Part 3 (1/2)

I decided to stay back in Pune for a few days. I needed a change from my hectic life. Rohan and I ended up missing a family function just to hang out together. We needed a reason to skip it anyway, and hanging out together seemed like the best one. So, we decided to chill and enjoy our time together at 'Dhuaa'. The place served one of the best hookahs in the city. It had an amazing ambience and the beautiful rooftop view of the city was utter perfection. We ordered 'Jannat Hookah' that had a special base of vodka and whiskey.

'You want to order starters?' I asked Rohan once our Hookah was served.

'Let's order some Pattaya?'

Pattaya was his favourite dish-a Malaysian dish made by wrapping chicken fried rice in fried egg.

Rohan inhaled the drags of smoke one after the other, excitedly, and felt a little tipsy after sometime because of the alcohol base of the hookah.

'You are acting like a guy who, upon seeing a naked girl after years, pounces on her instantly and climaxes within minutes. You're only human, Rohan, so enjoy the foreplay, the flavour,' I teased s.n.a.t.c.hing the pipe from him.

'I am just bit upset because of Zoya. I'm confused if I should let her go or hold on to her,' he added.

'Let time decide. You don't have to think about it. Nothing's in our hands. Ultimately the person who is meant to be with you will stay and the rest will leave, in their own time,' I said trying to console him.

'I hope the surprise date that I have planned for her changes her decision of moving on.'

'Take it easy, Rohan. I mean, go slow on the hookah. It will be difficult to handle you later,' I joked to lighten up his mood. We soon left for Rohan's house.

Due to the family get together, everyone had gone to our farmhouse in Baner, so there'd be only the two of us in his house at night. I was partially happy about that since I would not have to worry about getting Rohan home so drunk, even though Rohan was having difficulty to walk even a few metres by himself.

Somehow I managed to drag Rohan out of Dhuaa in his intoxicated state. We searched for an auto as we had no other mode of conveyance. His parents had taken the car with them, and he had left his bike at the service centre. I had always hated public transport facilities in Pune and that night was no different. No one was ready to come to NIBM area and with no options left, we started walking to his home. Rohan kept his hands around my shoulder and was walking with my support. Suddenly, a gang of girls on bikes slowed down near us and started pa.s.sing lewd comments.

'Champu, are you both gay?' one of the girls shouted.

I couldn't see their faces as they had scarves covering it-typical Punekar biker style. When I turned towards Rohan, I realized why they were teasing us. Rohan was leaning on my shoulder, and it almost looked like he was kissing me. By the time I s.h.i.+fted Rohan's weight on my other shoulder, an auto stopped beside us. Without telling him where to go, we both sat inside and told the driver to drive straight. The girls disappeared after a few seconds.

'Rohan yaar. You embarra.s.sed me in front of the hot chicks! Behave, you a.s.shole,' I shouted.

'What did I do? I was just resting my head because of the terrible headache I have,' Rohan muttered.

Dammit. Do you realize how hot they were? Your drunkenness has cost me a chance to score with them. They looked so ravis.h.i.+ng in those tiny shorts. We could have...'

I was about to complete my statement when the gang appeared again and started pa.s.sing the same comments. Rohan was again leaning on my shoulder the way a girlfriend leans on her boyfriend.

'You both look like you're made for each other. You can continue romancing. We are not looking at you,' one of them shouted and they all started laughing loudly.

Rohan looked at them but didn't react.

'If they're so interested in our love-life, ask them to join us and we can have a group-some! ' I whispered in Rohan's ears.

Rohan, clearly not in his senses, asked them if they were interested in joining us.

'No, we're not gay like you,' one girl in teeny-tiny shorts replied.

I couldn't control my laughter any longer. I knew they would tease him more and that's why I provoked him to tease them as well. The trick worked and soon the girls left us to our misery. Rohan started insisting I drop him off at his French tutor's house. I tried to calm him down and change his mind, but he kept insisting, saying that he would be back in an hour. I took the house keys from him and dropped him at his tutor's apartment which was not that far from his place. I waited in the auto till Rohan entered her apartment. Once he did, I left.

Her apartment was on the second floor. Rohan rang the bell to her apartment a couple of times.

'Riddhima, it's me, Rohan. Open the door.'

'Coming! Just hold on for a second,' Riddhima shouted from the kitchen.

After completing her education in Pune, Riddhima had chosen to stay in the city that she had grown to love over the years. She taught French in her free time. She was short, with a wheatish complexion and sharp, bright eyes. With her amazing way of speaking and great presence of mind, she could win anyone's heart. She always lived for the moment and believed 'Unplanned moments are always better than planned ones'. Her short hair suited her personality and her perfect curves made her look amazing, no matter what she wore. She had a tattoo on her upper back that give her an edgy look. She was an independent girl who would spend hours wearing makeup. She also loved wearing junk jewellery. She had been teaching Rohan for quite some time now and since they belonged to the same age group, they just clicked. She treated Rohan more as a friend than a student. Somewhere in the corner of her heart, she had developed feelings for Rohan despite knowing that he loved Zoya. However, she kept her hopes up as she was also aware of the complications in Rohan and Zoya's relations.h.i.+p.

'Rohan, what are you doing here so late?' she asked.

'Nothing. I have a terrible headache.'

Rohan was so drunk that he almost lost his balance. Riddhima helped him sit on the sofa.

'Are you drunk?' she asked just to confirm.

'No. I tried hookah with a liquor base. I am feeling a little tipsy, that's all. I am really ok,' he answered.

'You said that your cousin Aditya was in town. Where is he now?' She was still confused by Rohan's unexpected visit.

'Yeah, I was with him. He dropped me here and went back home,' Rohan said trying to regain his senses.

'So why aren't you going home? You parents must be worried about you, Rohan,' she said in concern.

'Don't worry, they are not at home. I will go back in a while. I'm meeting Zoya tomorrow,' Rohan stammered.

He rested his head on Riddhima's shoulder and kept repeating Zoya's name as he slowly dozed off to sleep. The closeness made Riddhima feel a bit uncomfortable. She gently put his head down on the sofa while running her fingers through his hair. She felt an urge to hug him back and to continue doing so the entire night. She wished he would utter her name instead of Zoya's, and make love to her, but that clearly wasn't going to happen. Somehow, she managed to keep a check on her emotions. She wished they were dating but knew that he liked someone else. She thought that she was the right one for him.

Sadly, some people are meant to fall in love and even meant to be together, but not as couples. Only as friends.

It 's Hard to Let Go.

'Rohan, your cell has been vibrating since ages. Get up sleepyhead; it's eight in the morning!'

Riddhima screamed holding a cup of coffee in her hand. 'Riddhi...you...I slept here? Oh G.o.d! Aditya must be so worried about me,' Rohan said jumping out of the bed.

He had spent the night at Riddhima's home, unable to recall anything about the previous night.

Riddhima reminded him that he had to meet Zoya. Rohan rushed out of her house without drinking the cup of coffee she had made for him.

I was fast asleep in Rohan's bedroom when he suddenly entered and quickly latched the door behind him.

'What the f.u.c.k? Is this the time to come home? b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you told me that you were dating Zoya, and now here you are, coming back after spending the night at Riddhima's home!' I screamed.

'Shut up, Adi. I will explain everything to you later. And yes, I am still dating Zoya, and I'm going to spend the entire day with her today. Do you have a problem with that?' he said recklessly and hurriedly left to take a shower.

Within minutes, he was dressed. He took his bag and tiptoed to the exit door. I was worried because I knew I'd be the one in trouble. No excuse sounded good enough.

'What am I going to tell your parents? They reached at dawn, so they are fast asleep at the minute,' I said in a hushed tone, afraid the noise would wake up our parents.