Bombay High

Like everything else in the country, from the composition of a government to the price of a lemon, our night out would be the subject of extensive and intricate bargaining, among ourselves and even with the authorities. In short, it was to be a typical Indian night out - an expensive, drawn-out ordeal so onerous and complicated that you would never wish to repeat it. The drinking would be simple by comparison. But just when I thought I'd arranged the perfect compromise, the whole thing hit a snag. In India, there is one thing you should never take for granted - India.