Sunday, June 27, 2010

Drinkin in the Rain...

"Its drizzling, there's an amazing breeze, and i can see lots of boats out on the lake behind my house.  I'm standing in the balcony with mild spray on my face and a large of neat Chivas in my hand.  Couldn't get better!"

I just put up this FB update.  One peg and i was content typing on my phone.  Two, and i just had to switch on my laptop.  haha  :-)

What a combo....rains and booze....must have been one of the Eureka moments for God, like the time he invented boobs.  Well that one was on the top of the list anyways, dunno why he had to go on and make moobs!   @*&%#$...

I guess i've always had a soft spot for the rains, like I've said before.  But all that's multiplied when you gimme a drink when its pouring.  Aaaaaaah!  Sorry for the inappropriate sound, but the feeling is indeed, semi-orgasmic.

I guess its because of my earliest drinking memories.  I started drinking very late, was in my TY then (i know...its embarrassing), in july 1999 to be precise (thats more than a decade ago....FK i'm old!).  A couple of good buddies and i used to sit in The Den in Santacruz west.  It was a dingy old place, practically empty till around 7pm, when all the depressed uncles used to start walking in, to sit alone and down a quarter or two before heading back to life.

We used to reach by lunch time.  :-)  The place had an antique juke-box in a corner, which played old Rafi and Kishore blues, 2 songs to a rupee.  Those were days when money was really really scarce and it was great to have a juke-box that was 10x cheaper than the other places.  The super-eccentric parsi owner used to pass his time kicking his pet Pomeranian under the table and screaming mother-sister expletives at the lone waiter. 

But still, it was the most amazing place.  I've gone there with lots of great pals (soham, vaibhav, my bro, shabrya, ashish, shadab).  We used to sit for 6-8 hours at a stretch lining up bottles, cocooned safely inside while the mumbai rains thundered down outside.  Those conversations, carefree innocent passionate, just cannot be brought back now.  An age gone by.  Sad.

Since then, June-Sept has always been Whiskey time!  Whether on a trek, or at Lonavala in a car filled with half naked rowdies, drenched to the core or watching the showers in some cosy shelter trying not to shiver because of the chill.....that golden liquid has warmed up our insides like only a good drink can.  Sure, the brands have changed over time.  I now heartily recommend Laphroaig Single Malt to anyone who cares to listen.

The only prob is, its all been too tame, the last few years.  Now that i've managed to get out of the soul sucking corporate rigmarole, its time to do something different.  Sure, i cannot pull off a Gene Kelly (Singin in the Rain - the1952 musical), but I solemnly pledge that the next time it rains heavily, i'm gonna walk around my colony soaking it up and carefree as hell, sipping on a couple of stiff drinks mixed in an empty bisleri bottle, just like the good old college days.

Cheers.

30 comments:

Archana Rao said...

I so agree with you, drinking and dancing in the rain is like the best ever ambiance for rum/whiskey!
I remember my hostel days in Bangalore where we used to go to terrace with bisleri bottles (with old monk rum and thumsup mixed)and that used to be the best!!!!!
Rain and drinks are like the best buddies man!!
I remember the 26 July floods when the whole city was flooding, we were having a nice time sitting in the office and drinking and enjoying the time! We drank the whole night since there was nothing else we could do!!!
Being here in Dubai i miss those thundering rains that we got in Bombay but still when the weather gets nice in Dec - Jan i love drinking! But still the Bombay rains are the best!!!

Miss the rains!!!!
and miss drinking there!!!!

Ashish said...

Ah, The Den. I have very fond memories of that place. Booze by the bottle, delicious scrambled eggs, tons of conversation (or not) with those great old songs in the background. Man, they don't make 'em like that anymore. That Parsi chap was quite a character. Did he have a brother who looked just like him or was I always seeing double by the end of our sessions? And do you remember the time a seriously drunk guy took Shadab's wallet and stuffed money into it? Classic moment.

Add don't worry about starting late. I can safely say that you've covered up on that front with the rest of us.

And about the walking around your colony with a drink, let's do that together (except for the half-naked bit).

Wtf are moobs? ;-)

Vivek Rao said...

@ Chan: Many people swear by Old Monk, but somehow i could never digest Rum. My loss! College days were the best yaar, koi tensions hi nahi the. Why dont you guys come down next month and we'll have a great time on my balcony.

Vivek Rao said...

@ Boozy: Egg Bhurji, Boiled Chana Fry, Chana Dal with kanda..! Mmmm, my mouths watering already.

That Parsi chap did have a twin brother dude, you weren't that sloshed all the time! hehe

Yeah i remember that time with Shadab's wallet. Really funny. Also, one afternoon, an old drunk Sardarji had embraced me on his way out. His eyes were wet, probably remembering his own son... Den was different man!

Yeah lets do the colony thingy together, coming down next weekend? But didn't we sorta did it already (minus the rain) last time shabby and you had come down? Man, was he drunk!

Bastard, you cant fail to recognize them just bec you have lost your bloody moobs!

quasi said...

@chana .. ?? you drank old monk in your college days ?? I dont believe it!! you were such a freaking prude when you came to meet us those days. I still remember what Vai used to call you when you left... hehehe

@ashish .. ya man - The Den. Good fun. the bhurji was amazing. the special (vivek's express instructions to the waiter every time) boiled chana fry with extra EXTRA onion. Plus another wati of cut onion to feed his (vivek's) frenzy. hehe. M-boobs are Man-boobs. like those vivek has and you used to have. :)

Seriously, if anything I miss of Mumbai, it is the rains. That was by far my most favourite time.

Vivek Rao said...

@ Q: yeah man, Chan was so different then! Thankfully she changed and became one of the guys... :) chan, thats the biggest compliment i can pay you.

And Q, fkin there's no life without onion! Kanda mangtaay!!! I had once risked my life for it (as my good friend DD would remember; risked his too!).

And actually moobs are underrated. It takes time and effort to build that perfect jiggle.

Ashish said...

You and your bro should look for a place like it in Pune. Let's get Shadab drunk again.

Man, this awesome weather and Den talk has put me in the moob.

Harish P I said...

Having a good time, huh? by the way 1999 was THE year for me too. started with one quarter Gilbeys green label golden drink.

Vivek Rao said...

@ Boozy: Yeah lets get him drunk again the next time he's here. In fact lets all get sloshed and get onto that roundabout in the building garden. You remember how badly it enhanced the high going round and round and round nonstop? And then you turned it the other way round! Everything in my stomach was heaving up and down man...

@ Harish: Good to know dude. Never tried Gilbeys though. Try to get onto a roundabout or swing after drinking!

Mahatab said...

I too love the rains...but i don't booze, am i allowed to comment?

Vivek Rao said...

hehe :-)
yes ma'am!
i thought u were gonna give me some feedback on the new template...

Archana Rao said...

@Vivek: you the missed the best combination in your life! rain and old monk + thums up! Its the best.. trust me... like reallllllyyy best!!!
Thanks for the compliment vivek btw!
@dada: of course i drank in college! I spent two yrs in Banglore in the hostel and has the best time of the my life! The rains in Banglore though not as heavy as mumbai are very nice!!!! the weather just becomes perfect for one peg of old monk. and abt me talking to you guys! well i agree i was a little different when i met you guys! i spoke much less and i did not relate to was the amount all you guys chit chatted!!!
i remember our lonavala trips where in all you guys wud b non stop pakpak in the famous "Sumo" and I would be in the front seat exchanging a smile when we met in the morning and one smile while saying bye.
I even remember ur mom saying I spoke so less and i was so quiet and all that!!!

i miss those "Sumo"days and the innumerable trips to Lonavala and the rain!
Those goooood oldd days!!!

Archana Rao said...

@dada: btw what did vai call me when i left??

Rashmi said...

he Den is one place where even i have gone for a drink with these guys although I used to be the only female in that place. :-)

.. rains bring back good memories with Vivek .. We used to roam around so much on our Yezdi completely drenched... And i was a complete teetotaler .. guess who bigadofied me..??

quasi said...

@chana eef I tail you, I weel have to keel you .. so I am not gonna tell !

Archana Rao said...

@dada: i wont keel you and you wont have to keel me... but tell me!!! pls!!!!!

Archana Rao said...

@dada: i wont keel you and you wont have to keel me... but tell me!!! pls!!!!!

Mahatab said...

Hey, I really like the new template.
1) Its clean and nice
2) The other main reason is that I can safely log in from office withour being caught by my nosey colleagues cause its not too jazzy and in-your-face

Well done dude!

Vivek Rao said...

Thanks M'tab! :)

Unknown said...

@Vievk: Yeah!!!! The Den ...good old days.I guess we have had lunch and dinner(with booze ofcourse) in a single session many a times.Even today when i pass the Den I wonder whether having a cake (which they presently sell) will give the same kick.All Den seesions had a satisfying effect in terms kick and time spend with good friends (Dada,Vivek,Soham,Rashmi),havent had the chance to booze with Ashish and Shadab though.The jukebox was a good timepass i remember you collecting coins before the session.

About the combo bit I guess rains and daaru is a great combo so is sunny afternoon for cold chilled beer (really feel sorry for you) and rum for chilly winter. As Dharam paaji says "koob jamega rang jab mil bethiange aap,mein aur daaru (har mausam mein)".And guess regarding the soft spot,vice-verse is also true like you have a soft spot for daaru and rains adds in.


@ Dada- Kya abhi gatssport karvayega mera.kaminey .....bhabhi ko izzat de.Aur according to our bollywood dialogue –Bhabhi maa ke samaan hoti hain. In the first place they are growing old and you are harassing by recall their long gone by childhood memories. Waise what was that I used to say…………

@Ashish – How are u… dude??? Even though I missed the Den sessions with u I still remember the Nest session. And watching the FIFA matches brings back the FIFA 2006 memories (Btw who has that football ash trays) .We should catch up sumtime .

Ashish said...

@Vaibhav - I'm doing fine! Yeah man, had some good times 4 years ago. We drank like fishes at Vivek's. Good times! Next time you're in Mumbai, we gotta plan out.

I have that football ashtray. Hardly been used ;-)

Vivek Rao said...

@ Vai: Wow what a comment! You finally take the time out to comment, and how! :)

I guess all of us have had totally amazing sessions there yaar. If we ever meet that satku parsi dude, lets first thank him, and then kill him for selling out.

And yeah, we've had lunch and dinner in a single session a few times! Wo time pe peene ka capacity bhi kaafi tha! Good ol' days yaar, good ol' days...

Fucker, you just had to get in that bit on the chilled beer right! hahaha Well i dont feel sorry for myself that much now. Have gotten used to the lukewarm piss.

I guess daru is good in any season as long as you have good friends to drink with. Thats why we miss you so much dude! Kidhar jaa ke baith gaya? Come back man...

Loved the bit about the bhabhi's gettin old! hahahahahahahahahaha
Yeah Dada dont harass them. Bhabhi maa samaan hoti hai (thankfully Vai didn't write 'saamaan' like he had done in a mail once).

We are going to watch the two main quarter finals at sports bars here in pune today and tomo.

That was a fundu time watchin the match at Khar (dont remember the place name) where we stole the football shaped ashtrays! I have one, boozy has the other.

Vivek Rao said...

I guess Vai aur mera comments itna lamba hai ke they can by themselves be mistaken for blogposts...
:)

Rashmi said...

.. just like all your other emails, posts,comments, letters, sms , etc.

Reallllyyyy llloooooonnnnnggggg...

;-)

Archana Rao said...

@Vaibhav: I may be getting old, but I still do not get drunk and out with 1 and quarter bottle of beer!! I still have more capacity than you! You still live with me so behave yourself!! And you still have the need to cuddle me at night!!! so get shut up and get lost!!
@vivek: I was telling Vaibhav that he has to comment and not write his own blog in the comment space!!!
@dada:Its all ur fault.. u started this tiff.... May you be stinky forever! (and yes i dont care if that becomes a problem for the whole of pune!!! )
@Rashmi: Where The F*** are you??? support me!! You alone can smash all these pidly thin guys!!
@ashish: i remember those fifa matches where Rashmi n i troubled you so much! oh thats also the time i got to know abt some secrets of yours! hehehhehehe

Archana Rao said...

@rashmi: hahahahhahahahah
u know why im laughing!!!!!!!

Vivek Rao said...

@ Chan: hehehe Vai's 'legendary' capacity is a huge question mark after those two sessions at my place!

Me, a pidly thin guy?

And you stop laughing. See how life is....she used to love those long emails letters and msgs before marriage, and now 6 years down the line.... :-))))

Ashish said...

What secrets? I have no recollection whatsoever.

@vivek: 6 years?!?!? sonofa. man, that is a looong time. Rashmi, it's time for a change

Archana Rao said...

@vivek: i was not talking abt the long emails and letters and msgs!!!
@ashish: the secrets of 40 mins!

me said...

viv, great! though i am not old enough to become nostalgic, i still miss bandra and mahim house fun! it was trip down the memory lane! :)