Episode 7

Fridayyyyy! So normally I wouldn’t be this relieved for a Friday. But Sukanya is a task master. Best part is, she made Shan work too, so even though I might grumble and complain, I am secretly very satisfied. I like involving everyone in misery if possible, so sue me!

After several days of discussion and multiple iterations of corrections, Sukanya finally sent over our model to the client. We will get a feedback within next week. Fingers crossed! I am treating the guys for having successfully started a new phase in my life. I was rather made to, do you know how much dinner costs when three guys with a healthy appetite accompany you to a pricey place? Well, I did think of that as I am still new at handling money. I never had to worry. My salary was completely mine to spend until now; my salary did not have any purpose. Now, it pays rent, it gives me food. So I did think. But hey, Naren has been extremely helpful. Vivek's food is something to look forward to few days of a week. Aditya is just sweet and supportive. These people are the best! Time to have fun with them! Anitha is a total doll too.

So I go home early to get ready. We are going to catch an early dinner and Anitha wanted to hit a discotheque. So that is the plan.

I haven't been to any place with these guys where I needed to get all dressy. So I spent a lot of time choosing a dress. Finally I choose a simple but shimmery deep moss green dress. It is made of a beautiful shiny fabric and is plain with a clean cut and although doesn’t scream partayyyy, it is suitably partyish. It had a wide round neck that was a tad deep and had sheer sleeves and it fell up to my knees. The dress hugs me in the right places, so I normally look slim in the dress. I wanted to make an impression, although no idea why. I pair it with burgundy peep toes that are not very heeled and a burgundy clutch. I am accessorized in just gold dangling ear rings that moved even on a small movement of my head. I also spend a lot of time doing my make up as I wanted understated but party-worthy, this is an effect quite tough to achieve for me. I think I managed.

So I am all excited. Naren, Anitha and I will be leaving from the apartment around 7.00 P.M. Experience told me that Anitha is punctual but Naren plays soft-and-slow when it comes to timings. So I give myself leeway and by the time I am ready it is 7.15. I get a call to come down to the cab at around 7.30.

'Sorry Pri. Got caught at work. Got a little delayed!'

Right. Anitha snorts.

'That's okay Naren. Let's go. I think we are late. What is the plan for Aditya and Vivek?  Are they at the restaurant?'

Naren and Anitha exchange looks.

'Pri, Aditya had to go to his friend's place. Some sort of emergency. He is very very sorry he couldn’t make it, he will treat us all to make up for this' – Naren told this almost as fast as the mutual-funds-are-subject-to-market-risks disclaimer.

I blink. I dial Aditya. We could have moved this. It is not an appointment set in stone. The call goes, goes and goes no answer. I am slightly pissed off.

'Okay. No point taking it out on you. Tell me Vivek is going to be there'

Anitha gives him a look again.

'Ya ya, Vivek will make it.' , Naren says. Okay. We all know how Vivek his. He comes when he comes, usually if he is in this plane.

'You look nice, I almost did not recognize you', Anitha says. As a change in conversation this is one of the best. I smile.

'Thanks Anitha. You look great', she did. She makes me feel I could have gone more party-vibey. She is kind of shining in a red dress and what looks like golden or chrome accessories; will be clear once we have more light.

I hear a sigh from Naren and catch Anitha giving him a dirty look. This night isn't going well, hope it improves.

We reach the restaurant. Anitha actually looks pretty awesome. Her dress is a few inches above knee, sleeveless and well fitted and she is in chrome accessories. Even her shoes are shiny chrome. I like her outfit.

We move ahead but Naren doesn't get in step with us. The host helps us to our table. The restaurant was rated very high. But it was a bit too flashy and had too many mirrors and bright lights for my taste. It looks very space-shippy, I can't find anything made of wood or metal, or at least they were cleverly disguised or dressed to look like glass. Don’t ask me why glass, mirrors and lights remind me of space ships, I have never been in one, so I don’t know.

I try very hard to ignore Anitha and Naren's tension which seems apparent as time goes. I do not know how though, taking my phone out and finding innocent by onliners in Whatsapp or Viber seems very rude on a dinner table.

I try to start conversations. I try to make fun of Shan; he is their favorite to make fun too. I try to talk about Vivek and creatively curse Aditya. Anitha tries to join in, but Naren's sour mood pulls all of us down.

The normally playfully teasing couple are making me want to chew the insides of my mouth to control myself and asking what the problem is. They seem to think I am blind or Naren could act like a National award winner. I finally decide to go "powder my nose". Maybe I will take a couple of clichéd wash room selfies. Maybe I will take a small walk around the restaurant and get busy being discovered by handsome billionaires with six pack abdomens looking for true but poor love. The next trend changing movie star with such talent that people weep looking at her ground breaking performance, works too. I do like fairy tales.

How much ever I try, I couldn’t justifiably spend more than ten minutes away from the table. When I come back, food is being served.  Naren and Anitha look like they just had a hurried argument. Food tastes fantastic. I look at Naren and Anitha who have hardly eaten. This makes me feel like a glutton. But, hey, I have got at least one thing going.

Regrettably, we decide to leave without dessert. But at least the evening comes to an end. Vivek isn’t here; I can use that as a perfect excuse to skip the disco. I silently thank Vivek, maybe this will reach him when he is in his own plane.

Boy, was I wrong!

'Pri, I have called for another cab to go to the disco, he will be here in ten minutes max.'

Say what? Noooooooo.

'Hey, where is Vivek? Shouldn’t we wait for him?'

'Naren, I think I am going home. I am tired Priya. Sorry, I am going home'

Yayy. I can go with her too right?

'Oh come on Anitha. We all know you want to go dancing and I am completely fine with it. Let's do it. Else, I am sure I will be blamed for this as well at some later point in time'

Anitha snorts.

'You better wait for Vivek, Priya. We need someone sober when we come back'

Uh oh. I am in the middle of a lover's spat.

'Guys, let's go back. We will do this some other day'.

'No Pri. We will go today', Naren looks super stubborn.

'Yes Priya. We all have choice always, as long as we choose what Naren wants. We will go today'

Brilliant!

I try talking sense into both of them. Nothing works. Cab arrives, I am dragged in. We reach the disco, get stamped and go in. The discotheque is one of those that are an attaché to a five star hotel.

I immediately go to the wash room again, this time to call Vivek.

He picks up. 'Hi Priya! What's up?'

'Vivek where are you? You need to come down right now. When are you coming?'

'Yes Priya. I am in the middle of something. We have been working on tweaking an algorithm, we are almost there, I will leave as soon as it's done'

'What? Come soon Vivek.' , I am not good in using words like "please", it is implied I guess.

'Sure, will be there at the disc. Got to go now', no room to reply, he has hung up already.

This is so not going well.

I go to the disc. I see Naren at the bar. I ignore him and order a drink. Anitha is standing nearby moving to the swell of music having a drink in one hand.

I ignore both of them. I stand in their vicinity but I keep to myself. They are doing the same too. It took just another five minutes. A guy with weird side burns comes and asks Anitha to dance. Naren loses it at that point.

'She is with me', he says, waits till weird-side-burns leaves and then rips into it.

'Are you happy now?'  Naren asks Anitha.

Shit, even I know that that did not sound good. I move away. Let them have their fight; I am done with them today.

I people-watch, dance alone like a weirdo, drink some more. I still see them arguing. I spy a group of girls having fun and they see me and ask me to join them. A couple of drinks and almost half an hour of dancing after, I look for Naren and Anitha. I don't see them.

I check for Anitha in the wash room, I can't find her. I search all over the dance floor, the bar. No sign. I call Naren and Anitha, and both are not reachable. I see that I don't get good signal either. I come out and try calling them again, still the same. I call Vivek, no answer.

I am alone in a disc past midnight, slightly drunk, I can't find my friends and I am in India. I panic. I am not sure if I can ask help from the hotel staff. I imagine myself getting my own cab to return home and all the news of girls in cabs who are not even inebriated being subjected to fates far worse than death run through my head in bold headlines.

I consider calling my dad. I can’t. He will be my last option. This is a mistake. It is as if I proved Shan's statement of me being an immature irresponsible person in one of our appraisal discussions.

I blame my inebriated state, but I will never know why I called Shan that particular day. I call him. After getting over what appears to be shock, he asks all the details, says he will do something as soon as possible. I am ever grateful.

I wait for almost half an hour. I keep trying to call these guys. They are either not reachable or not answering. I swear if I see any of them I am going to kick his or her ass. I spend time imagining creative ways of punishing Naren for ruining my first treat for a successful start. I get a call from an unknown number. I answer.

'Priya, I am outside the hotel's entrance. Parking seems to be full, do you want me to come in, or can you come out?'

Shit. I recognize the voice and it is not Shan.

Link to previous episodes : Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4  Episode 5  Episode 6