“I dropped out of school after the 10th grade and joined my father at his shop, where I usually am from 9am till 6pm. After that my father takes over and stays till midnight.

My father has been running this shop for 30 years. I started coming here when I was very young and would help him as I am his only son. I have two older sisters who are married and a twin sister who is in college. We live in Sadiqabad in our own house.

I wanted to join the police after my matriculation and I also applied but was not selected. I think it was because of my height. I was disappointed and did not pursue further education.

I thought I will have to work somewhere, so why not join my father’s shop. I can be earning and also help my father.

I do not get a salary, I just get the money I need from my father, which is enough. Our sale is about Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 per day and this is because our shop is located on the busy Murree Road and is very accessible.

Before, my father had a helper who would make paan. I took over and started making the paan when he left.

We make a variety of paan, 25 to be exact. These include tobacco filled ones, sweet paan, fragrant paan and a special paan.

They cost between Rs25 and Rs500. The most expensive of the paans is filled with dry fruit and a variety of sweeteners. We also have a mehendi paan and the dulha paan, which are our most popular items. Most of our paan are used in weddings. We make our own filling and they require a lot of expertise. The betel leaf comes from Sri Lanka and India and we get it from the wholesale market.

Some of our customers have been with us since the shop first opened.

I am happy with my work and this is what I want to do. The shop was my father’s livelihood and so it will be mine.”