This incident was narrated to me by my nephew-in-law Avinash, a Major in Indian Army. I am re-telling it in first person, as he told it to me. This is how the story goes...
"My mother is tyrannically opposed to hard drinks…she is a typical Gandhian in this matter. If she was around in pre-independence times, I am sure she would have been among those protesters, who picketed liquor shops. My father, though he does not share her passion for anti-liquor movement, has always been a teetotaler. I sometimes wonder how my mother would have reacted if he wasn’t one. One of them would have have to be converted, I think, to ensure peace in the house. However, the fact of his never taking drinks has only served to reinforce my mother’s passion against drinking. So in spite of my having been brought up in an Army environment where social drinking is a norm rather than an exception, drinks never entered our house. My younger brother and I were brought up steadily on ‘Only weak people drink’ kind of doctrine.
I grew up and entered medical college and began staying in a hostel. Drinking was common there in almost all functions and parties. At times I wished to taste the forbidden liquid at least to find out why it was so attractive to so many people and was so despised by my mother, but I kept away, not wanting to offend my mother's sensibilities.
I was 19, in the 2rd year of college and was spending my summer vacation at home in Delhi. My father, having retired from Army Medical corps by then, was working for one of the largest private hospitals of Delhi. An invitation for cocktails and dinner in a five star hotel came for my father for an annual event of the hospital. The invitation included his family too, so I naturally accompanied my parents for the party hoping to have some good fun and more importantly, good food like any typical youngster having a respectable appetite. Uncle Alok, my mother’s younger brother, also an Army doctor, was invited for the function too.
Well, like in most big parties in the Indian capital, liquor was flowing like water in this one too. I, however, like the ever obedient son of my mother, moved towards the soft drinks corner to get myself a drink. Suddenly, my uncle materialized by my side.
“Don’t tell me you are going to have a soft drink in a party like this. The best booze in the world is flowing here and it is all for free. Come, I will get you something truly exhilarating, ” he said taking a hold of my arm.
“Oh no, Uncle, I do not drink liquor, “ I refused in a polite manner.
“Oh, come on, I am not asking you to become a drunkard, am I? I just want you to taste something heavenly.” He was pulling me towards the forbidden corner now.
“Uncle, Ma will be upset, she hates to see even you drinking. She will kill me if she finds out” I pleaded.
“Don’t be such a sissy. You are a young man now and in another 2 years you will become a full fledged doctor. Do you think your Mom will make decisions for you all your life? And I am sure she won’t mind you taking a sip or two as you are afraid of. She knows that you are a grown up man now.” He was convincing.
“No uncle, I’ll try it some other time,” I protested, my resolve weakening somewhat. Uncle realized that I guess. He dragged me to the bar counter . My protest had become so weak by then that it was nearly non-existent and my curiosity about this new experience had taken over. After all, Uncle is my Mom’s brother, he would not ask me to drink if he knew she would get upset. Sooner than I realized there was a glass in my hand filled with a bubbly liquid. Feeling very grown up and mature, I took a sip and moved towards the group of my friends, savoring the experience contentedly.
Suddenly I had the curious sensation that everybody in the party was looking at me. Nervous, I looked side ways and to my horror, found my mother by my side with a stormy expression on her face. I wildly looked around for my uncle. He was there alright. He was standing by my mother’s side with a solemn expression on his face. Holding a glass of orange juice in his hand, he was shaking his head sadly. He said,
“Kids today! Look what the world has come to, Didi. All your life you have been campaigning against hard liquor. And no sooner than your own son stepped out of your house, he has taken to drinks. Children these days have no respect for their elders and their teachings.”
My mother nearly exploded. She was so furious that she forgot that we were in the middle of a gathering of elite people. And that I was a near-adult. She gave it to me right, left and centre, in full view of my friends and under the curious gaze of several guests. How could I do this to her, how could I let her down, how could I forget everything she had ever taught me, etc. was the mainstay of her diatribe. Ignoring my placating gestures and pleadings, she dragged me to the car and took me home. She did not speak to me for two full days after that. It was only after mediation by my father and my countless apologies to her that barely one day before my leave was to end, she forgave me grudgingly and began talking with me.
On last day of my vacation I went to meet my uncle and his family.
“Why?” I asked him stonily.
“Are you kidding? I have waited 19 years, ever since you were born, to do this. This is exactly what my uncle had done to me 22 years ago. I have got my revenge now,” he winked at me with a devilish grin on his face."
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