Paan

... the guests, some chewing paan, were departing at the gate; ... (p. 23)

Paan refers to Betel leaves usually filled with areca nuts. Other ingredients such as spices or tobacco may be used to make the paan filling. In South and South East Asia, people chew paan to cleanse their palates and to freshen their breath.

Chewing Betel leaves with areca nuts is an extremely old tradition in South and South East Asia. In India, paan is often served at the end of meals and ceremonies, such as weddings.

References:

• Paan on Wikipedia
• Paan on food-India.com