Dharm
“Thanks for letting me use your house.” Deepak said when he puts the box of paper plates on the round table.
“No problem, it’s good that once in a while this house sees some party or stuff…” I say while placing pizza order and along with placing coke and beers in fridge.
“No seriously, I really am glad. I wanted to host party at my house, you know. But the last time when I didn’t clean up the after-party mess, my folks were so furious…”
“Yeah, I know that because when I came in the evening to meet you, just to meet you… I got some of that taunting too.” I cut him in mid-way and laughed.
“Yeah, I remember, and I still feel guilty for that.”
“Well, we did clean so we had to face the consequences. Done with the pizzas and cokes and beer cans stock is piled up in the fridge. Is there anything we need to look before you head home for shower? Because dude after I get ready, I won’t help you.”
“Wow, such a good friend you are I must say.” He said with a sarcastic smile.
“Yeah, damn I am. Because I am letting you use my house.”
“Yeah, you are.” Now his smile changed; a pure and innocent smile.
He took his coat from the hanger, and was just wearing it when I asked him,
“Hey, are you sure we don’t need anything more?”
“No, I am sure about it. See, even though it’s my birthday I am using this as a way of gathering all of our batch mates. I came to know that some are around already so it will be a good way to get back and know each other.”
“Yeah, but there shouldn’t be anything less…”
“There isn’t. See it this way, when people will see each other’s face, they will forget about food and stuff and will go on keep talking. And in the mean while my birthday would also be celebrated.” He cut me this time.
“What about the cake?”
“I took care of it. Now go shower.” He said and left the house.
I sigh in relief and calmness. It’s really been a while since this house saw an occasion. I looked at my watch, its 6:30pm. I better get a shower.
…
Its 7:30pm but my house doorbell keeps on ringing. After 5th time, I didn’t close the door because I didn’t know how many people would be arriving. I kept it open, my house was kind of place for a single or a couple can live easily. My apartment has two bedrooms, one I use it as spare one which can be used if I have a company which I usually don’t. When you open the door, there’s a small area in which the left side have a shoe rack and when you cover that area take a left, there’s a hall which can easily accommodate fifteen to twenty people, front of the hall ends with balcony, left side is occupied by two bedrooms and the right side with kitchen. My hall consists of a sofa, a table and a TV.
I know some of the people who came and I started chit-chatting with them. The others, I don’t know them. Some maybe spouses of the others or maybe the friends of Deepak. He is a very social man. His friend circle is like spider’s web and he is like the centre of it. Knowing everyone and binding them together. Some of my classmates were also here and I started talking with them. Time flew by, and it was 9 already and Deepak was still wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
“Hey everyone…” Deepak said with a cheering voice.
We all clapped and cheered for him. Those who were near to him, hugged him and then he made his way to me. He was beaming at me with a huge smile.
“Looks like the birthday boy is going to get good gifts this birthday…”
“I may, it’s my birthday and Sunakshi can’t say no to me.”
“Wait, what are you planning?” I said with a half-crocked smile. He instantly knew I was talking in double meaning.
“Nothing like that; maybe that too but today I will be doing what I wanted to do for I don’t know how long”
“Wait I know now.” There’s one thing he really wanted to do with Sunakshi.
“Yeah baby, today the whole night, means after the party me and Sunakshi will go for night drive on my bike.”
I knew it. He really wanted that. Even though they used to spend a lot of time together, she used to always bail on night plans with Deepak. He once saw in a movie how the hero takes the heroine for a whole night ride and how many romantic moments they share with each other. I still remember that, when the movie ended, he turned to me and said, “I want to do that.” “What? With whom? Me? No thanks” “Not with you dude, with Sunakshi” “Ahh… will she agree?” “I will make her.” And now since it’s his birthday, of course she won’t say no to him.
/* By the way, Sunakshi is Deepak’s girlfriend */
While I was in the nostalgia, I didn’t know he had climbed the chair and started the announcing like a commentator.
“Good evening everyone.”
And everybody got silent.
“Well good evening to everyone again. It’s me Deepak, the birthday boy”
The whole room clapped, cheering him.
“Thanks for being here. Well, another reason for celebrating my birthday was that I came to know that some of our batch mates are in the town so I thought it would be better if I am able to bring all of you together. So, thanks for coming here on short notice.”
Everyone clapped again, agreeing with him. When I turned around, the whole room was filled with smiles. Deepak had his way of making everyone smile.
“The pizzas are on the table, cokes and beers your choice by the way, are in the fridge. But I insist, those who came by their own vehicle to not to drink beer. To be on the safe side, it’s a humble request. And now amigos, lets party.”
“And he’s mine” A pretty girl came to the room. Wearing pink suit-salwar and her hair done straight. Deepak came down, tugged her from the side and said,
“And everyone, this is my girlfriend Sunakshi.”
“Happy birthday janab(gentleman).” She says.
“Thank you motarma(lady).” He took her hand and kissed it.
“So, guys don’t waste your time, enjoy the party and go into nostalgia.” Deepak said to crowd.
Everyone clapped again and then started to talk to with each other. Deepak saw towards the man who was standing alone near the balcony, waved at him and he turned towards the fridge. The guy did wave back. Deepak went to him with a beer and coke in his hand.
“I can’t believe Deepak invited him.” Sunakshi said.
“Is that a bad thing? Do you know him?”
“No, it isn’t. You don’t know him? He is the son of the man who just passed away.”
“Ah, the book shop owner’s son?”
“Yeah” the time we were conversing with each other, we came to the fridge. And Sunakshi took two beers out and handed one to me.
“Aren’t you and Deepak going for a night long drive?”
“Yes, we are and mostly he is driving. So, I can drink. I may drive while coming back, by then the effect of beer won’t be there.” She said while holding her can high for me to cheers.
“Good point” I cheers with her.
“I heard he had to drop out of college.”
“Why?”
“Financial problem as much as I know.”
“Figured.” I took another gulp. From where I was watching, Deepak and that guy were having like a great conversation, they were sipping their respective drinks, laughing. The guy was wearing a white T-shirt and a dark blue jacket on it. With black jeans, he was looking really attractive.
“How does Deepak know him?” I asked Sunakshi.
“They both went to the same school.”
“I went to the same school with Deepak.”
“a=b, b=c so a=c. Means, you two went to the same school too.”
“So why don’t I remember this guy?” I am sensing his face to be familiar but I am not able to recognize.
“He was kinda sigh kid till school ended. So, he didn’t have many friends. And you know Deepak, he is everyone’s friend so they both got along. Actually, pretty good, I must say. I have talked to him twice or thrice before and he’s good guy.
And then Deepak came,
“So, what you guys are talking about?”
“About you and Neel.”
Oh, so his name is Neel. I like it. I turn my face to the same spot where Deepak and Neel were having conversation. By now he has turned himself and was facing outside balcony.
“Guys, I think I will go and give him a company.”
“Yeah, please. I don’t want him to be alone.” Deepak said.
I went in balcony and stood next to him. He was facing outside the balcony, leaning on the railing so I changed my posture. I took the support of the railing on my back, facing the party scene. I turned to him, rose my beer can and spoke
“Dharm.”
He turned his face, “Neel.” He said while holding his beer a little high and he cheers with me. He took a gulp but was still facing outside. In the quick time I glanced myself. Red-black check shirt, army green trousers, white shoes, everything is perfect.
“Can I ask you something?” he said.
“Yes”
“As far as I remember this isn’t Deepak’s house. I have been to his.”
“Yes, this isn’t Deepak’s house because its mine.”
He took another sip. So, did I.
“I came to know that you and Deepak went to the same school. I did too so why don’t I remember you?”
“How can a popular kid remember a shy and unpopular kid?” he laughed and took another sip. The laugh wasn’t a mocking one, but the one to show what said was right.
“So, you are saying you know me?”
“You are Dharm, from commerce’s batch. You weren’t that good in studies but were still popular in school. Maybe because you had a fight with Josh from science, and that whole thing became breaking news of the school.”
Well, he was damn accurate. The fight was a big reason my name spread in the school. But I did fight for a valid reason, but still…
“Even though you were with the right cause of the fight, both of you were suspended from school for a week.”
Well, he remembers things quietly good. I took another sip.
“So, tell me about yourself.” I asked him.
“Neel’s here from science batch. Shy kid I was as everyone uses this word to describe me first. I went to college for around two and have to drop out because of the sudden demises of my father.”
“I am sorry.” I raised the can, and we cheered again. He took a sip and continued.
“Don’t be. Well now I am handling whatever the rest is left. If you don’t mind, can we change the topic? I came here to get out of my miserable life and I don’t want to talk about it now.” He smiled which churned my in different way.
“Ok, then let us talk about something else then.”
…
Time flew by and it was 11:59:50pm. We all were counting in loud voice,
“10, 9… 1, 0. Happy birthday Deepak.” We all choired in a single tone. Some were clapping, some were laughing and some even burst some balloons too.
The party lasted for another hour and then everybody started to leave. Deepak and Sunakshi left too for their night ride. When I was throwing the paper plates in the dustbin, I saw that the balcony door is still opened. And when I approached to close it, I saw Neel sitting on slanted chair, holding his beer can attach to his head.
“Deep in thoughts?” I asked him. He startled, rose from his seat. He was blinking his eyes but it wasn’t due to he slept. He was somewhere lost and didn’t know when the time passed.
“What time is it?”
“Its 10 minutes to 1.”
“Shit, I didn’t realize how quickly the time passed.”
“You didn’t realize? How long were you here?”
“From the time I entered the party.”
“So, you just stood outside?”
“Yeah, I did. I wasn’t in the mood to mingle.”
“So, you didn’t meet anyone?”
“I did, who came to the balcony to lit their cigarette or thought this place was empty and to make use of it for a quick make out.” He closed his sentence with a quick smile. I laughed a little. He knows when to punch a line.
“I feel sorry for them who wanted to make. You ruined their plan.”
“I didn’t, they came to the wrong place.”
“Ah-huh, you say that.” I gave him a weird expression while nodding my head.
“Do you have anything important tomorrow?”
Well, from where did that came from? But somehow, I was feeling happy about it.
“No, and what are you implying?”
“Actually… never mind, I will leave.”
“No, say now. It almost came to your mouth, let it get outside too.”
“Actually, I don’t want to go home right now. And I thought if you were free, I could use your company.”
“Yeah, that sounds great.” God, his eyes were saying that he meant every word that just uttered from his mouth.
“Do you have anything strong other than beer?”
“Whiskey works?”
“Never tried it but I am in.”
And like that we went to the kitchen.
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