Hooked on to the hookah, puff by puff

TIMES NEWS NETWORK MONDAY, JUNE 07, 2004 02:11:05 AM
ARUNDHATI BASU

NEW DELHI : It is the epitome of feminine beauty with its elegant and curvaceous profile. Whether it's the imposing lines that hint at an exotic draped mystery, or the enchanting effect - a mixture of soothing relaxation and reminiscence of times gone - its charm is sure to lure you to the bars that have opened up in the city.

Wondering what this enigma is? The world might be surging ahead like there's no tomorrow, but you can take yourself to an era behind, with just a puff of the shisha.

Also known as the hubbly bubbly, it traces its origin back to Turkey , where it was an integral part of the coffee shop culture around the time of Murat IV (1623-40).

"Whenever I think of a hookah, I can imagine Middle Eastern men in Oriental robes, who for hundreds of years have passed their time in leisure, smoking the pipe and watching the world pass by," said Priya Modi, a college student.

Lounges in Delhi usually serve Mediterranean fare and complement it with the shisha. To add to the ambience, they play Arabic House music. Some even have belly-dancing for that exotic touch.

A pipe costs Rs 200 and lasts for about one hour - enough time for a good conversation and a glass of wine. "It is a loungy affair. Our customers are normally within the 25-30 age group, especially those who would like to go in for a relaxing time rather than a hip-shaking one," said Dhiraj Arora, the owner of one such bar.

Shisha is a special blend of tobacco and molasses and comes in all kinds of yummy flavours like apple, peach, mango, mint and strawberry.

"The two-apple flavour is the most popular one," said another such owner. The hookah, usually made of coloured glass, has a tall, elegant stem that leads to a container and four smoking tubes. The water-filled container is heated by charcoal and as you take long puffs, you hear delightful little gurgling sounds.

"Besides finding those sounds relaxing, what I love is its smooth feel. It does not leave behind a strong stink as a cigarette does. Also I find it quite exotic," said Anamika, a regular at the lounge.

So unwind and puff away your hooka to glory's name.