Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: January 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

Don't Drink When You Want A Drink - The Golden Rule of Drinking Alcohol

The Golden Rule of Drinking Alcohol

Never Drink when you need a Drink

VIKRAM KARVE

One evening a friend of mine landed up at my place and said, “I’ve had a really hard day at work. I need a drink.”

“I’ll get you a cup of tea,” I said.

“Tea…?” he exclaimed astounded, “haven’t you got some whiskey or something…I told you I’m feeling terrible…everything went wrong today…I desperately need a drink…”

“I know you are dying for a drink, craving, yearning, thirsting for that “soothing” sip of alcohol. That’s why you must not drink now. You must never drink when you need a drink,” I said.

My friend pleaded but I didn’t budge and gave him a cup of tea which he drank with great reluctance, and then he walked off in a huff, calling me all sorts of names. He said that I was a miser, a “good for nothing” friend, but I knew I had done the right thing.

Don’t drink when you need a drink.

Yes, don't drink when you want that drink.

Don't touch a drop of alcohol when your mind and body craves for alcohol.

Sounds funny isn’t it...?

Let me try to elucidate.

Never drink when you need a drink.

Don’t touch the bottle when you are feeling any negative emotion like despondency, sadness, anger, irritation, envy, unhappiness, frustration, emotional pain, bad moods, down in the dumps feeling, or any negative vibes for the bottle will “unbottle” and release your pent up negative emotions and make you feel even more miserable and also spoil the mood of all those around you.

Let me tell you something I have observed in real life.

If you want to know the true character of a man, just get him drunk and what is hidden inside him will come out and his true inner self will be revealed.

That’s what alcohol does, isn’t it...?

Alcohol reduces inhibitions, makes you more talkative, more expansive and more expressive, loosens you up, and helps release, bring out and amplify your inner emotions, talents, passions, sentiments.

That’s why some persons become more creative after a drink or two – as the music, the poetry, the creativity hidden within you is unleashed.

If you are happy inside, after a few drinks you will start boisterously outwardly physically expressing your happiness by laughing, cheer and bonhomie.

You may even articulate your secret unexpressed love, become amorous, romantic, try to realize your hidden desires and reveal without compunctions your inner secrets which otherwise you would never disclose when sober.

But the converse is also true.

By reducing inhibitions, alcohol may bring out the worst in you by facilitating the release of pent up negative emotions like anger, envy, dejection, despondency, frustration and these unleashed amplified negative emotions may result in undesirable, unpleasant and even disastrous consequences.

Have you noticed how some people get violent, argumentative, rude or even melancholic, moody, sullen, depressed, unsociable after a few drinks...?

Dear Reader, in my opinion, the best thing is to be a teetotaler and not to have a drink at all, but if you must have a drink please do make sure that you are feeling positive vibes and are peaceful and happy inside and never drink when you desperately “need” that drink.

Yes...Remember this golden rule... Never drink when you need a drink.

Do you agree...? What is your experience...?

Please do comment and give us your views.

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU, The Lawrence School Lovedale, and Bishop's School Pune, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog - http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/
Academic Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com/
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll

http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm

http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

SENIOR CITIZENS

SENIOR CITIZENS

Short Fiction - A Story

VIKRAM KARVE

From my Creative Writing Archives: A story I wrote a few years ago

“I want to go home!” the father, a redoubtable intrepid tough looking old man, around seventy, shouts emphatically at his son, "I have had a terrible time out here for the last one month that you dumped us here."

“Please Baba. Don’t create a scene,” the son, an effeminate looking man in his mid-forties, says softly.

“What do you mean don’t create a scene?” the old man shouts even louder, waving his walking stick in a menacing manner.

“Please calm down! Everyone is looking at us!” an old woman, in her mid-sixties, pleads with her husband.

“Let them look! Let everyone see what an ungrateful son is doing to his poor old parents,” the old man says loudly, looking all around.

“Ungrateful?” the son winces.

“Yes, ungrateful! That’s what you are. We did everything for you; educated you, brought you up. And now you throw us out of our house into this bloody choultry.”

“Choultry! You call this a choultry! Please Baba. This is a luxury township for Senior Citizens,” the son says.

“It’s okay,” the old woman consoles her husband, “we will somehow manage in this Old Age Home.”

“Mama, please!” the son implores in exasperation, “How many times have I told you. This is not an Old Age Home. It’s such a beautiful exclusive township for Senior Citizens to enjoy a happy and active life. And I’ve bought you a premium cottage – the best available here.”

The mother looks at her son, and then at her husband, trapped between the two, not knowing what to say as both are right in their own way. So she says gently to her husband, “Try to understand. We’ll adjust here. See how scenic and green this place is. See there – what a lovely garden.”

“I prefer Nana-Nani Park at Chowpatty. All my friends are there,” the old man says.

“You’ll make friends here too,” she says.

“Friends! These half-dead highbrow snobs?” the old man says mockingly.

“Okay,” the son intervenes, “you both can take long walks. The air is so pure and refreshing at this hill station.”

“Listen you impertinent kid!," the old man shouts at his son, "Don’t try all this on me. I’ve been walking for the last fifty years on Marine Drive and that is where I intend walking the rest of my life till my dying day.”

Then the old man turns to his wife and says peremptorily to her, “You pack our bags and let’s go back to Mumbai. We are not staying here in this godforsaken place!”

“Try and adjust,” his wife beseeches him, “you’ll like the place. Look at the facilities here – there’s a modern health club, gym, library, recreation: everything is here.”

“Gym? You want me to do body building at this age? Library? You know that after my cataract I can hardly read the newspaper! And I can get all the recreation I need watching the sea at the Chowpatty and walking with my lifelong friends on Marine Drive.”

“Please Baba, don’t be obstinate,” begs his son. “This place is so good for your health. They give you such delicious nourishing food here.”

“Delicious? Nourishing? The bloody sterile stuff tastes like hospital food. I can’t stand it – where will I get Sardar’s Pav Bhaji, Kyani’s Kheema Pav, Vinay’s Misal, Satam’s Vada Pav, Delhi Durbar’s Biryani, Sarvi’s Boti Kababs, Noor Mohammadi's Nihari, Fish in Anantashram in Khotachi Wadi next door…”

“Please Baba! All you can think of is horrible oily spicy street-food which you should not eat at your age! With your cholesterol and sugar levels, you’ll die if you continue eating that stuff.”

“I’d rather die of a heart attack in Mumbai enjoying the good food I like rather than suffer a slow death here trying to eat this insipid tasteless nonsense,” the old man shouts at his son, then looks at his wife and commands, “Listen. Just pack up. We are not staying here like glorified slaves in this golden cage. One month here in this godforsaken place has made me almost mad. We are going right back to our house in Girgaum to live with dignity!”

“Please Baba. Don’t be difficult. I have to leave for America tonight,” the son pleads desperately. “I’m trying to do the best possible for you. You know the huge amount of money I have paid in advance to book this luxurious place for you?”

“You go back to your family in America. I am going back to my house in Girgaum. That’s final!” the old man affirms to his son.

Then the old man looks at his wife and says, “You want to come along? Or should I go back to Mumbai alone?”

“Mama, please tell him,” the son says looking at his mother.

The old woman looks lovingly at her husband, puts her hand on his arm and says softly, “Please try to understand. We have no choice. We have to live here. There is no house in Girgaum. Our tenement chawl has been sold to a builder. They are building a commercial complex there.”

“What?” the old man looks at his wife as if he is pole-axed, “you too!”

And suddenly the old man's defences crumble and he disintegrates; no longer is he the strong indefatigable redoubtable tough man he was a few moments ago - he seems to have lost his spirit, his strength, his dignity, his self-esteem, even his will to live!

There is a drastic and unbelievable metamorphosis in the old man's personality as he meekly holds his wife’s hand for support, and, totally defeated, his heart and soul totally broken, the old man obediently walks with his wife towards their cottage where they both, along with many other Senior Citizens, will spend the last days of their lives, lonely, unwanted, waiting for death.

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU, The Lawrence School Lovedale, and Bishop's School Pune, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm

http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

http://shopping.sify.com/appetiteforastroll-vikram-karve/books/9788190690096.htm

HAPPINESS MANTRA - Keep Your Pleasures Mild

HAPPINESS MADE SIMPLE

VIKRAM KARVE

The primary aim of philosophy and spirituality is to help ordinary people live a life of happiness, fulfillment and tranquility.

Every day you ask yourself:

How do I live a happy life…?

Is it simple to be happy…?

What is the art of happiness…?

Let us see what the Taoist philosopher Mingliaotse has to say on this topic:

“The art of attaining happiness consists in keeping your pleasures mild.”

You know that whenever pleasure is present you are happy - this is a fact that cannot be denied - for a pleasure is an enjoyable event or delightful emotion which is bound to make you happy, at least for that moment.

Highfalutin philosophers and spiritual gurus may prescribe various impracticable esoteric paths of renunciation, asceticism or sectarian precepts which stipulate the eschewing of enjoyment and abstention from pleasure as the sine qua non of happiness, but the fact of the matter is that to an ordinary person happiness and pleasure are inextricably intertwined.

Discovering simple enduring pleasures which you can easily and regularly accomplish, fulfil, practice and enjoy in your day-to-day life will produce contentment, fulfillment and happiness.

No pleasure is a bad thing in itself, but wanton pursuit of pleasures is counterproductive as it leads to over-indulgence and excesses which bring with them disturbances which are detrimental to our happiness, health and well-being.

In your search for happiness you indulge in extravagant parties, unrestrained consumption, thoughtless shopping, limitless spending, ostentation, expensive entertainments and try to enjoy everything at once.

You want instant gratification by over-indulgence in wining, dining and dancing, stretching yourself to the maximum limits possible.

At first you enjoy yourself and feel happy but when you come to the point of satiety you begin to feel a sense of repulsion, and if you overdo yourself, next morning wake up sick and feeling miserable with a sense of melancholic dejection rather than happiness.

Grandiose, complicated, ostentatious and intemperate overindulgences which you think will ostensibly make you happy will in actual fact render you stressed-out, mentally exhausted, physically fatigued, dejected and unhappy and will cause you more harm and misery in the long run.

There is no need to overdo things in order to be happy.

Just keep your pleasures mild and you will be happy.

Enjoying a simple, tasty and healthy meal in good company and in an atmosphere of positive vibes with your loved ones and friends, or just sitting quietly and leisurely reading a good book, or taking a walk enjoying melodious music, or enjoying your work, leisure, hobbies are some of the mild pleasures which will make you happy and keep you healthy too.

It is simple to be happy.

But it is difficult to be simple.

The first thing you must do is to introspect and list your most pleasurable activities – simple pleasures and things that give you true joy, happiness and satisfaction in all aspects of your life.

Make your list as exhaustive as possible and from this list select those “mild” pleasures that you can enjoy every day or often, simple pleasures that are feasible, practicable and viable to implement in your daily life.

And then fit these mild pleasures into your daily routine.

See what happens.

Experiment, innovate and be open minded and creative.

Delete those “pleasures” that you thought would give you happiness but in actual practice these activities made you stressed-out; like some “pleasures” you thought would be satisfying but actually turned out to be unrewarding and unfulfilling.

Do not hesitate to add new items to your list – you can always remove them from your “happiness” list if they fail to produce the desired results.

Fine tune and religiously practice your “happiness” list each day.

And I assure you that you will experience happiness every day, day after day, till happiness becomes a habit, a part of your life.

This prescription of keeping your pleasures mild will enable you to structure your life in such a way where your happiness will be in your control and you will find greater joy in your life.

It will be feasible and within your control to ensure that you enjoy these mild pleasures daily or at least fairly regularly.

You will see that with only the limited waking hours during the day, these enjoyable events will begin to crowd out the neutral, unpleasant, and irrelevant activities in your daily life and make you feel fulfilled and happy.

Dear Reader, start today and discover the art of happiness.

And do let me know your experience – did keeping your pleasures mild make you happier…?

Gradually you will discover which are those mild pleasures that make you truly happy and joyful…?

“The art of attaining happiness consists in keeping your pleasures mild.”

Follow this philosophy of life and soon you will become happier and happier, every day, day by day, day after day.

It works – you can take my word for it.

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A LAZY DAY IN PUNE

A LAZY DAY IN PUNE

VIKRAM KARVE

It is a lovely winter morning, the weather seems okay, and we are thinking of spending the carefree day loafing in Pune. Before we proceed on our wanderlust, here are some memories of a glorious day in Pune some years ago.

LOAFING

Please tell me, Dear Reader: What is the definition of loafing?

Idling away your time on useless things?

Or does loafing mean Aimless Loitering?

Loitering! Sounds a bit derogatory, isn't it?

Okay let’s say it is aimless wandering – Perfectly useless time spent in a perfectly useless manner...!

Yes.

That’s how I would like to define the art of loafing - spending perfectly useless time in a perfectly useless manner...

FOODWALKING

And what, My Dear Reader, is foodwalking?

Loitering, or rather walking, in search of good food. Loitering with an aim, loitering in search of good food – not so useless loitering!

That's what I did once – long back – on a wonderful winter day.

I loafed in Pune, I foodwalked.

I spent a perfectly useless day in a perfectly useless manner – “Foodwalking in Pune”.

I still have fond nostalgic memories of that glorious day. Let me tell you about it.

A GLORIOUS DAY

It’s a beautiful morning.

I try to furtively slip out of my house unnoticed, but I am stopped in my tracks by my wife's piercing voice, "Where are you going...?"

"I don’t know?" I answer truthfully, and this adroit answer probably precludes the next question she is about to ask me, "What time are you coming back?" for she knows I will again truthfully answer, "I don’t know".

It is true – I really don’t know where I am going and I have no idea when I am going to come back.

"Take the mobile with you," she shouts, but I pretend not to hear and make myself scarce and disappear as fast as possible for I do not want the manacles of technology to ruin my day.

Dear fellow loafer - If you want to truly enjoy life beware of the technology trap.

It's a bright winter day. The morning sun is comforting. I feel good.

Flush with a sense of carefree irresponsibility, I walk with a spring in my step.

Yes, I am going to enjoy my leisure.

FREEDOM

Should I turn left?

Should I turn right?

Should I cross the road and go straight ahead?

I am free.

Free to go wherever I desire.

Free to enjoy my day as I want.

Yes, I have true freedom – to be able to travel at will with no destination to reach, no task to complete, no deadlines to meet.

Freedom to loaf.

Aimlessly.

Timelessly.

Pure Leisure.

Freedom to spend a perfectly useless day in a perfectly useless manner.

I see a bus.

I stop it and hop in.

"Where do you want to go?" the bus conductor asks.

"Where does this bus go?" I ask.

"Pune Railway Station," he says, with a curious look.

"Okay. One ticket to Pune Railway Station," I say holding out a tenner.

The conductor gives me an amused look and hands me a ticket and a rupee coin.

I sit down on a vacant window-seat.

I think interesting thoughts and enjoy the view through the window.

On these carefree wanderlust trips of mine I prefer travelling by bus and, of course, I love to walk on foot.

Driving my car on the terrible potholed, crowded and chaotic roads in the terrible traffic of Pune makes me go crazy, and, at my age, I dare not venture out too far on my scooter, lest I land up with broken bones in hospital or, worse, lifeless in Vaikunth or Kailas crematoriums!

So that's what I sometimes do on these glorious trips of mine.

Just jump into the first bus that comes along and let it take you wherever it goes.

Just go where life leads you.

Try it – it is fun.

Last time I landed up in the heart of Pune near Shaniwar Wada.

In Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi, loafing is even more exciting, as there are so many more routes and choices, trains, buses, walks, and you can serendipitously explore so many novel and exotic places you would not dream of going to in normal course.

The bus reaches the Pune Railway Station.

It’s been a smooth ride.

GOING NOWHERE

I get down from the bus and admire the magnificent heritage stone building of Pune Railway Station.

I stand in the porch and look inside.

Trains, crowds, announcements, horns, cacophony, and chaos – I love the “railway” atmosphere.

On impulse, I enter, and stroll on the platform, panning my gaze all over and stopping once in a while to feast my eyes on any attractive object that arrests my attention.

"Want a seat?" a porter asks.

"No," I say.

"Where are you going?" he pursues.

"Nowhere," I say.

"Waiting for someone," he asks, probably in anticipation of porterage.

"No," I say.

He stares at me for a moment and walks off with a look of perplexed dejection.

I look around.

Everyone is waiting to go somewhere, or waiting for someone.

I am waiting to go nowhere, and for nobody.

So I walk out of the station and head for Shiv Kailash Milk Bar bang opposite Pune Railway Station on the other side of the road.

If you arrive at Pune by train on a hot morning, never make the blunder of heading for the auto rickshaw stand.

You'll get all stressed up waiting in the never-ending queue and haggling with the rickshawallas trying to fleece you and con you.

Just cross the road to Shiv Kailash, sit under the shade on one of the stainless steel stools placed on the pavement, invigorate yourself with a tall glass of cool refreshing lassi (which is guaranteed to banish the depleting effects of the tiresome train journey) and tell the waiter to hail a rickshaw from the many hanging around.

They’ll know that you are a regular...!

This is what I have been doing for so many years, during my numerous homecomings, ever since the days when Pune was called Poona. And when the Deccan Queen was the best way to travel.

ANONYMITY

Shiv Kailash serves the best lassi in Pune.

It’s almost as good as the one at Pehelwan at the end on Lanka near BHU in Varanasi.

The lassi freshly made in front of you topped off with a generous dollop of soft fresh cream.

The sumptuous fulfilling soothing lassi is thick, lip-smacking, nourishing, and gives me a heavenly feeling.

I sip slowly, relishing every mouthful, almost eating the delectable fluid after letting it perambulate on my tongue, as I watch the world go about its business outside.

People come in a jiffy; gulp their glasses of lassi down the hatch in a hurry, and rush away, while I blissfully savour each and every drop of the delicious creamy lassi.

I walk leisurely towards Camp. Past Mira College, GPO, Zero Milestone, Police Headquarters, Nehru Memorial Hall, where I cross the Moledina Road admiring the imposing Lal Deval Synagogue, and turn left, past the place imperial Dorabjee Store Building used to be once.

Now there is a huge shopping complex and a glitzy mall opposite.

I reminisce.

West End with its soda fountain and cane chairs, New Empire, all the adorable landmarks gone.

Now there are Malls and modern places like Landmark.

Landmark – you know it don’t you?

Landmark is Pune’s swanky new music-cum-book store.

Like Crossword – giving competition to the grand old Manney’s, International, Popular, TBS and the bookshops at Appa Balwant Chowk.

I walk into Landmark.

The place is swarming with chic salesgirls and sales-boys.

No one pays any attention to me.

Maybe I blend well with the surroundings.

I realize the tremendous advantages of obscurity and the benefits of anonymity .

Had I been a successful person, rich and famous, or someone with a striking personality, people would notice me and I doubt I would have been able to enjoy myself with such carefree abandon.

Only non-achievers like me can truly enjoy a life of carefree irresponsibility and the unadulterated joys of genuine leisure.

I roam around the ground floor music section. There are no music stations where you can listen to music like they have in Rhythm House and Planet-M in Mumbai.

So I go the first floor bookstore. It’s spacious, neatly laid-out and looks impressive.

BROWSING

The books are arranged subject-wise, clearly visible from anywhere. There are cushioned stools to sit and browse and also two long sofas below the huge tinted windows towards the far side.

I start from the left side.

Food, Philosophy, Self-Help, Travel, Coffee Table, Erotica, Classics, Fiction, Computers, Children, Indian Writing there are books on every topic you can think of.

The tranquil ambiance is so soothing and conducive that I browse to my hearts content, loosing myself into that wonderful state of timelessness I experience sometimes when I am totally immersed into doing something I love.

By the time I leave Landmark, cerebrally satiated, it is almost three in the afternoon, I am hungry, and in desperate need of gastronomic satiation.

So I walk past Manney’s, West End, turn right on Main Street, cross Aurora Towers, turn right, walk past ABN Amro Bank, and turn left on Dastur Meher Road, a walk leisurely towards Sarbatwala Chowk till I reach Dorabjee and Sons.

A LEISURELY MEAL

I dive in through the low entrance of Dorabjee’s and look around.

The eatery is crowded, with noisy families bashing away regardless greedily devouring the heaps food before them.

The mouth-watering aroma, and the sight of the appetizing food, creates in me such ravenous pangs of hunger that I quickly sit on the only vacant table and order a Mutton Biryani – the signature dish of Dorabjee.

As is the hallmark of authentic speciality cuisine restaurants the menu is select just a few choice dishes a single page.

There's Sali, Curry, Masala and Biryani in Mutton and Chicken; Kheema, Brain, Eggs, and combinations thereof, cutlets in gravy, and a few Veg dishes, for appearance sake.

On Sundays, you can have Dhansak, maybe on your way to the races in the season.

Pune may have changed but heritage institutions like Dorabjee still preserve the flavour of yesteryear Pune.

I spoon some Biryani onto my tongue, seal my lips, close my eyes, turn my senses inwards with full consciousness to imbibe and savour the unique medley of juices released by the succulent piece of mutton, the bitterish-sweet taste of the slightly burnt crisp fried onions, and the spicy flavoursome rice.

It is superlative delicious authentic cuisine at its best.

Dorabjee serves the best heritage mutton biryani in Pune – no doubt about it. Yes, Blue Nile and Good Luck serve good heritage Biryani too.

The fervent atmosphere of the place and exquisite quality of the food is such that one eats enthusiastically, with wholehearted zest and gusto; not apologetically and self-consciously, as one tends to do, trying to be prim and proper, in highfalutin restaurants.

At Dorabjee, you can enjoy every morsel of your food with passionate ardour.

And as I reach blissful satiety I realize that a well-filled stomach radiates a kind of spiritual happiness.

APPETITE FOR A STROLL

The ideal way to end this rich spicy repast is to cool it off with a Falooda.

Falooda is to Biryani what Mastani is to Mutton Kolhapuri.

So I walk down Sachapir Street, cross Main Street, and head for Badshah on East Street to down a deliciously sweet and chilled Rose flavored Royal Falooda.

Then I stroll down East Street to Kayani, to pick up some Shrewsbury Biscuits and Chocolate Walnut Cake.

Not to forget the inimitable Kayani Bakery Wine Biscuits and Cheese Papdi.

I stand outside Kayani, wondering what to do.

Maybe I walk down to Manney’s and browse books some more.

If Landmark has got the ambiance, Manney’s got the books...

And then maybe I can just loiter down Main Street admiring pretty looking things, till I am tired and hungry.

Maybe I will have some sandwiches, a roll and cold coffee at Marzorin. Or a macaroon at Pasteurs next door.

Why not a Burger at Burger King, the original burger place of Pune, or a Chopsuey at East End, at the end of East Street...?

Maybe Kathi Rolls at Olympia, Chicken Masala at George, Chana Bhatura at Monafood, Sev Barfi at Bhavnagri, Wafers at Budhani, or Sizzlers at The Place next to Manneys, or one more Biryani at Blue Nile near the GPO.

The possibilities are endless...

Or should I see the movie at Victory opposite, or at West End nearby...?

Maybe I'll jump into the first bus I see and let it take me wherever it goes.

How about going for a long walk on Laxmi road into the heart of town?

Or an idyll beside the river in Bund Garden, or Saras Baug, or Sambhaji Park?

Or maybe I will just head home.

Oh, yes indeed, the possibilities are truly endless!

I am free to do whatever I choose to do...

I can loaf to my heart's content...

And continue to spend a perfectly useless day in a perfectly useless manner...

Relish moments of perfect leisure.

You can take my word for it, dear reader.

There is nothing you will enjoy more than loafing.

It is only when you cease to do the things you have to do, and do the things you like to do, and you want to do, that you achieve the highest value of your time.

FEAST OF LIFE

The freedom to enjoy life is the ultimate reward.

Why should you defer happiness waiting for some elusive abstract rewards...?

What reward could be greater than a life enjoyed as it is lived...?

If you do not find happiness as you are, where you are, here and now, you will never find it.

There is always plenty in life right now to enjoy for one who is determined to enjoy it.

The feast of life is before you.

Do you have the appetite to enjoy the feast of life?

So my dear friend, discover the art of loafing, and you will redeem the art of living from the business of living.

The Art of Travelling, The Art of Happiness, The Art of Eating, The Art of Living, The Art of Loafing, The Art of Leisure - all inextricably intertwined, isn’t it?

To recap: “It is only when you cease to do the things you have to do, and do the things you like to do and you want to do, that you achieve the highest value of your time”.

Eureka, Epiphany, I’ve got it – The aim of loafing is to achieve the highest value of your time.

Did you like this article?

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Do you have an Appetite for a Stroll?

Then, why don't you get a copy of Appetite for a Stroll by just clicking the links below?

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And do tell us about your glorious carefree leisurely loafing experiences in your favourite city too…

VIKRAM KARVE

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

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