Part 2: High on Life (Chapter 1)

While he climbed the stairs of the three storied house where he had rented a one room and kitchen on his return; all others were leaving to start the weekend.

Sameer settled down with a cup of coffee and the book. He stared at the same page for fifteen minutes before giving up. Business management was the worst subject ever. Actually he was working with his father and grandfather since he was eighteen in their garment export business. What they taught in MBA was the glorified and complicated version of the wisdom he learned first hand. After all there were very few ways to make profits legally.

Also after being brought up close to the family, his sensibilities were different. He saw society and alcohol in a different light. He saw people dying and homes breaking by alcoholism; in the society where he was brought up drinking was not a recreation.

He went back to work the next day. Work was more interesting when the manager is missing. Actually Sameer was the most experienced guy in the bar and he assumed the managers role. He liked this responsibility. He worked very hard to complete the pending finances and when he stepped out of the manager’s cabin back to the bar he saw a familiar face.

It took him some time to recognize Kusum. She has left her hair open, wore no specs and looked pretty in a sky blue kurta. When their eyes met, she smiled and waved by just moving her fingers. Sameer walked to her as if he was spell bound. As he approached her, Kusum made the eye contact and said an enthusiastic greeting. She tilted her head and ran her fingers through her hair while asking him how he was.

Sameer found himself grinning like a school boy. It was not about him, any guy who was unexpectedly flirted by a girl would have had that reaction.

'I need my usual, Jack Daniels on the rocks' she said confidently.

Sameer felt the need to bring the drink himself. But by the time he was back kusum was a different person. She looked frustrated and disappointed, even angry.

She explained " I need to meet these boys my daddy shortlist as suitable suitors. It's very painful. They come in all shapes and sizes. I hate meeting them and evaluating them for a shade of sanity. It’s the biggest torutre I person can volenterily out themselves through. This one was such a brag, if he was smarted is college, irreplaceble at work, the best guy around…hunh if he was to be belived he was the superman who decided to walk on ground on his day off.”
“Thank God for making, all men as hippocrates. So if I like a guy I order coke and if I do not like them I order whisky. No Indian men can bear his to be wife to be a habitual drinker. They quickly make an excuse to leave and never return” She said with despise

She hestaitated and said “Why am I telling you all this. You are one of them” like she was inditing him of a crime.

“I am a little different” he said simply. And before she could role her eyes he added” I don’t appreciate either men or women drinking”.

She giggled “And you work here. What an irony.” She leaned forward “So you want to preach me about stop drinking” she teased.

“No. You shouldn’t otherwise there will be no way for us to meet” He replied and blushed.

Part 1: High on Life (Prologue)

He was happy to finish his shift at 6:00 PM. It was a Friday. Working on the high end bar located in the heart of the biggest IT companies in Bangalore was a blessing and a curse. The tips are good but young men with unlimited money thinking that alcohol will answer all their questions; even the question that life is yet to pose…were too much nuisance.

Though Sameer was not old himself, he clearly looked down on drinking and those who enjoyed it too much. It was an addiction after all, with no justification. At times he wondered if he should stop working here for some extra money and concentrate on his studies.

May be this was better, he felt righteous, mature and grownup as compared to all others who drank just to enjoy the day that repeated itself after every 7 days, Friday… hunh!! how frivolous? The depth and force of life was nothing for them…

He looked outside the glass door to see if it was raining. Rains are always a possibility in Bangalore. He noticed the cititaxi park outside. It was odd. It was too early. He scanned the red dazzling interiors covering the bar and lounge area. There was no one on the verge of passing out or even very drunk to call a cab.

It was then, he notices kusum at the bar. She sat at the tall bar chair staring at the three tequila shots in front of her. She was chubby with her hair tied back in a pony tail. He noticed the red and yellow dupatta wrapped around her neck. In fact she wore a red and yellow salwar suit. The thick glasses gave her, actually accentuated the ‘behenji’ look.

She was not the hip like the new age movie heroines they show boozing in the new chick flicks. Sameer walked towards her. He noticed that her feet hardly reached the foot rest of the chair, on the floor near her feet was her laptop bag and she continued to stare at the shot.

“First time?” he asked politely with a smile. She giggled half embarrassed and replied ‘Takes a lot to drink something which will make you puke”.

He smiled. “So you called the Taxi” he said sharing his revelation. She blushed.