Last Wednesday there was a party at the boss’s house (palace). Ever wonder why official parties are so …… painful???? You have this classy venue, beautifully decorated, exotic cuisine, expensive booze, but one really has to be soooo prim and propah!!!!!

His Highness and his family were being so nice and gracious doing the rounds. Once I had met the guests I knew, I settled down to my favorite pastime, drinking and watching others. It is such fun.

Friends of His Highness and family were keeping to their sorts (rich and famous) the women checking out every one else’s clothes and jewellery, men checking out every woman’s figure……the union leaders wolfing down the food and drinks as though they had been starving for the last millennium. The lower rung employees happily getting drunk stationed either near the bar or the loo. Then there is us ::::: “the inner circle” or “chamchas”, depending on whether we are in earshot or out of it. We smiled our hellojis and namasteys cordially and then hung around with each other politely. We definitely could not get happily drunk, we certainly did not want to talk shop – and we have precious little else in common. I got rid of them soon and joined Kid#2 and D.I.L.

Of course Kid#2 had got us a lovely table close to the bar. It really is an art There we proceeded to drink seriously. I kid you not, since the Angel of Joy could not be everywhere, God gave us booze. 3 glasses of wine and D.I.L. started missing her husband aka Kid#1. She got emotional and sleepy (don’t ask me how she managed to do that) and had to be dropped home. Kid#2 took her home and I managed to get myself 2 LITs and a whole lot of snacks…….

Of course after all that I needed to visit the washroom. Since I know the palace very well, I walked inside hoping to find an unoccupied loo. No such luck. So I sat down on a sofa in one of the rooms waiting for the loo door to open. I was quite happy, I had my glass in my hand and was watching the party from the French windows and the loo opened and out came one very senior person I know accompanied by his subordinate’s wife. I think for me the party began right then!!!! Till then it was an official do in which I had to be present. I gave them a happy drunk smile, and they smiled guiltily hoping that what I had seen had not registered. So I spared them further embarrassment and rushed into the washroom and came out – finished my LIT. I swear to God till then I was just buzzing. Then I got rollickingly drunk – and it was not my fault. It was the fault of my imagination and the couple that I had witnessed.

By the time Kid#2 came back to the party, I think I could not even walk straight. He had dinner and I had an Irish Coffee. It was a miracle that I could walk straight, and wish the royalty goodnight and thank them for the wonderful party. We were served cigars at the party and we smuggled some home with us. Once home, I let my hair down lit a cigar and started singing “Mauja hi mauja” and doing bhangra in the front yard. Poor Kid#2, he was so annoyed!!!! Two drunk women is a bit much to handle for him. Aaaah kiddo, you’ll learn. Consider this good practice for the rest of your life.