Many a time did I wonder, what was it that alcohol had? What made it the elixir for joy, the ‘uplifter’ of ‘spirits’, and lest I forget the favourite companion of the unhappy, lonely or the defeated lover.
But one thing is true for sure; you never know anything unless you experience it firsthand. There is a certain element of joy in getting lost in a cloud of ethanol fumes. The whirling sensation in the head, the steady loss of balance, and a sense of numbness toward everything was maybe after all something to be relished and experienced.
Ah yes, now my reader, you’d say you are a corrupter of souls, the damned one’s advocate speaking on his behalf to corrupt Mankind. You’re not entirely wrong here, for I’m not morally correct but then I speak the lingo of experience.
Picture this, a small bottle of alcohol of some sort. Never mind the brand, the age or all those details. We’re not statisticians; we’re simple men with simple desires! Let’s sit down for an evening of celebration.
With a thump on the bottle’s head, the bottle’s prepared for the opening ceremony. Mind you, these are age old traditions and must be followed to the dot else we’d be offending the spirits. Slowly, unscrew the cap and pour out a small amount of the elixir into your goblet, glass or whatever may be your vessel. The opening ceremony may vary from alcohol to alcohol, but the rule above is a general rule.
As is the case with everything in India, breaking the rules is always fun; and the greater the rule, the greater the fun in breaking it.
Drinking someplace where drinking is forbidden is a real sport! Gulping down a few mouthfuls quickly and to hide the bottle is a joy in itself.
Now, let’s stick to the story and return to the drinking ceremony. A few spicy tidbits and a good company to share it along with the spirit only make it more enjoyable.
The glass empties, and the glass refills. This goes on and on until you run out of alcohol! You never realize when the spirit begins to take effect until it kicks in. The slight reeling sensation in the head, the numbing of the senses; and a sense of general light headedness or light heartedness usually follows.
Alcohol along with friends is a joy like none other. Conversation begins to flow, you make merry and others merrier! Everyone becomes one. Truly, nothing unifies humanity as alcohol. Your vision becomes fuzzy and so does the hearing. Speak about morality now, “What the f***? What’s that? Don’t piss me off when I’m enjoying myself” is your indignant response.
When you get up to get back on your feet, you seem to have forgotten the sense of balance. Now only a true lover of the spirit will enjoy this feeling, and you must have copious amounts of spirit inside you for this to happen. Conversation flows freely, and you bond without compunction, without the barrier of age, sex or mental make-up. As you walk homeward with a reeling head; you’re unmindful of what is to come next. “Do I look like I care? “
Now you’d have some idea of what it means to be high, to get high and strive to remain high. You never know what sin is until you sin. Sainthood’s never complete unless you know what sin is. If you have in your mind framed a picture of celebration, joy and fun that we as drinkers enjoy, my purpose would be amply served.
Cheers!!
