episode 5
twenty minutes since the movie started and they can’t get their hands off each other,’
Akash said laughing.
‘Lagta hai poora paisa wasool karenge,’ we screamed which made the couple more
conscious. Realizing they were being watched, they broke their intimate stance and
adjusted their clothes.
Everyone started making ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ sounds. Poor couple! It looked like they had
had enough of their Pyaar ka Punchnaama.
After the movie ended, we decided to eat maska bhurji paav at Khurshid, a famous
eatery in Vile Parle. We were regulars at that place during weekends. It was not exactly
a restaurant, but more like a roadside stall which was open from late nights until early
morning. We reached the place and as expected, it was buzzing with activity. The tables
were set out in the open and there was a sizeable crowd in line to place an order. We
decided to eat sitting on the bonnet of the car itself.
‘Salim bhai, do bhurji paav,’ ordered Akash and rested himself on the bonnet of the
car.
It was then that I saw a girl with very loud make-up standing at some distance away
from the road.
‘Look at her. These call girls spoil this place…’ I said.
‘Exactly. And don’t call her a call girl. The high society call girls don’t like to be
called ‘call girls’. They are Escorts.’ Akash was completely against the concept of
trading your body for money, though he knew very well that most call girls had a sad
story that pushed them into the flesh trade.
Within a flash, a Mercedes C-class halted in front of her. The man in the back seat
rolled down the window. After a little chat, she sat in the car and left. Eventually, I had
to suffer and listen to Akash’s long speech on ethics, decency, and morality.
‘I agree that all item girls in Bollywood are responsible for girls being treated as sex
objects, but aren’t these escorts equally responsible for it too? They portray themselves
as a sex symbol or a sex toy. You can pay and play with them. And they can roam freely
on the roads trying to catch your attention. Because of this, even a well-educated girl,
when roaming in shorts or skirts, is looked upon with scorn by our society. But girls
need to draw a line somewhere and can’t be so irresponsible. With freedom comes
responsibility. Why is gold kept in lockers? Why do we have wrappers on candies?
That’s because every precious thing should be treasured. But why should I waste my
time talking about this? As if things will change anytime soon. Forget it!’
Finally, we headed to Thrive, Colaba. It was a typical Thrive weekend night. Since
Akash had won free passes, we didn’t have to pay a single penny. The cover charges
were covered in the pass.
‘One flame shot please,’ he ordered at the bar counter. The bartender served it with
his usual smile. I told the waiter to get me the same drink as Akash.
He lit a cigarette and started tapping his feet to the music. The crowd was going
crazy dancing to the rock music being played by the DJ. Akash was losing control of
himself due to the effect of alcohol. But he still ordered a pint of beer.
‘Drink it on the rocks. Finish it in a go,’ I teased Akash.
Akash took this challenge seriously and finished the entire pint in hardly a minute. He
somehow tried to balance himself by holding on to my hands.
‘Don’t challenge me. I can complete any task.’ Akash gave a wicked smile.
‘As if you are a Roadie. If so, do you see that girl in the little black dress? I suppose
she is alone and drunk too. Go ask her name and talk to her for five minutes,’ I again
challenged Akash. This time, it was serious.
Akash couldn’t see her clearly due to the vast distance between them but he could tell
she was extremely beautiful and capable of hitting him hard if he misbehaved with her.
‘Are you crazy? Just look at her. She is one of the prettiest girls I have ever laid eyes
on and am sure everyone in this disc is also checking her out. Man! Just look at her. Isn’t
she perfect? I can’t do this. I can’t go up to her and talk. I want my body in one piece
when I leave this place. If something happens, neither you nor she will save me.
Moreover, I don’t have any more paid holidays left,’ Akash went on and on until I
interrupted him.
‘Loser!’ I said trying to end the long conversation in just one word.
Akash couldn’t take it sitting down now. He took the challenge seriously and started
walking towards the girl.
Though his nervousness escalated with each passing second, he approached her
nevertheless. She was looking even more sexy up-close. He started dancing beside her.
She was too busy dancing to bother about his close proximity to her. Looking at it as the
right opportunity, he tried to break the ice. He was now grooving along with her. She
didn’t oppose, maybe because she was just as drunk as him.
‘Hi. My name is Akash,’ he said in a low tone. She missed hearing it due to the loud
music being played.
He started flirting with her by asking her for a drink.
For a moment, they both stared each other and didn’t speak a word. He kept thinking
what the girl would say. He didn’t want to miss a chance to introduce himself to the most
gorgeous girl in the disc. Her black dress was shining in the dim disco lights and her
skin was glowing.
‘Only if you pay for my drink…which means I get to save on my pocket money. But
don’t try it on me, mister,’ she said and they both started laughing.
‘I’m Akash,’ he said bringing his hand forward for a formal introduction.
‘Aleesha Thakur.’
Akash was mesmerized by her voice and the way she talked. He was lost in her eyes,
which seduced him to an extent that if he had been one more pint down, he would have
kissed her right there. Somehow, he controlled himself. Her touch was enough to floor
him. I was watching the entire act from a corner, which by now had transformed from an
act into an attempt to know her better.
‘You don’t seem to be a Mumbaikar. Where are you from?’ Akash enquired.
‘I am from Kolkata. I am here for my graduation. I just took admission in Mumbai for
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