In fond memory of my first drink

July 12, 2015 was a Sunday. A day I don’t usually reserve time for news but since I didn’t have much to do in the morning, I skimmed through the newspapers. There is was! ‘Old Monk lives on in prayer’, it read on the front page of The Times of India. I could only imagine how a lot of my friends, colleagues and classmates would feel.

Just like any other child, while growing up I was allowed a tiny sip of beer from my parent’s glass on several occasion. However, that can’t be counted as anything but a sip. My first encounter with alcohol was with Old Monk and I was the last person in my group of friends to sip on some; precisely about 3 years late to the party. We decided to go for one of the many festivals where The Colour Compound was playing a set followed by TuBlue and Vernon Noronha. Yes, we were there not only for our love for good music but also because of our love for some of the musicians too. That’s what most girls of our age did back in the day. I’m sure they do it now as well. Anyway, back to the main topic. My friends carried bottles of cola with pre-mixed Old Monk like they always did. By the time the first set was done and the musicians had flirted more than enough with the crowd, I began to feel thirsty since I was the only one who was singing along while not drinking. This was when I had to do it. I had to take that sip. I had to make my thirst die. I remember till date how the dark liquid smelled and tasted. The strong flavour of the poison mixed with sweet cola. It was relaxing. We soon ran out of it and arranged for some more.

Soon after, Old Monk became my drink at any social or non social gathering. Many fond memories with this dark spirit come to mind and take me back in time to those lovely days when this was my spirit. From savouring it in buses, resorts, by the lake side while the cold was too much to handle, on several socializing nights and on nights when there was no one to socialize with. Old Monk has been a witness. It’s been my alibi. It’s sad to see it leave the market now even though I’ve long gotten over it. My love for it still remains.

You will be missed, my friend.