Pan Gulab

The shop is tucked into the Sartaz Complex on Tandalja Road. Being right across from the SBI Bank means we see a lot of people coming and going all day long. Most of them are just looking for a quick pan or maybe some tobacco after they finish their bank work. It is a small space, mostly just the counter and the glass cases where we keep the different ingredients. I spend a lot of time cutting betel nuts and cleaning the leaves. It is messy work and my fingers are usually stained by the end of the shift. We also keep some cold drinks in a small fridge that hums loudly in the corner. Sometimes the electricity goes off and we have to worry about the sodas getting warm. The complex can get quite dusty because of the road traffic, so I am always wiping down the glass. It is not a place where people sit down, they just stand around the front, talk for five minutes, and then move on. We have been at A/4 for years and the neighborhood has changed a lot around us. More cars, more noise, but the routine stays the same. I start early to set everything up and usually stay until quite late at night when the street finally gets quiet. It’s just simple work, making sure the regulars get their favorite mix exactly how they like it.