me. The jars are old and the labels have mostly peeled off over the years. My fingers are usually stained red or green from the ingredients. It’s not a job for someone who likes to stay clean. People pull up on their scooters and don't even get off, they just shout their order over the engine noise. I have to work fast to keep the line from getting too long. The sun hits the front of the shop in the afternoon, so it gets pretty hot under the tin roof. I’ve got a small fan but it mostly just moves the warm air around. Sometimes I listen to the radio to pass the time between customers. The road is always being dug up for something or other, so there’s a lot of dust. I have to wipe down the counter every hour. It’s a simple trade. I know most of the regulars and what they like without them having to ask. It’s just a part of the daily routine here on Jal Chakki Road. I think the neighbor's dog is going to bark all afternoon today.