Tokyo Dozen: AR FF: Pg 8 Update 28/June - Page 3

Day 1, Evening: Getting drunk on soft drinks - a vending machine love story

"Come on Anjie, you are clearly overreacting. So what if the taxi driver had to drive just extra couple of blocks?" Riddhima tried to pacify her sister whose clenched teeth scrunched up her nose giving her a wonderful vamp look. Riddhima noted but didn't bother telling her.

"Just a couple of blocks? Are you kidding me Ridzy? Your instructions to the driver were so off the map that we ended up in different city and one hour away from Tokyo", Anjali replied clearly miffed.

"Riddhima, I thought you know Japanese?" Armaan asked.

As it turned out Armaan was also traveling to Tokyo to attend the same conference/seminar thing which could only happen in a movie. They had decided to share the cab back to the hotel given how expensive cab rides were.

"Of course I know Japanese. I have been watching Anime for years", she replied in nonchalance. Armaan stood there slack jawed. When she said she knew Japanese, he thought she took lessons; as in a very real human teaching language face to face. No wonder she had screwed up the entire conversation with the taxi driver.

"You coming or are you going to gawk at me like a pervert for rest of the evening?" Riddhima thumped his backpack on his chest and walked away. Before he could deliver an awesome comeback, she was already inside the hotel restarting using of her very wrong Japanese on a poor receptionist. He sighed. It was going to be a very long trip.

--------

"Hey cupcake!"

"Hey muffin!"

A young couple, who were also attending seminar, coo-chi-cooed.

All the participants of the seminar were welcomed with a dinner which had had Anjali in high spirits, Armaan appreciating pretty faces and Riddhima generally bored. Atul, who happened to be Armaan's old friend, had joined them for dinner.

"Why do people call use words like 'cupcake' or 'honey' or 'muffin' all the time?" Riddhima asked taking a break from drinking Sake (Japanese local alcoholic drink; literally means rice wine). It was on her agenda to try as much of Japanese cuisine as possible and involve in Japanese culture. What better way to start than opening a bottle of drink?

"Because those words sound cute and are literally sweet?" Armaan tried to rationalize.

"You know Armaan I think I would call my better half - a "Vada Paav" or "Bread Pakoda" or "Grilled Cheese Sandwich". Doesn't calling your loved one by your favorite dish even more romantic?" Riddhima asked seriously, bringing her alcohol consumption dangerously close to any perpetual Irish pub dweller.

"Anjali, I think you should ask Riddhima to stop drinking. She is sprouting nonsense. It's not that she doesn't sprout nonsense otherwise, but now its plain idiotic." Armaan said.

"She isn't drunk Armaan nor is she joking. She called her old boyfriend as "Onion Rings" or something equally lame. At first it was cute. And then it became a huge joke amongst his friends. He dumped her in four days", Anjali sniggered as she explained about her queer younger sister.

"Speaking of Riddhima, where the hell did she go? She was here few moments before." Armaan looked around the dimly lit hall which had morphed into a cool night joint.

"She is little drunk. Its best we find her and lock her in the hotel room." Anjali started moving around the crowed. She giggled like a twelve year old when Atul also offered to help look for Riddhima.

"Do I have to come? It would be quite entertaining if we leave her alone and she acts like an absolutely sloshed loser", Armaan smirked. Anjali whacked him on his head. He put up his hand in surrender.

It was Atul who found Riddhima first. He came running looking for Anjali or Armaan or both. He knew that he couldn't handle Riddhima alone.

"I found her guys. She is in lobby in front of a vending machine." He gushed hurriedly.

"That's it? And here I thought she was stripping and pole dancing or something equally adult-ish by looking at your overtly excited face", Armaan was sincerely disappointed.

"Armaan, her being in front of a vending machine is worse than anything that you just mentioned", Anjali replied.

"Riddhima first saw vending machines when dad took us on a trip to Europe. Vending machines aren't common in India and back then, it was even more so. She loved how everything her little heart desired, the vending machines gave her that. Since she couldn't reach the slot, my dad always inserted coins and she never knew that those things actually take money. After finishing vacation, she cried the whole way back home missing her vending machines", Anjali smiled at the fond memory. Riddhima's love for vending machines had still not died, as it seemed now.

"Dear God! Where is a camera when I need one? This is the perfect blackmail material! EVER!" Armaan whispered to Atul in excited tone.

"Hey! I heard that! That's my sister you are talking about bozo!" Anjali whacked his head. Again. He wondered if Anjali swung towards the kinky side.

"You know Anjali, if you leave her alone for few more minutes, she will probably start making love to that vending machine", Armaan giggled like a girl.

"Ewww...thanks for that mental picture Armaan." Anjali sneered.

"Yeah! Isn't it great?" He smiled brilliantly.

"Help me haul her ass back to the room Armaan. Else I will stuff you into that vending machine myself."

"Aye aye", he replied and dragged a teary eyed Riddhima who was violently separated from her darling vending machine.

"I have had only sixteen different flavors of juices from that machine Armaan, I still have twelve more to go. Unhand me you brute and let me accomplish my mission." Riddhima tried getting out of Armaan's strong hold. Anjali sighed.

They had a sugar high Riddhima on their hands. And that was worse than a drunken Riddhima.

To Be Continued