Chance Encounter ( PriVeer SS) Completed - Page 5

Priyanka Oberoi did not know what was happening to her. She was choking. Her breathing seemed to be out of sync with her heart beat and try as she might to bring the two together, either her heart seemed to race ahead or her breath seemed to come too soon. Focusing on it only made it worse until it felt as if she would never take a breath again. Walking out of the place seemed just as difficult. The room seemed to close in on her one second and the very next it seemed to be more spacious than a golf course. Each step she took seemed like crossing a mountain and she feared that a wrongly placed foot would have her tumbling into those black checked squares that awaited her on the vast floor that could shrink like elastic, imprisoning her forever inside a chequered tile. Priyanka Oberoi was tripping on acid and she didn't know it.

Today on reaching college, she and her friends had found out that due to the death of a faculty member, the college was closed for the day. The news of the death did not make much of a difference to them since they had no idea who this particular professor was. So after a few customary remarks on the 'unfortunate nature' of the incident, some of the students announced that they should go out together instead of heading home. Priyanka was excited at the prospect. Coming from a family that was a bit too protective when it came to her, she didn't get much chance to go out on her own.

Anamika, a friend of hers suggested Jimmy's. It was one of those cool touristy places and soon almost half the class wanted in on the plan. It was only a few blocks away and they decided to leave their cars near the college itself. Everyone knew what a nightmare it could be to find a parking spot anywhere near the Colaba stretch. Fifteen students descended upon the restaurant around 11 in the morning. The place was almost empty. A few tables were occupied by tourists or those unfortunate souls who were trying to recover from last night's hangover by plying themselves with some of Jimmy's beer. Priyanka was loving this expedition. However after sitting around and chatting over pakoras and cold coffee for an hour or so, some of the students decided it was time to leave.

The place was getting more crowded. The air was slowly filling with cigarette smoke and the smell of beer was strong. Priyanka was ready to call it a day and return to the college, find her car and get back home. However, Anamika stopped her. Ever since the start of second year, Anamika had been enamored by Ajay, one of their classmates. However, she never found the courage to actually go up and talk to him. This was a rare opportunity for her to spend some time with him, without it being awkward or embarrassing. So she lingered. And she made Priyanka remain behind for 'moral support'.

Soon there were only nine of them left. As they were chatting, two friends of Sharad, one of their classmate, joined them. These guys were older and those who were in on the secret, welcomed their arrival since they were also known to have 'sources' who could get them good dope. By then Anamika and Ajay had struck up a conversation and seemed to be so engrossed in each other that the world could cease to exist and they wouldn't notice. Priyanka was getting bored. She wanted to leave but agreed to have another drink before leaving. She went to the washroom while the drinks were arriving.

When she returned she found the pineapple juice that she had ordered waiting for her. Ajay and Anamika were still talking to each other in low whispers. So she picked up her drink not noticing the smirks some of the girls and guys at the table passed at each other. She drank her fruit juice not knowing that her drink had been spiked by nothing other than a standard dose of LSD or 'acid' as it was known more commonly.

Quite a few of the others at the table had taken it as well but Priyanka had no clue about this. Ignorant of all this, in their private joy of having discovered a friend in each other, Anamika and Ajay got up and decided to leave together. Looking at Priyanka with pleading eyes, her friend whispered that they were going for a short walk together. Priyanka laughed and said that she'd leave too in a short while.

Pineapple juice being her favourite, it didn't take her long to finish her glass. As she waited to settle her bill before leaving, she felt the world sway. The faces around her seemed to twist out of focus with a sudden lurch and she stifled the feeling down. Thinking it must be some kind of bad reaction to the food, she decided to visit the rest room once more just to wash her face. Some of the other girls also decided to accompany her this time. Like her they too were feeling the effects of the drug. But unlike her, they were prepared for it and so it ended up that she alone ended up having a severe anxiety attack caused by an acid trip as her classmates left the restaurant without her.

At that point, even though it was in broad daylight in one of the busiest parts of the city, Priyanka Oberoi needed a guardian angel more than ever. Unfortunately, as she clutched at the walls for balance and looked up into the face of the police man who only a few days ago had threatened to arrest her brother on a murder charge, she saw the very devil in him.

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