I had went to my companions believing they would find a good spot so we can drink in privacy. When I say privacy that didn't include Sneha, Priya and Agni at the same spot, same time.

All of us freeze on our place while Barun, Amit and Abhishek are desperately trying to hide the bags in which our drinks and snacks are. Drinking is not allowed in bengali marriages even through everyone does it behind the curtains. It's just nobody wants to acknowledge it.

"Ah! What a surprise!" Amit says his voice betraying his tone of excitement and the three girls stand across are as petrified as us. Regaining composure, Sneha says, "Ahahha. Yeah! Surprise!" even her voice doesn't sound much excited. Her thirty two teeth displaying how uncomfortable the situation is.

Both Sneha and Amit laughs with a awkwardness wrapped around them and we don't get the reason why. But then I notice, each of their hands have a beer bottle and Agni has another bottle that she hides behind her Orni. The white cap says it's vodka.

A grin replaces my frown.

It appears we all stumble at the same spot along with snacks which defeats the purpose of secrecy.

Right now, some of us stand with gaps in our mouths like they want to hide away from each other or simply disregard the fact that we don't know how the bottles are with us in our hands. A distance music plays from the pandal, 'Kuch na kaho... Kuch bhi na kaho...'¹.

Agni turns to Sneha with a glare and Priya seems like she would've thanked the ground if it could swallow her whole. Sneha's eyes drift everywhere but us. Likely, she's finding something to say then she finally says, "Ah! Well..."

Jatin's eye brows shoot up to the sky and Dev says, "Err... You guys can take the spot."

Barun, Amit, Kingshuk and Abhishek however, grins and Amit suggests, "While we're at it, why don't we enjoy the moment together?"

As much as I like drinking with Agni, I feel like I don't like everyone else shares a private moment with her. On the other hand, her flustered face says that she wants privacy.

Agni shoots daggers at Amit but says nothing while Sneha agrees who doesn't really care to ask whether Agni and Priya wanted to drink with us or not, "Yeah, why not?"

Agni's head snaps at Sneha and she is about to say something but Sneha has already sat down with Amit while Dev, Jatin and I remain stood with no clue what should we do now.

Agni turns at me, her eyes pleading and her cheeks red but I shrug and she sits down as well, Priya following suit.

The place is perfect as it's surrounded with trees and the big stones on the ground are great to lean on. The pandal's colourful lights peek through the wild bushes makes the place dimly lit which is why they have selected this spot as well.

While Sneha and Amit start their rituals of flirting and occasional special-glances, I notice Priya is giving Jatin a few shy glances then sipping through her beer. Her face is already red with embarrassment now the drinks are adding more colours to it. What I haven't noticed Jatin is also giving Priya some sort of looks. His emotionless face can fool anyone.

Dev is flustered beside me as there is Agni with us. Normally, he's the one who talks rubbish after a few shots and that's why he has taken only two shots of whiskey. His situation is pathetic, as he cannot drink freely with the female companions who he has met just today and if he drinks uncontrollably, next day, they won't even look at him. And he can't have shots freely in his own brother's wedding makes the situation more pathetic than Barun's married life.

Agni sighs and murmurs, "That's enough!" and her cold gaze finds my black ones. I raise a brow and she finishes her beer in one go while everyone looks at her in amusement.

"Not a word shall leave from here." Her threatening glance make all of us nod in unison as she takes the vodka and pours it on her glass. While she makes her drink, I find the courage to talk to her.

"Yes! Exactly, my words." I say and she looks up at me.

"May I?" I ask to make it a cocktail. She looks at me for a moment then hesitantly nods as I start preparing the shots.

***

After an hour, Dev has started his rubbish chatting while Jatin is the only one who's listening as he sipping from his glass. Barun, Abhishek and Kingshuk are chatting among themselves and there is no trace of Amit and Sneha.

Agni and Priya are with me taking our sips and savouring it while a light music is playing in my phone. We have been sharing our weird drinking experiences.

I begin while sipping on my glass, "When I was in my first year of college. Dev, Barun, Jatin and I were secretly drinking on a field (which is illegal, do not try at home or in this case, on fields) and a police van chased us.

"Both Dev and my legs were long, we crossed the small mud ponds in the field but that time Barun was short so he crashed on a mud pond in his drunken state."

Agni lets out a giggle as I continue, "When he came out he looked as if a truck full of cow dung was poured on him."

Priya spills her drink and covers her mouth.

"Cleaning his glasses Barun said, 'There are so many ponds in the field.'" I mimic Barun's voice when they giggle again.

"And Dev said, 'Oh! You've visited all of them, then.'" I mimic Dev, in which Dev peers at me.

Both of them laugh as I continue to entertain them with my knowledge in awkwardness and Agni leans on the stone behind her. The drink has already started its effects on her as she is giggling like a child and my heart is doing katthak* inside my ribcage and her rose fragrance makes the cold air a bit interesting.

Agni has shared a few of her awkward situations as well as her experience on her writing journey. It wasn't easy as it seems. So many rejections and one time, she had lost all the spirits to continue writing. But she hasn't mentioned anything about divorce. I desperately want to hear, at the same time I don't want to be seemed so desperate.

"So, when will you be going back to New York?" I ask.

"The day after the reception."

It feels like a big stone is just dropped on me from the sky. Reception is just one day away. I have no clue why suddenly my mood turned sour and I don't want to have anymore shots. The smile that has been on my lips throughout our whole conversation, fades away.

We both fell silent.

"Back to writing then?" I say playing with my uninteresting glass.

"Yeah. Back to writing," she whispers as she closes her eyes and her violet locks flatter with the cool breeze. She shivers and wraps her hands around herself while I fight with the urge whether to give her my coat or not. I've seen too many Bollywood movies. Thanks to SRK* and Big B* the obvious action is looking like I'm making a move(which I am, of course). But I don't want her to know that.

Suddenly, a strange noise comes through the buses and interrupts my decision. All of us look at the source and Amit appears, his hair is ruffled and a wide grin on his mouth. However, it doesn't go unnoticed his lips have changed its colour. Behind him, Sneha comes, her slender figure barely managing to stand straight and her lipstick seems faded.

"Let's go to the DJ!" She says enthusiastically almost tripping on the ground however, Amit catches her.

"Yeah! Let's dance!" he says with a renowned vigour like he just got his daily dose of energy. At this moment, I envy him.

"Yeah, let's go!" Dev agrees and stands up, bring along Jatin. Abhishek, Kingshuk and Barun join them and I look at Agni.

"What? Let's go." I say and she nods.

***

'Do ghut mujhe bhi pilade saarabi, dekh fir hota hai kya...'² plays the DJ and we dance like there's no tomorrow. Adrenaline courses through me and the effects of the cocktail stimulates the euphoria two times. As we dance on the DJ floor, my gaze fall on the dragon tattoo. It surely isn't good to gaze at her upper chest but somehow I could no longer avert my eyes. Agni has loosened her long hair which is bouncing with her and the more I see her dancing, the more I can't look away. Her body moves with the beat and unashamedly, I watch her curves dancing through the crowd. I gulp.

Damn it! Look away if you don't want people to find out how pervert you are! I scold myself in my head which I seem to disregard as well.

'Yamma, yamma, ye khubsurat sama... Baas aj ki raat hai zindagi, kaal tum kaha, hum kaha...'³ the song changes and so our dancing patterns. Now, I play the Big B's part and Agni, *Zinnat Aman's. Moving my hips and hands, I turn my head and find Amit and Sneha with an interesting dancing moves. The moves that even Menoka and Urvashi* would think hundred times before learning it.

They are almost intoxicated in their attraction. It is a relief that they are in the middle of the dance floor otherwise, we all will be in trouble.

About half an hour later, I feel my limbs are exhausted and my head aches with the loud music and the neon lights effects are trying to get me blind. My feet stumbles and it is almost hard to stand straight. However, the adrenaline is still on my cells oozing out in excitement to get near Agni. Then our eyes met.

It becomes hotter in just point five seconds as my eyes fell on her parted lips. She is breathing heavily and her pupils are dilated to her irises. My tongue touches my lower lip.

'I am a disco dancer... Zindagi mera gaana... Mai kisi ka diwana... To jhumo to nacho, aao mere sath nacho gao...'⁴ and everyone sings while dancing like mad persons on loose. However, both Agni and I haven't moved a bit. It feels like time has slowed down and my heart beats loudly in my ears. It maybe louder than the song as I'm afraid everyone will hear it. Even Agni...

What's happening?

My feet move forward and the music spin around us pulling away gravity and a frown appears on her face as if she knows what's going to happen.

'Jumma... Jumma... Jumma Jumma de de...' the song blares around us as I near her. Our eyes never leave each other and there is something so alluring about her dark eyes. It's damn addictive...

I gulp when her warm breath fell on my skin and my gaze drops to lips and she says something. The music is too loud to hear anything so I ask, "What?"

She again says but her voice doesn't reach me, "I can't hear you!" I say louder this time.

"Where are you touching?" And darkness surrounds us as her words echo clearly but the fact, it isn't only me who has heard it. The crowd around us have heard it as well.

Damn the power cut of India!

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- Glossary -

Katthak- is refers to one of the major classical dance form found in northern India.

SRK- Shah Rukh Khan or Badshah of Bollywood is an Indian actor.

Big B- Amitabh Bachchan or Big B of Bollywood is an actor from 1980s. He is famous for his dominant roles (as an angry young man) in the films. He even appeared in the movie 'The Great Gatsby'. He has done more than 200 movies and is still appearing. He is currently 77 but still the sexiest man alive. ;)

Zeenat Aman- is an Indian actress and model. She was one of the highest paid actress in 1970s-1980s.

Menaka- Menaka considered one of the beautiful apsaras(celestial fairy) in Indian mythology with intelligence and talant but she desired a family. Indra, a vedic deity sent her to Vishwamitra (one of the most powerful and respected sage) to break his meditation. In which she succeeded but genuinely fell in love with Vishwamitra. (It's a tragedy story)

Urvashi- In Indian mythology, Urvashi was the most beautiful apsara of Indra's celestial court.

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- Songs -

1- Kuch na kaho, Kuch bhi na kaho(1993) - sung by Kumar Shanu and Lata Mangeshkar & composed by R. D. Burman

2- Do ghut mujhe bhi pilade sarabi(1973)- sung by Lata Mangeshkar & composed by R. D. Burman.

3- Yamma Yamma(1980) - Sung and composed by R. D. Barman

4- I am a disco dancer(1982)- Vijay Benedict(singer) & composed by Bapi Lahiri

5- Jooma chumma de de(1990)- sung by Sudesh Bhosale and Kavita Krishnamurthi & composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal

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4th October, 2020