For lunch, my officemates and I default to Verma's Kitchen, the closest and most affordable food joint from India Habitat Center. Three US dollars for a meal for five people. Our colleagues warned us that if we don't want stomach problems, we better stay away from Verma's. I never got sick though. The usual lunch cast is Shraman, Anubhab, Shekhar, Shatish (not in photo) and myself.

After this particular lunch, the guys made me try sweet paan, an Indian breath freshener or after mint. It's made from betel leaves, betel nut, areca nut and other unfamiliar substances like rose-syrup, rose leaves, and colorful spices in different shapes and sizes. They ordered three pieces. The mysterious sidewalk vendor took leaves submerged in a pail of water. He carefully cut the discolored parts of the foliage and used a small brush to spread the ingredients stored in the tin cups. He looked as though he was preparing a magical potion for a voodoo ritual.

I look excited but I was terrified that I’d end up with diarrhea. As expected, the paan tasted like herbal mint candy. While chewing on it, the rose-syrup leaked from the leaf. The rose flavor was sharp and overwhelming. It was refreshing to the mouth but when the menthol worked its way up to my nose I couldn’t help but spit it out. The flavor and aroma lingered for the next half-hour. The verdict: that’s the first and last time for me to have paan.