BAR

BAR as a word has more connotations than the literal meaning itself –It appears more familiar than obvious for some reason. A casual mention of this word and the mind triggers a cerebral Bottoms Up to the picture gallery from every corner of the brain. The images start streaming like a screensaver and virtual BAR mode sets in– The light effect is soothing, the aroma is smokey, the music is good and the air around is perfect to keep you spirited!! The discussions over the table are brewing loud with music filling in between. The topics of discussion are somehow the same with a different approach every time perhaps to ultimately hit the political side of the country, the economic crisis, business ideas, and then the travel plans which only travel for a few hours to fizzle out and to be rebuilt again. The music finds its way through the groovy legs and as the night pegs up, the vapors liberate themselves on the dance floor throbbing with bhangra beats– Gyrating gravity ultimately finds its way to a queue outside the toilets as well 😊

Surpassing the CAGR of any other industry in annual economic growth the BARs in absolute numbers have multiplied and are omnipresent in the ‘Smart City’. Gone are the days of shy blinking boards in the outskirts of the city inviting you for a quick concealed affair- The Bars today have been liberated from the shy manacles and people have openly welcomed the new formats with pints and crates of heart. While the Bharat Ratna companies like Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum are trying to fuel the vehicles – the Bars have gone beyond in number and intent to fuel the masses in the good old format as well as new avatars of breweries, ahataas, and now Atmanirbhar format BYOB. The BYOB (Bring your booze) is increasing in adoption like Solar energy – the redemption of satisfaction at a much lower price. For the evolved Janta from Gurgaon and Faridabad, the BYOB experience is an extended Discovery with Lakeforests and Liquorforts glittering for palatial footage for the passersby.

Best Available Rates (BAR) – Retail establishment selling the stuff alongside trade routes and markets dates back to 900 AD when Sean’s bar originated somewhere in Ireland . The legacy has been restored since then with consistent evolution in basic and social needs of mankind leading to new contemporary variants. What may have started earlier as a male dominated concept is now almost a gender-neutral place in most parts of the world. The drinks which would have started historically in monochromatic shade across the world have gone color wild too and then there are cocktails and screwdrivers to give a twist. The BAR menu has become exhaustively global too with spirits pouring in from otherwise unknown lands to make the choice as difficult as a Subway menu sometimes. The basic rule however stands tall – Avoid the LOWS and stay HIGH – I mean aspire high!!

The elements of the BAR (glasses and pitchers) have drawn parallels from a chemistry lab perhaps where beakers and jars clinically orchestrate for complex practical experiments of titration and distillation . The bar elements in a similar fashion are handled clinically with all the concentrated fluid channelizing through the glassware into human bodies. The reaction is chemical in early stages of the session but may end up physical if continued beyond the BAR timings . Both places need to upkeep the hygiene and protocols – Mixing of unmeasured quantities can lead to disruptions and damages. The thumb rule remains same across the globe – When in Bar – Be like a lab apparatus yourself and let the fluids flow through you – enjoy the chain reactions and when overflowing you may smoke out to release the vapors within.

On the flip side of their existence The BARs across the country are somehow also a concern of national discipline. The number of traffic policemen which are pressed onto duty every night specially weekend is regimental. So many breaths are analyzed in the darkness of the night and then you end up paying for your breaths too!! So as a responsible tipsyzen we should all read between the letters of the subject – BAR may also put you behind BARs for drunken driving .– Malts mix well with ice – Drinking and driving -Not at all nice !!

The BAR is CLOSED for now and for you to come tomorrow again in fact bar-bar ….. 😊