And an Empty Bottle Of Rum

What is the reason for our Existence??What are dreams made of??Does Life throws us questions so that we spend our eternity solving to find who we are in this self built Universe?
How long can a person keep running for his dreams..Birth,childhood,Education,youth,job ,marriage are some of the very inevitable life components one can never escape though.Amidst ,these to be fulfilled constraints,people find their cup of tea with a soft redolent haze which cant be held.What all of us  crave for are, some very special moments just like these intangible vapours,escaping our Tea cup with an aura of flavours like love,kindness,empathy,sacrifice,togetherness,share,trust.. giving a very simple start for the day..Some one once asked me..do you really know what  it feels like to have ur first kiss,or the warmth of a hug fixing ur broken heart,the rampant breath  you  hold after completing the race you were running for..to laugh out loud till your frown face disappears.. or just  sit and miss someone …once in a while maybe..definitely once in a while,we need to take a break  and speak to ourself..what’s the feeling  you actually are missing in life and what is it ,at this moment,right now,the quickest wish u want to feel..it could be love ,happiness,faith , richness ..or peaceful hush made by the autumn leaves..or the silence you find in your deepest thoughts..  

            Rithvik,Manish and me are a bunch of the very lazy ,bearded and khaane mei kya hei type of software techies,nested in a 2BHK flat in a most comfortable boulevard. We were literally boring and  never really had anything accomplished/self sorted lifestyle.Days went by being netflixed  to hollywood movies and GOT episodes with these oxymorons . We were 3 different aliens left upon a single planet to meander and grab a bottle of wine before we end the day. Bikers but not the rider kind…kicked in our lazy shorts and raybans with our trendy beards we survived the long and longing weekends.Rithvik is orthodox by nature ,conservative on outside and bloody drunkard inside.He is a topper in grad and loser in life..that is what we tease him.He is the very typical ordinary sanskari guy..the very sharmaji ka beta figure we can dream of ..Manish on the other side is a rich lad from North ,the handsome one with hands on many ...enriched with timely puns.We could hardly find him as he is always surrounded by gals,both he knew and knew not…but he never gets along with one.It is always easy to hangon with him as he always had this strange insight to live the moment..with  a pint of vodka and veronica now and then.He is my cigar buddy ,with always an extra stub saved for me.

            The only time we could sit affixed is onto the seats of theatre..or the sittings which covered the topics from a messy boss to the gorgeous miss..Everything around us went the way for 2 years..simple..consorted trio.It was always Manish or me who would plan drinks during weekdays..but till yesterday..it was Rithvik who got us a casket full of drinks..and was already half drunk.His eyes were red and we knew it was not the beverage..Lately did we know that Rithvik is crying.Did some one pass away or was it related to his career..we thought for a while.There was silence and impatience ,haunting and screaming in the room.The eerie of fear didn’t end till Rithvik could make it to 2 bottles down.It was night 12..and then did we come to know that Rithvik had an emotional breakdown and it was Shreya,her childhood friend.

            Rithvik always dreamt of her in a photo framed with 4 kids , as soon as he topped his +2.She was the only girl he looked and today it was his only heart that was broken..Though his story was kind of the very routine one his suffering seemed new.We thought of giving him time but time could make him only worser.He started losing his self ..going to office was long left behind.I and Manish could no longer hold the silent suicidal act.We booked and packed his luggage to drop him to his home..but Rithvik has already become a loser now, lost to this town in to the dark wild winds of her which were a directionless turmoil.

            Manish and I were more bothered as there was no change in him.Days ,weeks passed…it was almost a month,that day,I returned,quickly ,dropping a watsapp text to Manish ,as I was already panicked for Rithvik not answering my calls..Opening the door,I could find nothing but the thick smoke engulfing the entire room..I coughed loud but shouted louder..My eyes burnt but heart raced till I could find him in the puddle of blood and beer.Manish arrived at the same moment and we rushed to the hospital as fast as one can…Loser for life we thought,again.

            It was after 2 weeks,he returned to us from his hometown..The pale face lacked the fervent smile..he was just living.He coughed in the daylight and cried allnight.He lost his job and wants to start again his futile routine.There was lot of distress ,overflooded sympathy but certainly not the need of hour.Manish and I put a leave of 7 days and handed an envelope to Rithvik,who was completing his last sip of drink ..deluged in the black smoke.It has got the tickets to LA ..for the next night.We have spent our entire savings for this skank..deeply sighed we clinked the emptied glass…Its time to vegas we shouted to the top of our lungs.

            We least cared about Rithvik this time,cos it was our first ever pleasure trip and god those were our bucks…iss saale ka tho pata nai..hum log tho bigadke hi aayenge ..Manish yelled as we packed our bags.We already started characterising ourself into the movies like ZNMD,Queen,Hangover,yeh jawani hei diwani and many such…Excited we trio had purchased the best to make our trip memorable.Sneakers,hoodies,cigars,DSLR and cards are some compulsory assortments..Look we forgot to pack this..handed over a a bag of besan laddoos that Rithvik borught..”Maa! ne sabke liye bheja” ,he said..such was our excitement..we ended the night going triples on our avenger..as the early morning would be a direct take off..we roamed all the streets and smoked the indian galli air to satisfy our lungs..

            We landed in the sin city..boarded in a motel as we thought of spending more outside.In our trip of 5 days,first was the beach..why not..all the lads are looking for Laila ..haha..nothing to our surprise..but we boys could have enuf fun there.As I enjoyed the drinks..Manish could possibly flirt,calling himself opportunistic..Rithvik enjoyed the waves lost soul..In the evening we took a cab and went out as the Night and Lights ,the streets and treats seem much alive then..

Day 2: It’s the Vegas day!My boys woke up early ,as it was the day they have been waiting since we caught the idea.We headed over to the casino in the evening..Hard luck,we lost all the money that made a big shot in the first game..Harami log..we chuckled.
Night,we headed to the Pub,it’s a completely different world..we Indians,no where in our wildest dreams could imagine to what extent things can be sensorised.But,the boys need it…Fun time phattey..night could not be so sensual. .we thought.Girls,blonde,brunettes,strippers of both genders..drinks,weed,drugs..Ah! wild sin city.Rithvik  already sat near the bar counter ..and Manish was flirting with a blonde..Kaminey salon..I kept an eye on Rithvik..shaking legs to the beat,which was tantalising..He is enjoying and I felt good about it.The night went wild and I couldn’t handle the boys.

Manish left for the night,leaving us both to head to the hotel.As we were waitng for a cab..Katie,a blue eyed,tall,blondy and a volumptous teenager approached Rithvik.She was on weed and could hardly recognise her surroundings.Rithvik ,from,nowhere ,started calling her Shreya and hugged her.She suddenly lost her self and fell onto us..She had nothing carried onto her and we had no option to leave her behind as the street was deserted and sounded more gruesome .Approaching the police might be thoughtful ,but what if shez  from an illegal backdrop..we thought for a while and brought her to our room.We offered her Manish’s bed for the night and slept…till 12 p.m that morning.

Hangover costed us badly.We were bankrupt.Manish woke up yelling throwing and searching lie a hungry lost dog in the room.We could easily figure what could have happened..yeah its her..We have lost our money,valuables..but could find our passport safely."Oh my!that bitch",Rithvik shouted on the top of his voice.I have lost my wallet he screamed.Tell us something different,we asked.And my passport in it..he sank down.Doomed.It was with Manish's money , we can manage for a while..as fate already gambled him last night at casino.

Day 3:We searched the streets,Checked few CC footages at the motel so that we could figure out the situation.In the evening we reported to the police with all necessary traces we could manage to fetch us the girl and passport.We were hungry,tired,hungover,angry,sleepy and confused.Rithvik ,at 1130 ,night told us that ,what if we go again to the place ,we might find the girl.But they could hardly recognise her..all blondes look same with cake of makeup on their face,we thought.Still we wanted to try.That night we waited near the streets,hiding ,waiting and watching but couldn’t find the girl with blue eyes.Manish tried his own techniques asking other random women doing the same there.Manish spell worked on finding a gal , of Indian origin,named Chitra but called as Charlie here.She agreed to help us..asking us 100$ at the end of the day..though we had no money we negotiated with her as D Day is approaching..

Day 4: Charlie,took us to a hotel,probably a red light area.Rithvik already starting praying Hanuman Chalisa..and we were gulping down every moment passing by.Never in our wild dreams we thought we could end our vacay in this place.As we were searching in vain,those cursed places..i found some one rushing behind us..There was a strong blow from behind on my head..i could see the girl escaping right threw my eyes..Manish and Rithvik chased her..while Charlie came to my rescue.It took a while for me to relieve to my senses..Me and Charlie rushed to her place and searched her room but could find nothing.Damn..can’t let her go..we thought.Rithvik and Manish ran around her and entered a trap where they were surrounded by a group of vagabonds.Life isnt a film,they thought.Death seemed standing infront of them.Rithvik and Manish told each other their final goodbyes.Rithvik cursed the girl with all the desi language he could remember..finallygaveup and pleaded saying baksh dey behen..passport aur paisa tu hi rakh..bas bakshdeyde..when one fat guy with broken nose pointed a gun at Rithvik.

As the trigger could blow out,in no time,did I and Charlie arrived the place with the cops.There was random firing in the air..my ears bleeded.Rithvik fainted long back and Manish was shouting like a lost child.In about 15 minutes everything was cleared.We were disembarked at our motel.Its been 2 days without food ,water and sleep.We gulped some water and fell asleep.Evening ,we received a call from the inspector regarding the recovery of our essentials.Rithvik and I collected it and returned home.We sat for a while and ordered food and had shower with hot water soothing our tired muscles.We slept like logs that night.

Day 5:That morning I woke up and couldn’t find Rithvik.He was on the terrace staring at the picture of Swetha.I went behind him and told him that everything will be fine,its just a matter of choice ,we take to get back when we fall…its over..the pain is over.Mean while,Manish hopped with coffee.We had our first sunrise on the terrace.Rithvik repeated its over..and said he never felt so alive and we thanked each other as tomorrow will be the end of the trip,planned.I suddenly remembered that we didn’t even thank Charlie or pay her for all the help she had done.She could have got herself arrested ,trying to save us..Manish said.Rithvik called her and invited her to a nearby local restaurant to than her and pay the deal..though it cant be repayed.He forced her to come for friendship sake..That afternoon,we were very much conscious to leave the motel.We all met at a restaurant and were quite shocked and stunned to see Chitra wearing a saree.She looked beautiful,just divinely carved and soul filled in.Her staright long black hair,dangling between her ears and pink cheeks.Her kohl filled  black ,wide eyes were breathtaking.She looked like a bottle of Red wine.

Am I only the one lost in her beauty I thought for a while.We talked a lot,had the best local food.Chitra told that she is a bar singer in that area and could hardly handle Manish’s flirting,that night..she giggled.She didn’t accept the money,atleast she could accept my proposal I thought in my mind.I wish I could drop my passport there and stay listening to the rythms of her guitar,I said..so did I,in no time said Rithvik..Hahaha..we laughed out loud.The whole evening we enjoyed with her,went to a nearby very famous themed park,clicked posed,enjoyed the theatre and said her goodbye as she left to her bar.She took a promise that we shall not leave the bar without listening to her few songs.Her voice was soulful and mesmerising.At night ,we grabbed the bottles and left to the beach ..whole night the trio sang,danced,laughed,cried under the light of the million stars and lost amongst the roaring beaches and silencing eeries.Night never felt so complete as we emptied our bottle of rum..

Day 6 : We had to catch the afternoon flight.So we shopped for a while.Framed few pictures and memories.And then packed our luggage.Rithvik ,Manish and I had the best time together and of course Rithvik turned out to be more the mature man than ever.

Signing off …here we come  India..to kick a crazy start….💪😎😎😎