‘What is the price of our chewing gum, Mr Pestonjee? Half an anna?’ Thompson twirled his stick.

‘Yes, sir, half an anna, like paan,’ said Pestonjee.

‘Never quite liked it.’

‘I don’t like it either, sir, but Banerjee likes it. One every hour. The corridor—’

‘Those filthy red stains. I knew it was Banerjee  . The first time I ate paan I felt like my lungs would explode.’

‘You must have swallowed it whole, sir, instead of spitting—’

‘We haven’t quite taken a fancy to spitting you see.’ Rat-tat-tat-rat-tat-tat  . Thompson drummed his stick against the table.

‘We are competing with tea and paan. But chewing gum has many more benefits.’

‘Why is that?’ Thompson asked, continuing the drumming—a rhythm had evolved.

‘Is it a symphony?’

‘I wish. Here it is hard for a man to follow his persuasions. What were you saying?’

‘I was walking home one day. I stopped at the vegetable store. A man, bulging on all sides, stood next to me, reading Bombay Samachar.’

‘What’s your point?’

‘Yes, sir. So, he stood there, reading his paper loudly, like he was the—’

‘I don’t have time for this, Pestonjee.’

‘I am coming to the point, sir. He spits without a care in the world on my new leather chappals. That uncivilized barbarian! Excuse my language, sir, but he had no manners.’

‘It is either uncivilized or barbarian. Does not help to claim both.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘So?’

‘If he were to spit chewing gum, it wouldn’t make such a mess.’

‘Chewing gum does not have tobacco, Pestonjee.’

‘Poor men will still chew it.’

‘Pray, tell me why?’

‘If they are hungry and want long-lasting flavour  .’

‘One can always keep paan in his mouth.’

‘But then, the red betel juice will dribble out from the corners of the lips and stain the clothes. If his clothes are stained, his wife will be angry. If his wife is angry, she will beat him. Instead, he can chew gum all day long. Everyone is happy. Also, paan makes one hungry. It’s a digestive after all.’

‘It is a what?’

‘Digestive  . digestive  . for the stoma—’

‘Children are more disposed towards chewing gum, rather than grown men. We have a small propaganda fund for this. Work on that. Erect a few boards across some of the schools, ten or twelve at first. Make sure the shops stock the chewing gum before the boards go up.’

‘Sir, we should have made paan-flavoured gum instead of mint. Why will anyone waste money on chewing gum when they can steal mint from their parent’s—’

‘It’s not the taste, Pestonjee, it’s the form.’

‘Sir, in that case, why not paan-flavoured chewing gum?’

‘Have you recalled the old label?’

‘Why? Did someone complain about my memory?’

‘Recalled, retrieved.’

‘Sorry, sir. Yes, I did.’

‘Is the new label specific about the contents?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Does not contain animal products. Suitable for vegetarians.’

‘Yes, sir.’