It Started with a Friend Request

by Nagarkar, Sudeep

  ‘Hi. My name is…’ shouted the boy, trying his best to tell her his name over the loud music.

  But Aleesha couldn’t hear a word of what he was saying. Plus, the song being played was her favourite Honey Singh number.

  ‘Is this your first time here? I’m quite a regular here and I’ve never seen you before.’

  ‘Dude, this style of flirting and starting a conversation is so ancient. Don’t try it on me,’ Aleesha retorted.

  ‘So you like modern, “Yo-type” guys? Then let me ask you directly—which drink should I get you Miss… May I know your name please? I am…’ He was about to say his name when Aleesha interrupted him.

  For a moment, they both stared each other and didn’t spoke a word. He kept thinking what Aleesha would say. He didn’t want to miss the chance of introducing himself to, who he thought, was the most gorgeous girl present in the disc. Her black sequinned dress was shining in the dim disco lights and her skin glowing like a star. Her eyes had that sparkle which was enough to seduce anyone. He already was. He couldn’t even utter his own name after Aleesha interrupted him. He just kept staring at her. His name was…

  Akash

  ‘Now that’s what’s called a perfect strike!’ Akash exclaimed jumping in the air as he took the lead in the game.

  He needed to strike one more pin to win. Akash was a bowling expert in nine-pins. He had won many times before this and was confident that it would be no different that day.

  Akash approached the lane taking a 15-pound bowling ball in his right hand. Focussed entirely at the pins in front of him, he released the ball carefully. As the ball touched the pins, he held his breath.

  Bang All nine pins went down in one go!

  He had won the game, which meant he had won two entry passes to a disc, and that too on a Saturday night.

  ‘It’s time to check out some hot girls tonight at the disc. It’s going to be one happening night, Aditya. Woohoo!’ Akash’s excitement was at its peak.

  I was equally pepped up and pounced on him in excitement.

  Akash was a Mumbaikar who lived for and with his family. He was working with the RS group, a company located near Oshiwara in Jogeshwari. He had a charming personality and his dimples would make the girls go crazy. His good sense of humour and style always made him a favourite among his friends. Girls especially liked him for he was a very good cook. He was very caring and possessive about his closed ones and extremely polite in nature. Everyone wondered how a guy like him was single. However, the truth was that after his break up six years ago, he had simply decided to concentrate on his career. I was probably his only best friend and he shared everything with me, including the girls whom he fantasized. Akash was a party freak and was all geared up for that night after winning passes to Thrive.

  ‘Aditya, let’s go for a movie. We can go to the disc after 11 pm,’ Akash suggested and I agreed.

  I got into the driving seat of my car and headed towards Infinity Mall.

  We were going to catch the 7.30 pm show of the movie Pyaar Ka Punchnaama.

  Akash took the last row tickets and I followed him inside the theatre. The hall had many vacant seats. Akash eyed the couple sitting in the corner row. The movie began and the opening scene itself was so funny that we were rolling in our seats with laughter.

  ‘Akash, this guy Liquid is so much like you. The way he is cursing his manager is just how you do it,’ I teased Akash and laughed loudly.

  ‘Fuck you, asshole. I don’t curse so much. That too right after drinking tea,’ said Akash trying to defend himself.

  As soon as we settled down in our seats, Akash noticed a young girl sitting cross-legged in the front row. He said, ‘I wish I get a girl like her in real life. She is so hot.’

  I punched him hard on his shoulders and said, ‘Shut up, you asshole.’

  ‘I was kidding yaar. Chuck it. Look at that couple in the corner there. It’s hardly been 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 a BMM course,’ she added further.

  ‘So you are staying here alone?’ He wanted to know more about her. All the while, he kept staring at her. He had clicked and framed an HD quality picture of her in his mind.

  ‘No. I am staying here with my family friend Tamanna. Tamanna Kapoor. She is working in Galaxy house in Mumbai as a manager,’ Aleesha said finishing off her drink.

  In just a few minutes, they exchanged their BBM pins. She had completely taken over Akash’s mind by then. Akash didn’t want to leave the place but had to. Though he had won the challenge, he had lost something to Aleesha. He couldn’t figure out the reason behind the anxiety he had at that time. Was it love at first sight? Akash kept smiling and I didn’t miss a chance to tease him. Before moving out of the disc, Akash turned back and his eyes searched for Aleesha but the place was too crowded to spot her. We soon left the place. What a night it had turned out to be.

  After returning home, still half-drunk, he messaged Aleesha on BBM. Before she could reply, he fell on the bed with a thud and was soon fast asleep.

  Tamanna

  ‘Tammy, do u remember Thakur uncle? His daughter has taken admission in Nielsen College. He was worried about her stay and his concern reminded me of the time when you took up a job in Mumbai. I have told him that she can stay with you. I shall text you her flight details soon,’ said Mr Kapoor, Tamanna’s dad.

  ‘What? Oh dad, I would have looked for someone here. You know I don’t like others intruding my privacy. I mean I wanted a room partner but not a family friend. I wanted someone who would live her life and let me live mine. Now I hope she is not a gossipmonger. I absolutely hate such people. You should have at least asked me once before letting her stay with me.’

  ‘It’s okay, Tammy. She won’t disturb you. She is a sweet girl. Don’t worry too much. I understand your work pressure and all that, but you don’t have to be so stressed for such small issues. Chill, my doll.’

  Tamanna finally gave in to her father’s wishes as she had neither a choice nor the energy to argue any further. Tamanna was of an independent nature and didn’t like to compromise as far as her personal life was concerned. She was an introvert and extremely stubborn. She had a short frame with a dusky complexion but her features were very well-defined. She didn’t talk much and her reserved nature would often let her be misconstrued as snobbish. It was only her closed ones who understood her feelings perfectly. Her sharp features would get highlighted further when she wore spectacles and it would make her look more intellectual. She usually wore pencil skirts and tops with stilettos and a tightly-tied high ponytail which made her look very strict, almost like a school teacher. She was a manager at Galaxy House, an HR firm, and had been working there since the past one year. She lived alone in an apartment in Churchgate.

  Somehow, she convinced herself to let Aleesha into her apartment for her parent’s sake but decided to make some things clear in the first meeting itself, so they each knew where the line had to be drawn. She looked at the clock. It was 8.30 am. She was getting late for office and her cab was waiting below her apartment. She took her bag and rushed out.

  As she reached the work floor, she looked at her teammates. Everyone greeted her and exchanged smiles.

  ‘Deep, come to my desk in fifteen minutes,’ she said in a strict tone.

  Deep was an engineer in Galaxy House and worked under Tamanna’s team. He had recently joined the company and was on probation. So every time he would get called by Tamanna, it would make him anxious. Deep had the added responsibility of looking after his mother and younger sister since he had lost his dad at a very young age. Since his mom too had retired from her job recently, he was the only breadwinner in his family and could not afford to lose his job. Though he had a fulfilling social life with friends and enjoyed weekends with them, he had added responsibility on his shoulders and this job meant a lot to him. He had his priorities set and was very clear about it from the start.

  He went to the washroom to freshen up and then went to Tamanna who was busy signing some papers on her desk.

  ‘Yes ma’am. Any problem?’

  ‘Deep, it’s been two weeks since I asked you for the reports and you still have not submitted them! Why the delay?’ she said without breaking eye contact with Deep, embarrassing him.

  ‘Just give me a couple of hours and it will be done. I was about to submit it today but got held up with some other work,’ he defended himself.

  ‘Okay, cool,’ said Tamanna still staring at him.

  He smiled embarrassingly and managed to leave. He could sense there was something fishy about Tamanna since the day he had met her. But he kept his assumptions to himself and never discussed it with anyone.

  Tamanna turned off her monitor and rested back on her chair. Something was cooking in her mind and it was not the menu for dinner. It was something close to her heart. Due to increasing pressure from higher authorities in office, she had forgotten all about her personal life and had become a workaholic over the years. All this while, she never realized she had drifted apart from her friends and family. She could feel how hollow her life had become. Moreover, her nature of keeping things to herself and not sharing them with others made her feel even more alone. A couple of months ago when she started training Deep and interacting with him, she realized she had developed feelings for him but never told him about it due to her reticent nature. Neither did she discuss it with her colleagues. Her feelings grew stronger with each passing day and she felt like she was suffocating. Suddenly she had developed an urge to touch him and feel him. This urge transformed her from a hard working girl into a desirable animalistic wild lover whenever she was lost in his thoughts.

  Relaxing in her chair, thinking about the last conversation with him, she was picturing his body, his tanned skin so close to her that she could actually feel the heat coming from him. His lips wet and moist pressed against hers, his left hand on her waist and the right hand brushing her hair aside so that he could kiss her hard. Every time she thought about his touch, it sent a shiver down her spine. It would turn her on, thinking of him ripping her clothes apart. She concen
trated hard on how his touch would feel on her body. She crossed her legs as she imagined Deep’s masculine hands removing her top and sliding it up over her head. She even removed one button of her top. Her breathing got heavier and she was about to trace her lips with her index finger when suddenly she got a call on her desk number, which brought her back to the real world.

  She came back to her senses and looked around to see if anyone was observing her. Everyone was busy with the day’s activities. She breathed a sigh of relief. She got a call from the receptionist’s desk telling her that her cab to the airport was ready. She had obtained permission for it a day before. She buttoned her top, went to the washroom to splash water on her face hard enough to pull her back into the real world. It was getting difficult for her to conceal her feelings. She checked her cell phone for the message from her dad giving her Aleesha’s flight details.

  She reached the airport and checked the flight status on the big display screen at the entrance gate.

  Indigo Kolkata to Mumbai Arrived

  She was waiting near the arrival gate and observing everyone carefully. She saw a girl looking around eagerly. Tamanna went up to her and kept her hand on her shoulder.

  ‘Tamanna Kapoor.’

  ‘Hey. I’ve been looking for you. What’s up?’ Aleesha asked smiling.

  Tamanna ignored Aleesha’s greeting and directed her to the waiting car. Within a few minutes, they were on their way to her apartment in Churchgate. After reaching the apartment, Tamanna gave her all the necessary instructions and left for work.

  Once she returned to office, she found the reports on her table. Deep had submitted it before time. She smiled again, maybe because of the thoughts she had few hours back or because she had escaped a humiliating situation.

  A couple of days had passed since Aleesha had shifted to her apartment. She had somehow convinced Tamanna to take her for an outing. It was Saturday evening. Both of them had a ball, spending good time together. Aleesha insisted they go for drinks at a nearby disc. Tamanna gave in to Aleesha’s wishes and decided to take her to ‘Thrive’ in Colaba.