“What type of a party is it?”
“Birthday party.”
“Have I met him?”
“No.”
“Is he a good boy?”
“Yes.”
“Is he your boyfriend?”
“God’s no!” Saee dropped her clothes on her bed, exasperated. “Will you stop with your questions already?!” She shuffled through her bag and took out her cell phone. She had two missed calls from Meha and a text asking her when she will be ready. Meha and Piyali were going to pick her up from her apartment for Aarav’s party. Neither of them had been to Aarav’s home, so they wanted to move together as a pack.
Saee’s father appeared besides her and stood with his arms folded across his chest. He never had approved about his daughter going out for parties since the inception of her college days. He had always been skeptical about her friends, constantly judging them any chance he got. In this case, Saee much preferred her mother to be open minded and care free. Her mother only made her feel like a slave most of the time.
“Will you at least give way for me to move around?” She pushed past her father in a frustrated manner. She just wanted her dad to leave. She felt constricted and bound in rules and regulations. She did not like that she had to answer someone for the actions she undertook. She had been living alone for this long, she had kind of gotten used to it.
Father sat down and drew his cell phone out. “Does your mother know about these friends you have?” That condescending tone that her father used always pissed her off. “I guess she needs to put some sense into your head.”
“Well at least she’ll understand that her daughter has free will.” Saee mumbled the sentence. She meant it to be audible but not come out as harsh.
“You don’t understand me now,” the rising tone of her father proved that she might have hit a nerve. “But when these friends you have leave you stranded, you’ll come running to us.”
“What the hell is your problem?!” That was way out of line. Saee hadn’t expected him to take the conversation completely out of track. “I left home to escape this nagging and constant judging you do regarding my life and my choices. Don’t you have better things to do?! It would be very nice of you if you would just leave me alone.”
Saee had never thought, even for a second, that it was this easy to drive her father out of her way. She just had to say it. Silently and without a fuss, her father stood up. Haughty as he was, with not even a slight tinge of hurt on his face, Father started packing his things in his suitcase. He had his things organized always. He didn’t have to search around the house like Saee would have. Little differences like these made her feel like an adjunct to the Mahajan family. She was different and she wanted to live differently, it was a fact that her family and especially her father needed to learn.
Without a word, just like that, her father left. Saee could feel the remorse, the guilt of speaking rudely to him. It was like a reverse psychology kind of thing. Now that he was gone, she could sense the vastness of her apartment grow enormous and big enough to drown her in it. She wanted to cry out but then she didn’t want to either. She hated herself when she had these random bouts of moodiness.
Rather than wasting her time over her indecisiveness, she went on sorting her clothes out for the party.
*-*
Piyali had never felt so self-conscious in her life. The stage fright might have been nothing compared to what she was feeling right now. Walking down the stairs, towards the living room where her family was seated, felt like such a gruesome task for her. The plunging neck line felt like there were spot lights attached to her breasts, just asking for attention to be granted. The dress looked fantastic on her no doubt. She had showed her aunt the night before and she had nothing but praises for it. But then she had added a kind of a footnote on the end highlighting the point of Piyali feeling uncomfortable at some point in the night.
How correct was she.
Without trying to grab much attention and being as discreet as she could be; Piyali tried to slide past her family. They were seated, discussing family affairs with Piyush perched on uncle’s lap. Piyali tried to walk quietly but her heels clicked on the floor with every step she took. There was no point in being discreet anymore because as soon as she was two steps inside the living room, their eyes were trained on her. They were scrutinizing and analyzing her like they do the animals in the zoo. Piyali could feel her mother’s eyes linger on her neckline and the raise of her eyebrow in amazement.
“Looking very pretty, Piyali.” Aunty’s words, although a repetition of what she had said the other night, were a welcome assurance for her. She nodded her head and consciously pulled her hair in the front, trying to distract herself.
“What time will you be back?” Mother’s words were dauntingly scrutinizing. Piyali knew although that her mother wasn’t one of those who kept an eye on their child’s every move, she felt weird about it.
Absurd as it sounded, Piyali was oddly much more nervous around her mother right now than she had ever been in her life. Yes, the balance of their relationship had changed now but that only meant that she should be comfortable around her rather than feeling the way she was feeling right now. Or probably it was because of the increase in their understanding that was making Piyali respect her mother’s feelings and it affected her what she thought of her daughter.
“It’s alright,” her mother said. And for the first time in years, Piyali felt absurd and encouraged. “Just take care, Okay?” Piyali gladly nodded. Her mother genuinely sounded concerned for her and that deeply touched her heart.
The honking of a car pulled Piyali’s attention. Just at the moment that she was about to open the door, her phone rang in her hand signaling an incoming call from Meha. Piyali opened the door, waved at her family-without missing the gracious smile of her mother’s-and walked out the door.
Meha’s car, an expected blue sedan-was parked on the driveway. Piyali pulled her hair back in a ponytail after pulling her coat over her shoulders. The air was chilling, signaling an impending winter to come. She walked up to the car’s front door while keeping her cell phone inside her purse. So, when she opened the door, the look of surprise on her face must have been unmistakable. Sat on the passenger seat was Bianca in her poised and uptight face on. Bianca wasn’t even invited, as far as Piyali knew. Aarav didn’t even know about her, at least not to Piyali’s knowledge.
“Hey, hop in the backseat. “Meha’s voice-although all chirpy-held a certain amount of strain in it. Her expressions spoke volumes and Piyali got the hint. She silently closed the door and opened the back door, only to find Saee sitting inside. She was greeted with a big smile and a hug.
“Due to unavoidable circumstances she had to tag along, “Saee whispered and released her from the hug with a smile, like nothing happened. Yet again, Piyali didn’t question anything and climbed inside the car.
*-*
Aarav must have checked himself in the mirror for the nth time in a span of forty minutes. The tie, although at the right place, seemed to be his object of interest. Since the phone call that Aarav had received from Meha, his heart had been racing and he had been fidgety all the while.
It might have been the heavens finally answering his prayers or an act of pure coincidence, but the bottom line was… Bianca was going to be there. He couldn’t have asked for anything else on his birthday. It was like the unexpected gift that one receives.
Aarav must have planned this meeting a thousand times in his head. He had gone through all the possible ways he can accidently bump into Bianca. The day he had laid eyes on her that night hadn’t helped him sleep at all. He was constantly bombarded with these vivid images of himself and her together someplace alone. No adultery performed but sheer harmony.
“It’s creepy when you smile looking down at the floor,” Rudra walked into the room biting into an apple. He looked clean cut, polished in his blue ensemble of a three piece suit with additional bow-tie hanging on his lapel. Aarav didn’t actually have a theme in his mind so he stuck to formal wear instead. His father was very pleased with the idea. Apparently it made Aarav seemed matured and ready for the business world, his father said.
Aarav just swatted his hand away and ran his hand through his hair. His perfectly gelled hair got tousled with the action. He quickly looked at himself again and smoothed out the hair. He got more gel over it and settled it down. He wanted to look in his top form without any mistakes in his appearance.
“If you get any gel on our head, it’ll start dripping like water.”
“Shut up man. You don’t understand how important tonight is.” Aarav checked himself over until he was absolutely sure about his looks.
Rudra helped himself to Aarav’s bed and planted himself on it. He looked around and noticed the number of shirts and blazers that were lying about. He shook his head and bit into his apple again. “Besides the fact that it’s your birthday, I don’t know how important today is.” He smirked at Aarav who glared at him through the mirror.
“You know about it okay dude. Don’t act like you are oblivious to the fact about tonight.”
Rudra knew about tonight, he knew all about it. Meha’s cousin Bianca was going to be there at the party tonight. Aarav had never stopped talking about it since the day he had laid eyes upon her when they had gone to drop Meha at her house. Rudra felt like arrogance oozed through her, her demeanor and her body language; all had a guarded feeling to it. He would have advised Aarav to forget about her but then he didn’t want to be an ass about it. Aarav was really into her. Well, he was no one to judge anyone about their choices, so he let it be.
There was a knock on the door. Aarav and Rudra both looked up towards the door, both drifting away from their thoughts. “The guests are arriving, sir,” the servant at the door said. “Mr. Latiff has asked to inform you about it.”
“I’ll be on my way.”
The servant closed the door behind him with a slight nod. Aarav adjusted his lapel and checked his cuff links. He looked dapper in his suit. It was gifted by his mother-a black Gucci tuxedo with a midnight blue shirt. His father had gifted him gold and diamond cufflinks that had been a family heirloom passed on by his great grandfather.
He was ready.
“Shall we, shehzade?” Rudra mocked, calling Aarav a prince in urdu.
*-*
The party had been buzzing. Aarav’s and Rudra’s teammates had crowded the bar since they had entered the house. Wishes had been exchanged, a few manly hugs and pats on the back and they had waltzed towards the bar without further ado. Their girlfriends and their dates clung onto their arms while the boys boisterously chugged down beer. Rudra chirped along with them, giving an insight or two into their talks. He felt a little uncomfortable when his teammate made out with his girlfriend right next to him. He was used to public display of affection, it was a usual affair. He shyly sipped his beer while averting his eyes from the group to look at the people around.
Aarav’s family and his relatives had gone to the back room and decided to celebrate in a quiet manner. Latiff uncle made it a family affair and had a quiet dinner planned without the hustle and bustle of the young adults partying. He had decided to keep an open bar even though their religion forbade from the use of alcohol. He had allowed his son to be acquainted with the norms of the western world so that he didn’t have to feel left out. Rudra respected his views and saluted him for allowing his son freedom of choice. But there were many more things that Latiff uncle didn’t agree to about Aarav’s lifestyle. One of them was his way with girls.
Rudra gave a laugh under his breath when he saw Aarav with two cheerleaders clinging to his side. They had their hands all over him while he chatted with the other ladies around. Rudra admired Aarav’s way with the ladies. At the age of twenty one, Aarav had had way more experience with the opposite gender than Rudra might imagine himself having in his entire life. He continued to look around and noticed Saee with another girl. Saee was dressed in an aqua blue dress with a mahogany leather jacket while the other had a black dress on. They both were in a deep conversation with wine glasses in their hands. Rudra decided to greet them. He hadn’t notice them arrive earlier and so felt compelled to at least talk to them for a bit.
“Hello ladies,” Rudra greeted the two. Saee smiled brightly and quickly hugged Rudra. She and Rudra had bonded pretty well during her internship. They had met for a few drinks once or twice and he felt deeply about her. He liked that she was a good friend to him.
“I thought you weren’t here, but then why wouldn’t you be here?! It’s your best friend’s birthday!” Saee blabbered on. Rudra recognized her tone and her blabbering very well. He had gone out for drinks with her enough to know her state right now.
“I am sorry about that. She’s a little high.” The girl in the black dress spoke. Rudra nodded knowingly at her.
“I am not high, I am just a little tipsy.” Saee corrected while narrowing her eyes at the girl. “Oh my god, I am such a bitch. I did not introduce you two.” She stood straight and with her arms wide she said, “Piyali, this is Rudra, the one I told you about. He’s a jock of our school and is very good at what he does.” Piyali didn’t want to laugh but at Rudra’s pained expression she couldn’t resist. She extended her hand for a handshake and smiled when Rudra did too. “And Rudra, my super star friend, she is Piyali. She is a lovely girl and I was just telling her about that one time Bhavik got a bashing from our birthday boy for racially abusing him.” Piyali laughed again at the length of the introduction.
Rudra watched as Saee gulped down the wine glass in one sip and caught her arm when she swayed a little. Saee laughed shamelessly and swatted his hand away. “I am just a little tipsy. Also, I need a refill.” With that said, Saee pushed through the crowd towards the bar. Just when she walked away from the view, Aarav entered with a girl by his side.
“Hello people,” he greeted. “I see you both have been introduced. So that leaves on person.” He drew the girl close while she hit his arm. “Rudra, she’s Meha, the intern I was telling you about that the office.” Meha waved her hand at Rudra while he smiled. “And Meha, he’s my best friend Rudra, the one you were graciously asking about.” Rudra’s eye widened and Meha hit Aarav’s arm again. He liked the way Aarav and Meha shared a rapport with each other. Rudra longed for that kind of rapport with someone and looking at them it pained him a little bit.
“Where is Bianca?” Rudra asked all of a sudden. He had half expected Aarav to be clinging to Bianca right now. With the smolder that Aarav sported around tonight, he doubted Bianca would have been able to resist him. But here he was with another girl.
“I don’t know man. I just got a dry birthday wish from her and she was gone out of sight.” Aarav said defeated. Piyali hit him across the head and laughed at his expression. Aarav quickly smoothed out his hair and hit Piyali on her arm. They engaged in a full-fledged arm wrestle which Meha and Rudra tried to disengage from. They both parted with narrowed eyes and fake anger.
“Are they always like that?” Rudra asked amused. Meha stifled a laugh and nodded. Meha knew well how those two worked. They constantly irritated each other with their antics but neither had a hard feeling for each other. “It’s weird to see Aarav get wrestled by a girl.” Rudra amusedly sipped his beer as the two in question got into a word fight.
Just when they started to swing abuse at each other, there was a loud bang just near the door. It was like a giant party pooper had gone off in the midst of the crowd. Rudra and Meha turned towards the door, curious to know what the noise was about while Aarav and Piyali forgot their word fight amused by the commotion.
“Where’s my smart ass brother?! Where’s the birthday boy?!”
Rudra looked at Aarav confused. Aarav had a grinned plaster on his face, something like he understood who might be creating the ruckus. He smiled and left the group, making his way through the crowd.
As expected by him, there he was. In a white shirt with a loose tie over his well-tailored pants was his favorite cousin looking dapper with a champagne bottle in his hand. He got a crooked grin in return when he laughed at the acknowledgement.
Cue for Jehan Khan, always the showstopper, thought Aarav as he walked to his brother with open arms.