Part 16
Yeah
I'm gonna take you on a ride tonight, yeah
I'm gonna make you, make you mine tonight, hey
We gonna be dancing till the morning light
Run to your home, baby never let go of it
Baby just wait and see I'll show you all of it
"Ouch! Aman you are stepping on my toe."
"Sorry."
He laid his hand on my waist and pulled me closer. I wondered why he wanted to have slow dance when the fast beats are going on. I pulled back.
"Aman wait for the slow music to start, eh?"
"Right. Sorry. I have just lost my senses in the excitement of seeing you today."
"You have seen me in school before. There is nothing different now."
"The difference is this time you are close to me."
" Really? Which is my favorite actor?"
" Umm...Aamir. Is it?"
"My favorite color?"
" ...pink."
" Given a choice what would I choose a cheesecake or a Big Mac?
" That's tough...cheesecake."
" Hahaa...Aman alas we are yet to get close."
" Well atleast for now I have you dancing close with me."
He twirled me and I almost fell down as an after result of his wacky moves. The crowd near us had begun to take notice of the clumsy couple. Being with him automatically makes you clumsy. I needed a break from his over-eagerness to showcase his not so smooth dance moves.
"...I am feeling thirsty. Aman can you get me a drink?"
" You DRINK???"
" Close your mouth. Why are you getting so shocked? You can expect me to come with you to a disc but girls drinking you can't digest?
" No...it's not that..You seemed such a homely girl to me and well homely Indian girls usually...you know the perception..."
" I don't drink not coz I am a girl. But since I respect my body and keep it free from toxins. So when I get thirsty I drink water."
" You scared me Nupur. Wait I'll get it for you."
"Thanks".
Somehow I hadn't liked his reaction on how he perceived girls to behave. He brought me to this cleavage showing, navel rings flashing pub but had other expectations from a girl who he may choose his wife. You can be good, you can be evil but to be something which you are not- hypocrisy. I loathed this the most.
I followed Aman to the counter to get water when I saw him there with his entourage having a booze party. Isabelle was clinging on to his arms busy in having shots herself. Amidst the rowdy party he stood apart with his face set in stone. His expressionless eyes met mine. I smiled to acknowledge his presence and turned to Aman to move away. The party for me was over.
" Nupur here you go. Water."
" Thanks . Aman it's getting rowdier here. We should go somewhere quiet outside."
" I can't hear you. Say louder."
" We should now go Aman!". I shouted over the deafening vibrations emerging from the beat box.
" What? But I am having so much fun with you here."
" Aman please."
" What? Louder!"
" Get her out of the disc before she finally snaps at you."
It was amazing how I could hear his low cold voice so clearly over the loud music.
" Mayank! Hey dude. Great to see you here."
" Aman common we should leave now'."
" Nupur your friend is there. Let's join him."
" Tsshk...guys look who we have here...lets welcome Aman , Nupur's special friend."
" Hey !!"
" A..ma..an..Aman..where are you from?"
"California. Programmer analyst in Microsoft."
"Wow..but your accent is not American...you don't seem to have spend much time in US."
"Well...I am from India only but currently posted in US."
"It must be a proud feeling Aman to be part of this country now?"
"Absolutely. God knows when India will ever rise above her third world tag."
"Miss Saxena's rigid face shows her displeasure. Can we have the honor to hear her opinion?"
"People are free to find pride in whatever they wish. But it never takes away from where you origin. Unless you take pride in your being expecting others to be proud of you is impossible."
"As always our Ideal Nupur Saxena."
"Baby all this heavy talk is so boring. Come let's dance."
" Bells, we are welcoming our new friend Aman. If we don't Nupur might get angry."
" But Baby..."
" Hey Aman. Me Jake. Have a welcome shot."
"Thanks guys"
" Aman you drink??" now it was my turn to be shocked.
" Sorry dude. We forgot you needed prior-clearance." He guffawed with his cronies.
" Don't be a spoilsport Nupur."
Why was Mayank doing this to me?
" Just two more shots to go before he wins! Go on Aman!"
Aman had gulped down 10 pegs with Mayank leading the cheering from front. My constant pleas to stop Aman were ignored as he continued to take shots egged by the crowd.
' AAahhh..I feely so good baby...just set me free...Darling why are you so far? Don't breaking my poor heart. Come closer baby."
"It's Nupur, Aman."
"Can't hear you my baby...loudy you say!"
Everyone was busy having fun with or rather making fun of Aman. The alcohol was starting to show his effect on him. He was dancing in the middle much to the amusement of Mayank and his group.
Wiping the tears brimming in my eyes I tried for the last time.
" Aman...Aman...please get down. We should leave."
My pleading was useless to the lampooning jerk dancing his way to idiocy.
...
The idiot tears coming out from humiliation didn't want to stop. Trying my best to erase the stains away from my face I ran to my car in the underground parking lot.
" Nupur!"
Where are my damn car keys? My sobbing got louder as I searched frantically for the keys in my purse. Gloss, tissue paper, hairpin, credit card, mascara. Where were the keys?
" Are you alright?"
His voice was closer now. I did not bother to turn around but continued my rampage of the Dior purse. I heard footfalls coming closer. The bag fell from my hands spilling the contents on the ground. I got down on my knees to gather them back.
" Here your cell."
I snatched it from his hand not looking up to his bend face.
" No need for you to help. I can pick up on my own." I managed to say between the sobs.
" Why are you crying ? Nupur?"
The keys were lying near the back tyers of my car. Picking them I got up on my feet to start the car and leave.
"Why are you not talking? Can't you hear me?
My hands shook nervously as I tried to click the button on my key to unlock the car door. The flowing tears formed a misty blockage to my sight.
"Goddamn say something! Why are YOU upset? We were just having some fun with your boyfriend."
" He is Not my boyfriend. "I growled turning around to finally face him.
"He is not. Just my old friend who has come to see me. Please can we let this go?" I begged through my sobs.
"What are those tears for then? Why are you running away?
"How does it matter? Go back to your Belles!"
"What about your Aman?"
"You already have him down!"
"Nupur. Listen to me. Do calm down and come back inside. I said we just had some fun with him. It was our welcoming style. He's so chilled about it. I don't get your problem."
"Each one of you was jeering him! Do you think I am a fool to not notice? You mocked him coz you wanted to show me down, humiliate me!! Go back and enjoy but for heaven's sake leave me to my state."
"Humiliate you...How on earth can you think of this..I can never ever do that to you."
" You just did!"
" No...you are getting me wrong...I never meant you" he blinked.
" You are a very good actor. Try movies but stop pretending in front of me. You enjoyed what you wanted to enjoy. Aman was with me. You got what you want. Can't you spare me now?" I literally wailed as I lost control over by sobs.
" Aren't these tears for him? Sorry I had no idea you feel so much for him."
I stared back at him through my tears in his icy cold hazel eyes. Maybe I had been wrong when I had thought for once maybe's the one who was the closest to understand me.
I turned back to open the car door, I paused gripping the keys tightly in my palms until it hurt.
" He is no match for you."
I craned my neck back for a last glance.
"Aman is the best guy I ever met. "
"You can lie to me. But how do you do it to yourself?"
"Get your hand off the door. It's over Mayank."
He had leaned in closer from behind and thrusted his hand firmly on the car-door blocking it to swing open.
"First listen to me what I have to say."
I tried whisking his hands off the door. His still sinews stood firm.
"Please Nupur. Just once."
This time I tried with full force to pull open the door. It snapped open. He had removed his hand. Next, before I knew a strong pair of hands gripped me from the waist and turned me around. I was pushed back to the metallic frame of the car.
He leaned in removing the inches of separation smashing his lips against mine. My hands went up to his chest to shove him back but it was useless as my limbs turned fluid with his every touch in my mouth. His tongue savored in the taste inside asking for more. I lost the strength to put up any fight as I felt myself melting in his kiss.
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