Big City Nights

The day has been total waste so far. Is this what I’ve been waiting for since Monday, a lonely weekend! Requiem for a dream, the fourth movie of the day and suddenly, the mood is sickening sad, the lull is lurking in the air. The anxiety and enthusiasm evident on a typical Friday morning, welcoming the forthcoming weekend after a long grueling week has vanished.

The time at the screen reads 1:30 AM. Deepak doesn’t sleep this early; it should take only five minutes to reach his place at this time. Six bachelors in a three-bedroom flat, what a nightmare, I always thought. But one thing I always knew for sure, these guys know how to have fun. After countless rounds of convincing me to move in with them, even they gave up trying. Is it that I am adamant or I love solitude.

The roads are still wet and the breeze is refreshingly cool, it looks like a bike day. I never liked the confines of a car. “Hey Deepak, wanna go for a ride to MG Road”, I called him. “No man, I’ve some office work to finish”, he replied in his usual laidback tone. “C’mon, don’t be such a spoilsport, its Friday night. Moreover it won’t take more than an hour”, I argued. “I can’t, its very urgent”, pat came the reply. “Screw you, you’re such a wuss”, what’s wrong with these bookworms, I wondered.

The roads are emptier than I expected and the speedometer zooms past ninety. A quick dash followed by a long stretch of relaxed biking and I am in my tranquil dreams. Its time to head back home as it’s already forty-five past two. Suddenly, the engine coughed, cranked and halted to death. My gods must be unhappy with me.

The tank still smelled of fuel in it, the green at the display confirmed the circuits to be working correctly. As I stood there kicking and cursing, a number of cabs ignored my existence, reminding me the true meaning of the word metropolitan. A black pulsar stops and enquires if everything is fine. Have you checked the fuel, asked the man, there is no petrol pump nearby. A receding hairline, fair complexion, medium built, he must be in his late 20s. Yes, I replied.

Do you mind if I try, he asked while parking his bike. “Please”, I offered my bike. A couple of kicks more and the engine came alive with a grunt. “Where do you stay”, he questioned. Oh BTM! I live there only, I’ll drive with you; just in case the bike ditches you again, its very late, he laughed. We chatted about where we work, where we are from, how he got stuck with work in his office till this late and regular stuff while driving back.

Can I have a glass of water, he requested. “Sure, c’mon in, that’s the least I can do for you and thanks for the help”, I replied. So what do you do on weekends, he continued. “Just a couple of movies, a drive sometimes, not much actually”, I said. Give me your number, I’ll call you sometime and we’ll hang out, he offered. Sure, its 9900112233, give me a missed call, I’ll save yours too, I said, while I created a contact in my phone for Aneesh, his name.

It must have an hour since he left when my cell beeped. Who’s sending me a message at this time, I wondered. “I am missing you- Aneesh” read the message. WTF! What is it, my mind was in a state of shock. My phone vibrated to mark the arrival of one more SMS, “I’ve fallen for you, I want to meet you for a hot shower, I can give you a good time”.

Hey man, I am really thankful to you for the help but don’t try to contact me from now on….