Strings Of Life

26th January 2000, those five hundred students of a boarding school had no idea that lot was going to change in their lives that day. I was one of them.
It was 9:30 in the morning and I was still in the bed, dreaming of candies & biscuits my friend has kept in his cupboard. And then I heard a voice: “You sleep monger RUN...., RUN FAST.”
Half awake I started running out, only to realize later that it was an Earthquake.
Yes, the deadly earthquake of Gujarat.


Everything was in a huge mess. The buildings were damaged, after-shocks were felt every minute, few students lost their near and dear ones, and the final exams were nearing each day.
One guy from my hostel who was known for his sincerity and honesty complained that he saw a lady ghost cladded in a white sari in the nearby ground at 12’O Clock midnight. As we were already in the trauma of the earthquake, we ignored his plea. Next day, he reported the same. This time we got really scared. And the matter was taken up with a head teacher who took the guy to a ‘TANTRIK BABA’. And finally the guy was declared of having a “KALA SAYA” of some lady ghost. Kala Saya of a white lady? we couldn’t digest the concept, so we decided to stay awake and witness the ghost ourselves.

Equipped with hockey sticks and chains we waited for the clock to strike 12. As the time passed by the night kept getting darker and darker. Exactly at 12'O Clock the lady ghost appeared in the basketball court. Clutching the hockey sticks and stuff, we all ran out of the hostel. As soon as the ghost saw people approaching her, she started running the other way. We grabbed her and as she was about to get the first blow of the hockey stick, she shouted : “Hey, Please Stop, this is Varun from the Garuda hostel; remember I played black magician on the school annual day.” And we all laughed out loud.
The next day, no ghost was seen on the ground. But it was heard of being seen in the Garuda hostel.

Finally back after a long break. It was so much fun. Drove car for more than 1500 kms, visited college, had good time with friends. And all those nostalgic feelings.
It is strange that:
“When I was driving the car, I yelled at people walking down the street.
When I was walking on the street, I yelled at people driving the cars.”

Fast driving is so much fun, isn’t it?. It’s adrenaline rush, and the feeling of weightlessness? -it’s awesome. Driving at a high speed I wrongly overtook one car. By the time I realized my mistake, the car was left far behind. All that adrenaline rush feeling was over and I brought my car to a normal speed.

After a few minutes, the same car sped past me and stopped right in front of my car. My gut feeling said that the things are going wrong. I was all alone and the road was empty too. Fear struck my heart and my stomach had that feeling -the one you get before an interview or a viva. A man double my size stepped out of the car and asked me to step out too. Things definitely were going wrong, mustering courage I stepped out.
I could sense anger in that man’s eyes. But when I went near he asked politely(Maybe by my getup I appear an innocent person. Thanks to the Sarkari Naukari, now I hate formals no more): “Sir, your fast driving could have killed me”. I apologized, and since that day my speedometer hasn’t read more than 45km/h. After all, more than myself I don’t want to risk somebody else's life.

Image curtsy: loritingey

The cop whistled at the black Alto and asked to stop.
Knock, knock. "Roll down the windows you freak."
The cop: License Please!
Sorry sir, I don't have one.

Cop: What?, Show the registration.
Sorry Sir, but this is not my car.

Cop: Fine!, Do you know what's the penalty for not carrying the papers?, 500 Bucks!.
Sorry Sir, I'm a government servant, and have not got salary this month.

Cop: OK then, pay me 200, without receipt.
Sorry Sir, forgot my wallet at home.

Cop: What the F***!, go off you bastard.
Thank You Sir. But Sir.
Cop: NOW WHAT?
Sir I need your help.
Cop: FOR WHAT?
Sir, the car is running out of gas, could you please lend me 500 bucks?

As a little kid I longed to be a football hero. I wanted to kick the ball like the big guys. At the age of ten, when I was sent to the hostel, I volunteered to join the class football team. We were a bunch of kids just excited about the game. Every evening I would excitedly put on my sneakers and run to the playing ground.

For days I kept chasing the ball without getting a single chance to hit it. Every time the ball was passed on to me, my mind went blank and failed to make any decision. By the time my mind worked out something, some other guy would be handling the ball.
Due to my inability to take quick decisions my team members lost faith in my game. At times they would shout names and make faces at me. Dejection set in, and a feeling of failure captured my heart. And I decided not to play the game ever again. Whenever asked, I termed football as a mere time waste.

Now as a grown up I hardly find any leisure time but I still wish to kick the ball like those big guys someday. Encouragement is a big factor in a child's life, we all know this. But still, how many of us really encourage the kids around?.

I'm the Spider-man. I can fly past heavy buildings with the help of a rope. Whoa, I can climb huge buildings in a fraction of a second. But wait wait, Why have I turned so powerful?. Just because a spider bit me unknowingly?. This can't be true!.

With the vermilion mark on my forehead and a short pony tale, I'm the Desi version of the spider-man. I have a wife too, and two kids. But they are perfectly normal. Maybe they are not lucky enough to be bitten by a spider. Yes, this is the shortcut to success; go to the nearby jungle, get bitten by the deadliest spider and get the celebrity status overnight.
My eyes were close, and my back felt painful, maybe due to the war I just had with the goons. But wait, where is my wife? and the kids are missing too.

I opened my eyes and a spider was dancing on my bed. I stretched my eyes in order to let more light pass through them. And two more little monsters were mocking me from the ceiling. I grabbed my missiles (water bottle, mug, shoes) and bullets (pen, pencils and the other stuff kept on the table) and smacked down those monsters.
Yes!, I won the war, I'm the strongest. 

Oh, I should sleep again now. This time peacefully, with no such wacky dream.

Image Curtsey: Spyndle

In the retrospect I desired to be a famous cartoonist. My dreams got shattered the day my drawing teacher asked us to draw an elephant. I gave it my best shot. After putting much pressure on his right brain my drawing teacher named my sketch as Buffalo. I happily accepted the award of two beatings for the masterpiece. For I thought he named my cute elephant as Buffalo because my sketch was Untitled. It was my friend cum roommate who made me aware of the actual fact. Maybe it happened coz I never saw an real elephant. Or maybe I ignored the fact that an animal could have such a massive pipe like structure in place of the nose?.
Well that was that.
Recently I happened to stumble upon this great site named ToonDoo. It's an online tool for creating cartoons and animation. And here is my experiment (Though the joke is not my original).
Tim Asks:

RamAvatar a local electrician was to enact as Lord Hanuman in the village Ramleela. Though a man of weak physique, he did not settle for any other role. Everyone in the village, be it children or the ladies made fun of him and this was his only chance to prove something.
His role for the first day of Ramleela was simple, he was to enter the stage with a dummy mountain in his hands and speak out "Jai Shree Ram"- his only dialogue for the day.
But RamAvatar was a cleaver man, he thought, why not use some creativity and impress the villagers?.
In the afternoon, he took a metallic plate and decorated it with electrical bulbs and wires, giving it the shape of a mountain, and placed it on the branch of a tree right above the Ramleela stage. He also tied a long rope to the branch. Upon his turn in the evening, he would light up the bulbs, hold the dummy mountain in one hand and the rope in the other and would climb down right into the middle of the stage and speak out his dialogue.
Some guys from the village came to know about his plans for the day and they thought of fooling him. So they climbed the tree and short circuited his electrical decoration.


In the evening when the villagers gathered for the Ramleela, RamAvatar climbed the tree and eagerly waited for his turn. The right moment came. He switched on the circuit and as soon as he lifted the dummy mountain he got a heavy electric shock and fell right in to the middle of the stage. Gathering courage he got up and screamed out loud: "Who the bloody hell did that?". And the entire audience broke into laughter.

On the second day everyone was astonished, for some other man was portrayed as Hanuman. What about RamAvatar? Where was he?.
The entire audience again broke into laughter when RamAvatar entered the stage as Goddess Sita.

Aaiye Sahab, Aaiye. Welcome to BookTroniks, we are one of the best book stores in Dilli. Myself Mr.Mishra, you can ask for any kind of book.
That's interesting, I interrupted. Do you have a copy of "One hundred years of solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez?
Arey Sahab, Kya baat kar di aapne? Mere hote hue aapko foreign author ki book padhni pade?
And he immediately handed me a copy of "My Spouse" by Dobha De.
I was scanning through the pages and the chatter box started: Sahab, Dobha Ji kya likhti hain!. You won't get a better book on male-female relationship than this one.
Upon this I asked: But Mishra Ji, I have heard that she had some problem with her first husband and she got divorced?
Arey Sahab, Aap bhi kamaal karte hain? If she is a divorcee, that means she is quite experienced in this field?.
Valid point. But I declined to go for it and asked,
Mishra Ji, can you suggest me a good book?
Mishra Ji to his helper: Arey chotu, go and get a copy of  "Kamasutra" from the top shelf.
Me: Arey nahi nahin Mishra ji, you got me wrong. All I'm asking you is to recommend me a popular book. I mean a book which is much in demand.
Mishra Ji: Arey Sahab, this book is never out of demand and you know we have only three copies left?.
Me: Mishra Ji, try to understand, I'm not yet qualified enough to contribute to the India's population.
Mishra Ji: Kya Sahab? When I was about your age, my third child was in the first standard.

Mishra Ji was about to speak more but a lady entered the book stall and asked for a copy of "The monk who sold his TATA Safari".
She was going through the index page and I interrupted, Excuse me madam, If you like fiction then I think there are much better options than this one. This book is more of a self help kind of stuff.
The lady agreed and asked the shop owner: Mishra Ji, can you suggest me a Good Book?
With the copy of "Kaamasutra" still in hands, Mishra Ji glanced towards me.
And I immediately left the book store.......

Once a dog was passing through the jungle when he noticed a lion coming his way. He got scared, the lion may kill him. He noticed a bone lying on the ground and immediately turned his back towards the approaching lion. When the lion came very near, the dog yelled at the bone, "You bloody lion, you think you are the strongest of all the animals?, Now see you've become my delicious meal. And don't you dare forget the lesson."  Hearing this, the lion got scared, that the dog has already killed one lion, and he is strong, he may kill him too. So the lion backed off and started running into the woods.

A monkey was watching this from the nearby tree and he thought why not approach the lion and narrate the actual fact?. Hearing this the lion would appreciate him and would never eat him. So the monkey ran for the lion.
After a few minutes the dog saw the lion angrily running towards him followed by the monkey. He immediately realized the situation and again turned his back towards the lion and started yelling at the bone, "You know?, You could have not become my meal if you would have not followed the advise of the monkey. See now, he has gone to fetch another lion."
The lion heard the dog, got scared, and again escaped the scene. The rest you can very well imagine.

This story has a very strong message, "beware of the monkeys".
These monkeys are everywhere, in the offices, colleges, social gatherings. All I wonder is that what do they really get out of all this?

"Catch them young" is an old and a bit outdated adage, you realize this only when you are old enough, and an old man with a young catch? definitely there is some error in the code.

There was an era when "Have a bike, have a girlfriend" was a major hit. But these days who doesn't have a bike? and guys seem to have learnt it the harder way. You and your friend follow a girl on bike & she hardly gives any Bhaav (Value). Her silence means "Guys, this is old fashioned, try something new."

Every era has its style of love, firstly there was the era of Sacha Pyar (true love) where the girl's family would get her married to anyone except the guy of her choice. Then came the era of "Hogi Pyaar ki jeet" or we may say the era of "Love never dies". Here the girl would love against the family wish, only to realize later that the guy of her choice was not like what she thought of him and then she would decide to marry the guy her father had chosen for her, but at the very last moment she would realize that she was wrong, and that her lover was her love for life. We can also name it as era of Confusion.
Next came the era of "Money hai toh honey hai", where the girl would love the rich guy and say blind no to the poor guy who was in love with her.

We have been through so many eras and love has ever stayed love. But now the latest trend is that of "Sorry Bhai". That is look out for your best friends girlfriend and then just apologize to him. Now that the female ratio is declining at a very high rate, isn't it that we are left with very limited options?

Just imagine your death bed.  Your family, friends, office colleagues & relatives are attending your funeral. I mean, it may sound a bit strange but just imagine it for a moment. And also imagine the things for which you'll be hated even after you are dead.

» Habit 1: The egoistic jerk (Wife's perspective)

See his face, won't even smile on the death bed, such an egoist. O' God he is gone and the whole family is just a bunch of Morons, I can't adjust with them. I'll update my IndiMatrimony dot com profile, maybe I can get some hot hunk this time. After all, excluding Sundays & holidays I'm mere 26.

» Habit 2: Married against my wish (Father's perspective)

If he would have married Mr. Sharma's daughter he would have lived 100 more years. From the first day I knew that this lady is not good for him. Son of a fool. God, take good care of him and get him married to the girl of your choice because he is a complete idiot at that.

» Habit 3: Bloody drunkard (Friend's perspective)

No one could beat him in drinking, he was a big size Tanker. I know him since school days, whenever nervous, he would take two heavy pegs and face the situation. He even did this for the college Viva.  O' God, may his soul rest in peace and I promise I won't drink now onwards, unless un-till some friend insists. You know I'm poor at saying No.

» Habit 4: Good for nothing (Colleague's perspective)

All day he kept surfing the net. Now I'll have to clear his share of files. He he :), He didn't even knew that I got him transferred to this department. Anyways, he was good for nothing. Now that one more fool is less in my department I stand a chance of promotion.

» Habit 5: Rahul was a better option (Girlfriend's perspective)

I can't believe he is dead. Now who'll pay for the dresses I've ordered at the tailor's?. He denied everything I asked him, wife was always the first priority and look at her, bloody B***h, She can't even fake tears. O' god forgive me for the sin but I think Rahul will pay for the dresses, after all he is head over heals in love with me.

» Habit 6: The Selfish Moron (Family pet's perspective)

Everyone except him cared for me. The other day I tried to take a bite from his plate & the moron hit me hard with his leg. Bloody jerk! Even dogs have heart. He always wanted me out of this house. But at times he really took my side and yelled that "He was living a dogs life in this house" - the softer him. May his soul rest in peace.

» Habit 7: _____ (Mother's perspective)

A mother who hates her dead child? Such mother does not exist.

Mr. A: I lost my wife in the market today. I informed the police & searched everywhere but still couldn't know her whereabouts.

Mr.B: Did you try Google Search?

Someday you log in to your Orkut account and find a friend request from some Mr./Miss. Stranger. At first you wonder how the hell-on earth people are left with much time and patience to search profiles and dig you out. You feel like declining the request and mind your own business but your instincts tell you to be fair and at least check out the profile of the request sender. You hit the profile link and find that you and Mr./Miss. stranger have many friends in common. Finally your curiosity level goes high and the "Sherlock Holmes" in you wants to explore more about him/her.

You scrap(message) one of your known friends to enquire about this Mr./Miss. stranger and finally get the reply: “Don’t tell me that you don’t remember this guy, he is the one who kicked you hard in front of the whole school”. Or the reply is “Don’t you remember her? She is the one whose brother almost knocked your teeth out for fixing your eyes upon her.” -Boy! What the hack! You can’t even compliment a girl for her appealing looks… And I just hate this boyfriend/brother kind of fraternity for not being able to resist their girlfriend or sister being complemented by some other guy.
Maybe most of the girls underestimate themselves.

Hi! My name is Tim and I’m sixteen years old, probably that is sufficient for the time being. Something similar happened to me last week. All those memories came rushing back to my mind and I immediately accepted the friend request leaving back a scrap to the known stranger: “Hey buddy! How are you? Where are you these days man? You are barely recognizable; your appearance has changed completely. By the way how’s your sister? (Boy! I just deleted the last line before posting the scrap, after all a grown up male has more respect towards his teeth.)”.
Now! I’m eagerly waiting for the reply. Maybe I’m too getting infected with this Orkut virus.

Talent was the name of a coin in ancient times and those who had a lot of talent, or money, then-just as it is now-were indeed the ones who saved and invested gainfully. Before making a long journey, the Bible says, a rich man called three of his servants and "unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one."

He that received the five talents went and traded with the same, and gained another five talents. And likewise, he that had received two, also gained another two. But he that received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

After a long time the master of those three men returned, and reckoned with them. He that had received five talents came and showed another five talents, saying, "My lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained five talents more."
The master said unto him,"Well done...I will make thee ruler over many things." The master was also pleased with the man who had doubled his two talents. "Well done... I will make thee too ruler of many things." These two men would now lead a more joyous life. They were talented!

Then the man who had received the one talent came to his master and said, "Lord, I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth: here take what is yours." The master answered and told him, "You wicked and slothful servant... you ought to have put my money to the exchangers and at my return I should have received it with interest."

Obviously, this man had no talent. "Take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which hath ten talents," the master then ordered. "And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."
-MATTHEW 25: 14-30 in the Bible.

Learning lesson from this story I purchased the bestseller "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham.- My first investment towards investing.
What was your first investment towards investing?

First Year of college
Teacher: Define Ohm's Law?
Student: Sir Ohm's law states that the current passing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them.


Second Year of college
Teacher: Can you define Faraday's Law?
Student: Well Sir em...well....Faraday's law is a law given by Faraday. It finds its application in electrical engineering.


Third Year of college
Teacher: Do you have any idea about Gauss's Law?
Student: Sir it can be defined as em... well it is defined as.........are you asking about Gauss's law?.
Sorry sir I forgot the question could you please repeat it?.
-----------------------------------
Sir i shall come prepared next time for sure.


Final Year of college
Student: Sir what is Newton-Raphson's method?
Teacher: It is $%)%#!%^* given by +!*(&%##@&** and used for %$*@(&^$% !


And finally the student becomes a full time engineer (maybe).

One wrong step and Tim could've lost his life.
Chilling December night was growing darker & Tim was the only passenger in his compartment. Though 12 years old Tim appeared younger than his contemporaries.
As the train pulled out of station Tim was accompanied by a stranger. There was something strange about this stranger; Red eyed, hairs of a wild animal, his body was covered with a blanket.

"When does the train reach Manor?" asked Tim.
"11:30pm." replied the stranger with a heavy voice.
This made fear run through Tims' mind. Firstly because he had not anticipated train reaching so early at the destination, secondly the stranger smelled drunk.
"Why are you going to Manor?" asked the stranger.
"I'm returning home from my boarding school and Manor is my last station via train, the remaining journey is to be made by bus." replied Tim.

The stranger put his right arm around Tims' shoulder and repeated: "There is no bus service at Manor during the night time but you need not worry kiddie, I shall get something arranged for you."
And he kissed Tim on the left cheek. For Tim the situation was heading the wrong way.
Getting hold of his bag Tim rose from the seat to make an escape but the stranger caught hold of his left arm and pulled him hard.
By this time the train was entering some station and before the stranger could make out his second move, Tim shouted for help.

Finding himself free from stranger's grip Tim ran out of the compartment and climbed another populated compartment.
Tim got hold of his furious breaths but fear still gripped him. He constantly asked himself: "Where shall I spend the night?."
As the train started entering Manor station Tim positioned himself at the door to make another escape. The train stopped and Tim cutting through the small crowd ran past the station building and hid himself behind a wall. His eyes could clearly make out the stranger searching for him.

Finally the train pulled out of Manor and the hustle-bustle of people died out. The stranger was nowhere in sight so Tim moved on to the station platform. Tim comforted himself there and was soon joined by another stranger who revealed himself as the station master.
"Where are going son?" asked the station master.
"I'm returning home from my boarding school and my further journey is to be made by bus." replied Tim.
"But the bus service at Manor starts at 6:30 am, where will you spend the night?" repeated station master.
And before Tim could answer the station master asked: "There's one small office room here, If you wish you can rest there till morning."
Tim initially hesitated but then followed the station master.

There was knock on the door and Tim heard:" Get-up son! it's 6:30 and the bus service has resumed."
Tim immediately jumped out of his temporary bedding & thanked the station master.
There was smile on his face & he jumped down the steps from the station. . . . . . as fast as he could.

Togetherness
Destiny brought three of us together as roommates but choice made us best buddies. Two years of togetherness, arguments, laughs, care, annoyance, and the endless gyaan (advices). Our growth was entangled together and each one of us felt a sea change in our lives
After two years of togetherness we had to move separate ways and the single threes became three singles.


The biggest enemy
Distance is the biggest enemy of any relationship and ours was no exception. Each one of us got so busy managing life that we could hardly find time for ourselves.
Nearly two years passed and the feelings started piling up.


Best feelings in life are never said
We had a short reunion yesterday and it felt as if we are still the same; the same old friends.


Destiny is sweet, but unknown
Now Atal might be busy studying or surfing internet & I'm here penning down my feelings whereas J.P might be busy tracking the stock market. Don't know where the destiny will lead us. Each one of us is heading towards different direction yet the bonds never cease to break. Maybe because the strongest bonds in life are cherished inside heart, they are beyond the reasons of time and distance.

PS: 20th Feb is Atal's B'day. Happy Birthday Atal.

Bhola! So you are busy enjoying your cigarette here. Who’ll serve the breakfast?
Coming Sahib {Sir}! ~Replied Bhola.
Adjusting the cigarette between his pale teeth Bhola headed towards his masters room.

Bhola! These days you are not paying attention to your job. Is everything fine? Sahib asked Bhola.
Yes….yes Sahib, replied Bhola, and his face reflected deep melancholy.

What’s the matter Bhola?

There was a pause for a moment and Bhola started:
Sahib! My Biwi {wife}! Again there was a pause. Finally clearing his throat Bhola started: Sahib! My wife has made the world impossible for me. She rarely talks to me nowadays and when I’m back-home after a days work, she doesn’t even have time for me. There was rage in Bhola’s voice and the Sahib listened patiently.
Bhola went on….: Sahib! Sometimes she turns out so grouchy that I feel like running away from her.
Did you ever tried to find out the reason behind this? The Sahib asked.
I tried Sahib; every time I ask her she reiterates the thing that: I don’t love her as much I used to at the time we got married.

The Sahib thought for a moment and then spoke with an authority.
Bhola, I think she is right. ~There was bewilderment in Bhola's eyes.
The Sahib went on…: How strange that love between a couple starts dying as their relationship progress on. And the object once most cherished becomes an object of disinterest. Why Bhola why? Have you ever asked this to yourself?
This happens because any relationship, be it that of husband-wife or friendship needs rejuvenation time and again. We start taking things for obvious, but don’t you think that after a days work when you go home there’s someone who probably might have worked more than you did and that individual also demands attention?

But then Sahib, doesn’t one get habitual of the same face-the same person? Bhola asked.Isn’t it that a person is always enthusiastic to make new friends? Isn’t it that we are least interested in books we’ve already read and are excited about reading new ones?

A point well asked-Sahib replied. It’s true that we are enthusiastic in meeting new friends and exploring new books. But don’t you know that in the end only rare books manage to become your favorites? A good book enters your heart, soul, and mind. Stays there forever and time-again makes you think about the philosophy infinite hidden therein. The more you think about, wider horizons you explore and the more you expand. Same is the case with relationships. Remember Bhola; Life is expansion under the arms of your beloved. So this time you go home remember to keep the person awaiting you in mind and rejuvenate your love.

It was third consecutive day and Bhola didn’t turn up for the work. Finally there was knock on the door. A stranger stood asking; Namaste Sahib {Hello Sir}! Bhola went with his wife to her parents place. He’ll be returning after a week, till then I’ll manage the work. May I ask you one thing Sahib? And Sahib nodded.
Sahib, are you married?
The Sahib couldn’t hold his mirth and smiled……..a smile which conveyed nothing.

The night kept growing colder & darker. Snowfall continued for the third consecutive day and the added trouble was the fresh injury in his leg. As he entered the empty lane, people had already packed themselves inside their houses-and were busy warming them and enjoying the winter season.

As he strode past the first house their came a voice from the window-side: “O you fool! Where are you up-to this wild night?”
He replied: “I have a friend who lives at the end of this lane.” -And the window was shut.

As he moved further, there came a voice from the window-side of second house: “O you fool! Where are you up-to? And do something about your leg -you poor fellow!”
He replied: “I have a friend who lives at the end of this lane.”
And the person exclaimed: “You fool! Don’t you know that that friend of yours is @#%$? You are being friend to the one who’s treated @$%$^ by everyone. Oh god Save this poor soul for he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”- And the window was shut.
Upon striding further he met with similar questions and exclamations.

As he rang doorbell at his friend’s house there came the voice: “You fool! Where have you been all this time? -I was worried about you and searched you all around. Now get inside, have my warm clothing and sit by the fireplace.”
He laid stretched on the chair near the fire place with his friend putting balm on his injury. He stared the empty roof of the house thinking: “I have a Friend…………..

I’ve drunk to your health in taverns,