I think I've just been offended

Remember that old Scope mouthwash commercial where the coworkers would leave a bottle of Scope on their colleague's desk and hope that he/she would take the hint and get the point?

Well...

I was setting up the classroom for work tonight when my co-trainer asked, "Roger, do you like something sweet?" Assuming he meant candy, because I like to put out chocolate Kisses at each computer for the first night of class, I replied Thank you but that I was full because I had just had dinner and really didn't need anything.

He pulls a little foil packet out of his pocket and said, "Try this. You'll really like it." He explained that it tasted good and that there were six little tablets in the packet but to not take them all at once, to chew them slowly throughout the day. And something about being "digestive tablets" and thus "feeling fresh." (Here they don't have "mouthwash" but "breath freshener." Same idea. Halitosis in any language is still bad news.)

The bright orange and yellow packet has a picture of a wise old grandfather and a little girl with her dog. The brand name is Hajmola, and the slogan is "Hazam sab, chahey jab." It evidently rhymes, and who knows what it means; but probably something like "Your breath is peeyuu, these mints are for you."

Printed on the back are the ingredients: Samudra Lavan, Krishna Lavan, Navsadar, Kshudhavardhak Churna, Nimbu Saar, Jeeraka, kali Marich, Sunthi, and Pippali. Yikes! He wants me to put that into my mouth and CHEW ON IT?

A quick Google search on the the workd "Hajmola" takes me to

http://www.dabur.com/EN/products/Health_Care/Digestive/hajmola/

where I learn that the product is a "tasty fun-filled digestive" that has the following Health Benefits:
- Eases condition of flatulence ...like I needed to know that

- Controls Dyspepsia ...whatever that is

- Increases appetite ...that's working just fine

- Helps in proper digestion and relieves indigestion ...no problems there

"Pop a Dabur Hajmola - and enjoy the chatpata flavour that stimulates your digestive power. Take it regularly, especially after a heavy meal. And savour every bite with this tasty digestive tablet."

Fortunately the Dabur website reassures me that it is made up of "a mix of traditional Indian culinary herbs, spices and edible salts." Uh, I think I'll try a Certs. And if you'd like to see a funky surreal little commercial for the product, go to http://www.dabur.com/EN/Videos/Default.asp?ID=107 where the gentleman is Amitabh Banchan, India's greatest Bollywood actor. (He's even got his own website at http://www.amitabhbachchan.net/ )

At least the little foil packet only costs 1 Indian Rupee so if I don't like it, we're only out two and a half cents.

(Scroll to the very bottom, or press END on your keyboard, to see a link to PHOTOS from my trip!)