When visiting a pani puri stall, most of us enjoy the treats quickly and return home with a satisfied smile. But have you ever stopped to think what efforts are necessary to provide this seamless common experience? While the process may seem straightforward, it actually involves many factors. Recently, an X post dissecting the same went viral on social media and sparked a range of reactions and discussions online. X user Mukul Dekhane shared a long post analysing how a pani puri vendor operates in real time and praised the level of skill required for his seemingly "simple" job. He wrote, "The kind of complex thinking a pani puri vendor does daily is mind-blowing."
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The X user continued his explanation with an example. He described how most pani puri vendors don't turn away new customers even if their stall is already nearly full. The vendor tries to incorporate the new person into the existing group, although the latter may not be leaving soon. At this point, the vendor must be able to meet the needs of different people at a rapid pace. They have to remember their customisations, which sometimes change midway. They have to ensure a satisfactory experience for every customer. They cannot forget to take payments even if they are in a hurry.
The X user noted, "Take a simple evening at a stall. Six people standing, each on their 5th or 6th puri, some already demanding a second plate. Suddenly, a new customer walks in. Most vendors don't say, "Wait." They just weave the person seamlessly into the cycle. Now imagine the mental math: Remembering who is at which puri. Keeping track of whose turn is next. Managing fresh plates, second plates, and shared plates; all together. Customising taste (extra teekha, more meetha, no aloo, Jain, Swaminarayan). Balancing chutneys, potatoes, and flavoured water so nothing runs out mid-cycle. Handling payments: immediate, delayed, or credit. Running logistics: 'How many plates to sell to survive the day?' And this is just the basic complexity."
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The X user expressed a sense of awe about how a pani puri vendor manages to juggle all these aspects with little to no help. There is no technology that can see to the nitty-gritty. "All of it is happening in real time, with no Excel sheet, no CRM, no team, no reminder app. One mistake, and the customer knows instantly," the X user pointed out. He went on to compare the vendor's job with white-collar professions. "We call ourselves multitaskers but lean on reminders, tools, meetings, and buffers. A pani puri vendor doesn't get that luxury. For him or her, complexity is not a skill on the CV; it's survival. The next time you eat pani puri, notice not just the taste but the brilliance of the brain behind it," the X user concluded.
The kind of complex thinking a pani puri vendor does daily is mind-blowing.
Take a simple evening at a stall. Six people standing, each on their 5th or 6th puri, some already demanding a second plate. Suddenly a new customer walks in. Most vendors don't say, “Wait.” They just…— Mukul Dekhane (@dekhane_mukul) September 17, 2025
The viral post has led to a lot of discussion on social media. Many X users agreed that pani puri vendors showcase amazing skills. Others felt differently. Read some of the reactions below:
Exactly same goes for few persons who don't need paper for taking orders. These are simply brilliant people.— Green Drive India (@GreenDrvIndia) September 17, 2025
What an observation! And how apt!
Same goes on with Kirana sellers. I just get amazed that even with all the blinkits, swiggys, zeptos, these local marwari kirana stores are still operating in a steady mode and growing!
Talk about free delivery, customer engagement etc lol— DesiByte (@darshinvyas) September 17, 2025
No dashboards, no apps, no slack channels - just pure brainpower keeping dozens of variables in sync.— Provue (@provue_ai) September 17, 2025
Hence the term -thinking on one's feet. Nothing demonstrates it better than your example.— anjaligangoli (@passerbyview) September 17, 2025
Just add few managers standing behind him and constantly asking status of each customer and also how further he can improve giving same service in lesser time. All this only to increase payment of his bosses and not himself. Then see the magic how his service quality goes down— Baban Singh (@Tryfrytry) September 17, 2025
Plus the extra puri and extra pani clientele is also to be catered to. Plus the difference between Aate wali and suji wali puri is to be seen for each client.— Anamika🇮🇳 (@AnnOfMewar) September 17, 2025
Lol are you serious...first there are millions of times they make mistakes...the theeka meeta ratio is never remembered...having 5/6 people at the stall simultaneously is maximum 1/2 hours a day (otherwise math won't add up plus they make a 300% margin and have a assistant— Shahnoor Nensey (@shahnoorn) September 17, 2025
And all these days we were thinking eating panipuri with the intended speed is a task for us 😜— Sanpa (@SantoshPatil3) September 17, 2025
However, think of the customer. No greater stress in life than one puri in mouth, one in the katori, and the vendor waiting with the third in his hand
— rakesh dahiya (@rakeshkdahiya40) September 17, 2025
What did you think of this viral post? Do you feel like pani puri vendors deserve more appreciation? Let us know in the comments below.