Last night was one I'm gonna half-remember for a while to come....

It all began with me making my way to a pub called One Flight Down. I left home roughly at about 7:00 pm. After meandering my way through the traffic and other nuances that go along with not knowing the right route to my destination, I reached ground-zero at about 8:15 or something. The first co-incidence happens here.

sharat, who's a member of the Thrash Metal band, Legacy Gives me a call asking me if I am coming or on my way or what. I tell him "I'm on the right road (I think) and I'm looking for the Pub right now..." He shoots back without a moments delay, "Where are you?" I bend over the steering wheel and swing my ocular sensors around.

I catch a glow-sign overhead and relay the name to him. I can't remember the name so here's a pseudo re-construction of what I said. "I'm ummm... Right next to a hotel or restraunt called blah-something-blah!" Ten feet later, I dig the breaks! OFD was in the basement of the same darned building! :o) I wave aloha to sharat after we locate each other and then i begin to reverse the car so I can park in the parking lot.

Co-incidence numbero deus happens now. Just as I'm reversing, A white, unmarked Sumo pulls up behind me. I swerve in reverse around the vehicle and stay on trajectory. And surprise, surprise! Guess who steps outa the Sumo. Our one and only lihkin! :o) His Sister (aka Keerti) follows close behind the dude, and well, though I have'nt seen her in donkeys years, she seems totally unchanged.

A quick "Hey-hey-hey!" later, I go ahead and park the car. Come back out, and filter myself down the staircase (or should I call that a flight?). sharat is waiting for us on the stairs, we go the Hi-Lo routine and do some time-consumption there on the flight. Some time later, lihkin, his sister and myself pour off the stairs and make our way to a table inside.

I notice a blank looking sound-man sitting beside a decrepit looking 16-channel sound-mixer. sharat had mentioned the poor sound arrangements the previous night and I was ready for this. So, apart from a raised eyebrow, I failed to distort my face into the snarling grimace that was want of the situation.

We find ourselves a table and some chairs, transfer our weight to them and lihkin promptly orders three RedBulls. The caffeine downed, I'm perky and wondering what to ingest next. We talk of far off stuff, I tease the dude about his accent. (In truth, he does'nt sound very accentish in a face to face conversation, so I guess I can't really task him on it.)

sharat keeps dropping in to inform us of the delay before Legacy starts playing. Some of Keerti's friends drop in and we're suddenly out of chairs. I decide to visit the suddenly attractive loo and move backstage. I meet some of the visiting LJ'ers just short of the entrance to the loo and a Cigarette later, I do the doo! :o) (Thank heavens!)

Some more chit-chatting later, pinak and I decide to dig the bar a bit. After rummaging our way to the bar, we place our orders. lihkin finds me and I order another for him. What follows is a long story, but I'll skip the details, I'm kinda sleepy and my neck hurts....

back to the table, Two Large Whiskey's on the rocks, The party is just starting. lihkin and I make regular trips to the stage to head-bang every now and then. :o) I felt kinda foolish a times when we were halfway back to our seats only to get pulled up and get back to the head-banging. :oP

Somewhere down the line, I think it was after the Tequila shots, I made the dreadful mistake of consuming a paneer (I think that's what it was) something. It tasted good in my mouth, but since it was a milk-derivative, it was the downfall of Jim.... I tend to react violently to a combination of Milk and Alcohol. It's happened once before, and I was sorry then. It happened last night, and I can't believe how un-seeing I was.

I did'nt realize it at the time, but when we finally decided to make a move, it was to go to "Bottles & Chimneys" (a hip-hop and happening pub). I would have taken my car, but it was decided that we'd all ride in lihkin's Sumo. The driver, a cop-driver (by birth?), as is to be expected, drove like a maniac. Alternating between bursts of acceleration and heart wrenching displays of the vehicles braking system, he pulled ahead of the rest of the kind world.

Somewhere down the line, I could feel the inside of my stomach begin to curdle and lurch. For a moment there, I thought I'd zap out immediately. But I somehow managed to bring life back into my veins, but sadly, that was'nt to last. We reached B&C's and I managed to step out of the vehicle, Fresh air can do wonders.... Unfortunately, I was already too far gone by then. We were waiting for the Driver to park the car, and to get entry into th place when my mind went blank. The next thing i remember was being helped up by lihkin and one of the dudes we came with.

I remember many snippets of detail from there on, but I won't talk about all of them here, It's just too much detail and verbosity. lihkin helped me back to the vehicle, I sat down in the seat and cocked my head backward. I felt like I could handle the situation yet, but even in that condition, I knew it was silly to suppose I was in charge. :o) Shortly, the group turned back and we were informed that the place was full and entry was not an option.

lihkin and myself decided we'd go back to OFD and get my car, while the rest made plans to go have dinner at GreenPark Hotel. Needless to say, I was feeling like a complete jerk to end all arguments. We went all the way back, the same violent driver, brought pearls of sweat to my forehead. lihkin sat with me, (My Rock of Gibralter!) and played games on my cellphone all the way.

At Tank Bund, I realized I was beyond managing further psychological control over my innards, and stopping on the side, I let fly, sending debris into arcs of frantic expulsion. Back in the car, I was feeling tons better, the rest of the ride back to OFD was uneventful. Or at least it was uneventful as far as I can recall. I cocked my head backward and felt the cold wind refresh my senses.

Finally, we reached (in one piece, thankfully!). We got out, and walked over to my car. I was certainly in no position or mood to drive (No Way!), and lihkin knew that! He sweetly offered to drive me home. :) So well, after so many years of having never travelled in the co-passengers seat (since I hated doing so), I was glad this time round, to take it and stay put. Perhaps I just trust lihkin enough to let him drive, who knows.... NEways, we drive back, seldom speaking, but I'm constantly aware of him and the road ahead of us....

We finally reach home and I convince him I'm okay enough to park the car. So, well, I park the car. :o) Yeah, I know that's nothing to be proud about, but seeing the state that I had been just a short while ago, I felt good to feel okay. :o) We walked back to his vehicle and We said our goodnights and I said my thank yous. All in all, I'm thankful for him, I'm glad to have wonderful friends, I'm sick of myself and I've learnt to make sure that I WATCH what I eat! Ugh!

Hmmm.... I finally awoke this morning at about 11:00 am, my neck hurting like hell from all the head-banging. But no hangover and no recoil whatsoever. I can't say I was happy about the previous night, but it was a good learning experience. (Even if I did'nt experience most of it NEways. lol!)

Kaydeeyoh!