I had my first beer with Aporesh. One evening in 1995 Aporesh invited me to join him and Kamlesh Desai for dinner. I reached Aporesh’s place at around 6pm and we left for M.G. Road. We were going to a restaurant called Ebony at Barton Centre, 13th floor. I had never been there although I had been to my uncle’s office on the lower floors. 

We reached the place and Kamlesh was waiting for us. It seemed Aporesh knew everybody — the owner, the head chef, the waiters. All scrambled around to ensure that we were seated beside the end of the building to have the view of our city. We could see as far as Nandi Hills in the distance. It was dusk and the sun had just set. A lovely view. 

As we sat Aporesh ordered beer. He asked me if I had every tasted any. I hadn’t. He asked if I had tasted any Parsi food before. I hadn’t. 

We had a couple of mugs and my head was already spinning. But the Parsi food took me to a different level. In all my life I have eaten great food. But that night was special. 

Over dinner Aporesh gave me an introductory lesson in food and fine dining – indeed with practicals! When we retuned to his place he invited me to his bedroom and fished out a  funny looking bottle that turned out to be a Baileys Irish cream, a whiskey based liquor. He poured it for me and told me what a wonderful drink it is. 

Aporesh loved the good things in life and he taught me to love them too. In my life I have enjoyed a lot of good food and drink — I would have missed much had Aporesh not subtly taught me to love the world. Is it possible to tread the spiritual path without having experienced the beauty that our world offers?