Cheers in itself is a beautiful word spoken with passion and enthusiasm, but alcohol …….! Does alcohol has the same vigor,I think definitely . Thats why people are crazy about it. People like us, in whose life alcohol has never acquired a special place, probably do not realize this. It is not that I am biased regarding liquor or I have one-sided opinion, but I do not know why I have never realized any warmth.
In my childhood days, I saw my father, as a person who was disciplined and never got out of control.There was no weekend culture then, but on a holiday evening or at the end of the week, I saw my father drinking a peg or two. Never saw his drink, but knew that if salad was there on the table, glass would also be there somewhere kept away from our eyes. But I never realized that my father drinks alcohol.
One of our uncle who used to come to our house, after drinking a little bit he use to get out of control.We always got bored by his talks because soon after drinking he remembered all the negative things regarding the relatives. Along with father we were also irritated by his talks. In that relaxed time , Raj Kapoor’s films, songs of Kishore, our studies and related matters were important for us, and my mother kept the atmosphere light by cracking some jokes in between. Sometimes our Fufa(uncle) also used to come to celebrate with our father. Then my father and Phufaji used to discuss the things regarding world matters in a very modest way.
I want to say that I never had a bad experience in relation to alcohol. Father never broke his discipline. Discipline means, never drank outdoor and never consumed out of limits.The redishness in his green eyes always looked good to all of us, either after he got up in the morning or after drinking … This was the only identity then. But I have never seen such a thing afterwards. These were some experiences of private life, but in the professional life when I was working for the newspapers, till then there was no special experience about alcohol. Yes, definitely heard that there were senior journalists, who could not stay in the office as the clock struck eight in the night, but never saw it with my eyes, but I remember a incident of that time , when Vodafone was Essar group a press conference organised at the Taj Hotel in Lucknow, the time of the conference was at noon. They served beer before lunch, I was out of my mind. Probably then I didn’t knew the difference between beer and alcohol properly. I came out of the conference, there was always a fear in my mind that after drinking they can get uncivilized, so i got out from there . There was no scorn but there was always a fear.
But when I joined TV channel, I saw wine culture was in abundance there, many times there were parties in the office, I could not drink, and would only listen to the gossips. Now a days a reputed anchor she came from a small town and used to be very junior then. We used to listen that she is a different personality in office and a different person in parties. Some trusted companions used to tell, that in front of Madam, men are nothing, she drinks so fast and is a good dancer, I did not felt bad after hearing it, because I always believed that as not to drink is my personal decision as is hers, both should be respected. But sometimes I got the feeling that those people who used to be part of the liquor parties got more attention, certainly I felt bad. Our work and competence seemed to be less visible in front of these meetings. But we were helpless what could we do, I went to the parties atleast two to four times with my friends, but all the partners were so dependable and sensible that there was no such pressure on anyone for liquor. Friends and habits actually are your own selection always. Yes, because when I went to Delhi, I went to the IIMC and there were about 30 girls in the hostle, and my roommate was from Lucknow, a heavy drinker. Often Aunt (our warden) use to call me at around twelve o’clock, to come and pick up her up upstairs.
As if i was doing my job I use to bring her upstairs, and after changing her clothes i use to tell her to sleep, but as I used to do her work, he used to murmur countinuosly, you book worm, you will die reading books. You don’t know there are other things also in life bla …. bla …. bla ….! But I never felt bad, just use to laugh. Once when I got infected with jaundice, she was the one who took leave and stayed with me for full seven days, taking care of me, without even having a sip of alcohol,for me she was a beautiful person by heart, but after so much of care I began respecting her.
Rashmi Asthana