Binge : Episode 1

Fridays are tough days. It’s always been. So, after trying to do a lot of things at the office and failing at all of them almost, I headed back (ok where?). On Monday, either I will have to fix up Friday’s mess or get another viral infection and stay put at home letting oxygen attain its level in blood.

Took the car out from the out-parking, halted to wave at the guard who shouted “Sir, aaj sab thik na?”(everything alright?)
“Nothing has been!" I thought and motioned my head in affirmation with a faint and fake smile on my face. Well, last Monday morning when I came to park, the security guards gave me strange look as if a culprit been back to the scene of crime. Oh , that’s not entirely inappropriate simile.
I remember last Friday when I mistook my car as a glider and the parking lot as a hill. That was a pardonable illusion until I tried to nose-dive the machine instead of sliding down the slopes. I am friends with them(guards/and drivers) from the day onwards..:)

This would sound like 'The Pineapple' episode or the 'Tiger in Bathroom' episode. But it happens, not only in Vegas and NY but in India too.:)
It was 9.15 p.m, getting home takes an hour. It would be a long, lonely journey.
I studied the ample sample dataset gathered over time, used it for pattern learning and deduce the artificial intelligence which echoed with sounding vote
“Just a pint,Get home ,get wasted and rest, moron. Today is no day to take any chances. Switch that cell off and keep it somewhere from where you simply can’t retrieve till the dawn.”
So, I went to the wine shop and asked “A pint.” Handing over a 500 INR currency. Well, why the heck the office ATM can’t throw up some 100s. Blame it on ATM for anything that goes wrong now.
But it’s a waste! Lager??- get me a strong can. “Bhaia,khulle de do”(Tender change) he asked me.
“Okay, get me two cans." I retorted back.
Collecting the change, I thought- Good friend Bond is home. Better, I take 2 for him. Delhi shops will be closed by then. Wise, kind, homie.
“Bhaia, make it FOUR.” Round off.

By the time I reached gas station I had finished TWO. The Usual and customary was on. Calling people, connecting to the music being played in a peculiar way, volume levels increasing, feeling brave and feeling good.
Went down the THIRD one and I called up friends to ask them out to some place. Unfortunately, Everyone is not hell bent to drink his life through. Bad liver day.
So I went on to finish the stock by the time I reached home. Gave it a hard thought, measuring my sanity. Verdict was clear and loud
“Binge, dude, You so have earned it and by doing it you may win back your infectious smile and garner some happiness. So GO!"

Hmm, its 10 already, so Faridabad is the way for me. Btw, I am utter hopeless when it comes to direction, absolutely NO-SENSE.. I still navigate Saket ,Vasant vihar,Malviya Nagar, Khanpur IIT etc in the same trip when I just need to follow MG road nosestraight(Is that a word?). Actually, being drunk means ME sans MY drawbacks/inhibitions. (Oh did I miss –MY SANITY, I think sanity is lame and tacky, well, I thought it that time). ?*&%^$?

It felt, in those sporadic moments of stark realization, that I am already on a wrong way, so I managed to take some turn and well, reached Defence colony market. Got myself in a pub .Sitting there, I was uncanny in solving “Arrange the Word” Puzzle, hummed almost all songs being played, was amazed why there can be so many people at such small place, and what can they talk about so much, incessantly. Sitting and observing is fun. Trust me, Do it and realize yourself.
By the time I was through… I was absolutely clear on what needs to be done and fixed to get me out of this slump.
So , I paid the bill, tipped lavishly, thanked manager for extraordinary experience while I really found him sketchy and shady the way I was looked upon, sitting alone in an area swamped by well-dressed couples and frolicking family. This is what I think I thought, from the flashes of memory that sparked at times.
1. I need to get busy. Cliché, ouch!!. how easy is that to do when you don’t want to and ask me its the hardest thing to do when you want to.
2. I need to start reading books, restart writing, watch movies, tv, meet friends and “new people” and hello…spend some quality Stag time.
3. Stop pursuing what is mirage, an aberration. Keep your foot on ground. This should be the last day of this waywardness.
Good, so I went on to find the car going through right, left turns, multiple times. Didn’t find it.
Another Moment of truth!!

“Am I drunk?” the blinking flame of sanity asked the drunken-swollen-fat head.
"Stop kidding me, I anyways suck at direction” "Its okie, totally, I am cool"


All I remember next was I was driving…and fighting some thoughts.. which can be paraphrased in active voice like this--
"As "another last ditch effort" before “meeting new people” thing can ensue, shouldn't I confirm, I really need to "move on" or "stay and wait" as this could be "it" and I might be turning back on "destiny"."
The thoughts was so full of double quotes(" ") that it was too much of exercise for already seized mind.
..... and I kept driving…