It’s only April and guess what the temperature in Kolkata is today? 36 degrees! And it is supposed to get hotter and more humid with each passing day. The AC in my bedroom has conked off and I’ve woken up all sweaty and irritated. It is a Sunday and my first instinct is to go back to sleep but it is already 7 a.m. and I have a jam packed day ahead.
For most people, Sunday is a day to relax but for a blogger who also has a day job, Saturdays and Sundays are extremely busy. I schedule my meetings, appointments, catching up with family and friends, watching movies, running errands etc on weekends so sleeping till late is a luxury that I can rarely afford. I get up, have breakfast, take a bath, get ready and by 8.30, I am out of the door.
Today’s agenda – Meeting a friend from Delhi who wanted to see some of North Kolkata’s iconic landmarks. As I stand on the road, waiting for my cab, I realize what a huge mistake I’ve made.
The sun is glaring with all its glory and the humidity even at 8.30 a.m. is killing. I should have scheduled the tour early morning but now, there is no turning back so I get into the cab, enjoy the AC for 30 minutes before getting off. I am meeting my friend in front of Shovabazar Rajbari, the home of Raja Nabakrishna Deb who started the celebration of Durga Puja in Kolkata in 1757.
There are two Rajbaris on either side of the road and we visit both. We finish around 10.00 and the sky is burning. I can see my friend sweating like crazy and even I can feel the heat. Thankfully, I spot the new 7UP Revive at a shop and buy two bottles to try out. I read that it is a hydration drink with vitamins B3, B6, B12 and electrolytes that help to rehydrate the body. Both of us took long swigs of our 7UP Revive bottles and we could feel some energy coming back. This was my first encounter with 7UP Revive and it was a very good start!
Next on the itinerary, Swami Vivekananda’s ancestral house and Cultural Centre. Originally built in the 18th century, the building was acquired by the Ramakrishna Mission in 1962, renovated and transformed into a museum-cum-cultural centre. We get a glimpse of Swamiji’s life inside the museum; we see his personal belongings, we visit his meditation room and come out with a feeling of peace and calmness but get hit by the scorching sun. Out came our individual bottles of 7UP Revive, from which we again pulled in long swigs – which acted as a nice pick-me-up. I also notice that quite a few people are sipping on the same bottle that I held in my hand – 7UP Revive! So it wasn’t just me who had developed a taste for it in Kolkata’s heat.
Next stop, College Street. I want to show her my alma mater, Presidency University, take her to the iconic Coffee House and explore the book shops. Instead of taking a cab, we decide to walk the distance. Still nice and refreshed by 7UP Revive, we never felt tired or fatigued and instead marched on ahead.
The good thing about the drink is that despite being a soft drink cold beverage, it actually feels quite satisfying. It helps refresh and energise the body giving it back fluids and some of the electrolytes that are lost by sweating.
Presidency University, known as Presidency College when I studied there for three years is a very special place for me. The building has been spruced up, there is a new gate and it looks quite grand now. We take a few pictures from outside, cross the road and see the Sanskrit College building, check out the many bookshops on the streets, eat phuchkas and finally, call it a day after visiting the Indian Coffee House. 7UP Revive continued to be our faithful companion throughout. Thanks to the cool blue drink, we survived the heat, the humidity, the energy loss, the tiredness and the sweat.
So, that was my day with 7UP Revive. Have you given it a shot yet? #7UPRevive #Sweatlossrecharge
Disclaimer – This post is in collaboration with 7UP Revive.