"Pinky, I cannot believe you've lured me into this. I have an early start tomorrow. A briefing, my first briefing. And I said I'd help my boss become more business minded. Yet just again, like old times, you're dragging me out partying."
"You only live once! Aw come on, think of this as... as a celebration on you holding down this job for longer than I thought."
Geet scoffed. "Thanks for having such faith in me."
"Because this job goes against everything you are & your aims in life."
"Sometimes, things change. Things don't turn out the way we expect them to." She checked herself out in the mirror. "How do I look?" she asked, scrutinising the knee length black dress she was in.
"Drop dead gorgeous. You'll get plenty of numbers tonight." Pinky winked at her through the mirror, before putting bangle around her wrist.
"Ugh, please. Men are the last thing on my mind."
__________________________________________
It was 10pm, & Maan had spent more time working on tomorrow's briefing than he could ever recall working altogether in his entire life.
He dropped onto the bed, glancing at his phone, then sighed tiredly. Manish had already finished his half of the work, eaten & gone to bed, leaving his son to finish up the rest. Maan had agreed, not realising the amount of the workload he had signed himself up for.
"I'm bored of this," he muttered, & got up to grab something to eat when his phone beeped with a text.
He read it once, grinned, then grabbed his keys & jacket & crept out of the door.
__________________________________________
"How do you know about this place?" Geet asked, as she stepped inside the lavish bar with Pinky.
"I've got an old school friend who works here."
"Really? Is he working tonight?"
Pinky glanced towards the bar, & grinned. "Yes he is, come on, I'll introduce you to him."
They walked up to meet a handsome man of mid 20s, who had a cloth over one shoulder & a toothpick in his mouth, wiping down some glasses.
"Chulbul! This is my friend & housemate Geet I was telling you about."
Geet smiled warmly, extending a hand. "Hey, nice to meet you. Geet Handa."
"Chulbul Pandey."
"Chulbul what?"
__________________________________________
"Stop right here."
Nakul stopped the car. Maan reached in his pocket for a wad of bills. "That's your tip & hush money. Dad or Dadima can't know about this. If they ask, I'm asleep. I'll call you when I need you to pick me up. Understood?"
"Perfectly, sir."
"Good."
Maan stepped out of the Mercedes & it smoothly pulled away. He spotted a familiar face & smirked instantly as he approached him.
"Well well, if it isn't Yash Singhania."
"Maan Singh Khurana."
They greeted with a hug & friendly sparring. "Long time no see, buddy. Thought you'd settled down."
Maan scoffed. "Me, & settle down?"
"That's the old Maan I know & love. How about we hit the bars, relive the old days?"
Geet's words instantly flashed to Maan's mind, about how she'd advised him to leave the old days behind. But a few drinks wouldn't hurt. And he had worked hard all evening, he needed some time to relax & unwind.
"Why the hell not? Let's go."
__________________________________________
Geet & Pinky sat into one of the seats, out of line from Chulbul's eye, & only then did Geet allow herself to erupt into laughter.
"Chulbul Pandey?! That is hilarious."
Pinky giggled. "It wasn't even a funny name until Dabangg came out. After that, poor Pandey became the butt of everyone's jokes."
"I guess it's ok if you've known him from before, but meeting him for the first time & he comes out with that name..." She sighed, composing herself. "I was trying so hard to be serious as he told me about himself."
"I know, I could see you pinching your skin to stop yourself from laughing."
"Do you think he noticed?"
There was a moment's silence between them as they contemplated the answer, then they broke out into laughter once more. Geet sipped her drink, convincing herself one or two would do no harm & she'd be fine in the morning.
__________________________________________
The clock struck 12, & Maan & Yash staggered into their last bar of the night. Yash had wanted to continue partying, but they were both already too drunk & Maan kept reminding Yash & himself he had an early start, although he desperately wished he didn't.
"Keep a round of shots coming," Yash slurred as he pulled his wallet out.
"Not for me, I'll have... like, maybe one then I really have to be heading off..."
The dancefloor was packed with people enjoying a bhangra tune, & Yash's eyes wandered off across the floor until he settled on one girl & smiled.
"That one," he said, pointing her out to Maan. "She's beautiful, and damn, she can dance."
"Who?" Maan asked, rubbing his eye. His drunkness wasn't helping him to focus.
"The one in the knee length black dress, brown curly hair... endless legs."
Maan's eyes widened as his gaze fell on her & he realised just who Yash was on about. Geet was in the middle of the floor, holding hands with Pinky, who had their back to them as she giggled & danced merrily away, enjoying the intoxication of the one too many drinks she'd had.
As if sensing someone's eyes on her, Geet looked around her then her eyes landed past Pinky's shoulder & straight ahead at the person who was intently staring at her. She stopped dancing straightaway, confused & shocked. How much had she had to drink? Was she imagining him? She blinked a few times, wondering & hoping that he was a mirage but the realisation hit home that it was Maan. Definitely Maan, who looked as drunk as she was.
Chapter 9 - In The Same Boat - Page 29
Cricket
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
