LA RUMBA POOL PARTY

Chapter 13. The New Year Party

31st December 2019 Tuesday

"Seriously? Dude do we have to stand in this line" Surya shouted out of frustration. Hemanth scratched his head. "How would I know there will be such a big line for Book my show tickets too?"

"We get the tokens only if the guy confirms" Vishal clarified showing the volunteer who was confirming the participants’ tickets.

"Probably" Hemanth retorted absent-mindedly looking at the humongous line.

One among the crowd one shouted "If I had known this waiting, we would have bought here. Why would we book in book my show?"

At the end of the line there was a volunteer of the event who was verifying tickets tiresomely. "Please make a line. I will verify the tickets" But none seemed to comply with his request as everyone crowded around him like mad dogs fighting for a bone.

The volunteer moved to another place.

"What the hell you are doing?" One among the crowd shouted.

"The signals are weak. What shall I do? I am searching out for a right signal." The volunteer said meekly. The crowd cursed indiscreetly.

"Thank God! I didn't volunteer this event" Surya said plainly.

"Don't waste the time" Vishal commanded "Let's join each line"

"Okay brigadier Vishal. I am sending the codes --Book my show tickets --through w******p" Surya said.

"Yes. Captain. Got it. I can die for this country club" Hemanth pledged an oath. "Don't come without it.” Surya shouted and came out from his trance. "Okay. You guys join the lines"

"What will you do?" Hemanth asked.

"Well, I will guide you to the volunteer." Surya told unabashedly. "Not a bad idea" Hemanth nodded. Exchanged looks. Both joined the lines.

But the plan didn’t seem as easy as imagined. The volunteer was moving haphazardly in search of signals and the crowd following like sheep in a herd. “The volunteer A was moving. Catch him near the gate” Surya texted. Vishal complied. “Hemanth, focus on Volunteer B”

"Stand in the line. I will give your tokens" a volunteer pleaded repeatedly. He was like a player in Pac-Man game who was followed by a boisterous mob to devour him as in the game. Soon Surya had him closer so he joined the crowd. He intermittently called Hemanth to confirm whether they got tokens and went inside. It's already 9.30 pm. The expected time was 8 pm. everyone was so pissed off including Surya. He again called Hemanth "Did you go inside?"

"Bro! We don't go inside leaving you. We came together and we enter inside together" Surya felt awe of his statement.

"Yeah. I got the wrist bands man." Hemanth reached Surya and told excitedly showing up the gold colour bands in his hands. "They gave us Gold bands"

"It means unlimited liquor and stuff?!" Surya was surprised forgetting his pledge of abstinence. If he had known what would happen that night, he would have thrown away the gold bands.

They hi fived each other out of happiness.

Vishal joined them with a bewilder look having not known about the reason for their happiness. "Guys! Great news." Both of them riveted their eyes over Vishal "I got 3 Gold wrist bands instead of entry pass" Surya and Hemanth looked at each other out of amusement.

"It means unlimited drinks and stuff" Vishal continued being puzzled at their shocking faces "What happened?"

“Because we already had 3 gold passes." Surya shouted. "OMG! So, we have 6 passes so far? It's a bumper offer"

"Let's call our friends. We shouldn't waste these tickets" Hemanth shouted among the cluttering of the crowd. The music was loud enough that they had to shout for simple conversation. Immediately, the trio were busy calling their friends but most of them were either far away or have other plans.

Surya called his friend Tarun, a north Indian guy. Surya turned off the call and informed others about the coming of his friend.

Later, they tied their bands and went inside. It's crowded area with a stage ahead. There was a magic and dance performances going on. The place was divided into many compartments based on the ticket price. On the right side of the trio there was a wall which separated the people with just entry pass from Gold pass and Platinum pass. The platinum has an added advantage of chairs and tables to sit. There is a VIP section just before the stage.

Surya went for the starters while Hemanth went for drinks. The moment he went all the starters were finished. Hemanth was victorious in bringing two pegs and a beer for Vishal. Finally, they settled near the wall. Vishal had his beer for the first time. They went on drinking one after another. After sometime, Vishal lost in the crowd. There was a batch of people which supplied all the stuff needed. The head of the batch was a lean guy with high cheek bones who was under alcoholic influence thinking as if he was a Don. He had some subordinates. Surya went towards them for cool drink.

"Have it brother! We have enough stuff. Eat and enjoy"

Surya was nonplussed with their generosity. He wondered why such generosity is absent when sober. Surya reached Hemanth and bragged about the cool drink in his hand.

At that instant Vishal appeared in front of them holding a bottle of Vodka in his hands. Surya and Hemanth let their mouth fall wide open.

"How did you get this?"

"I asked for a breezer and he gave this" Vishal told simply.

"You are awesome bro." Hemanth praised him and gave a bear hug.

“Surya also brought a cool drink” told rather sarcastically.

Vishal disappeared one more time and appeared with another Vodka. He was in full exuberance while doing the ‘Mission Impossible’. Eventually they had three vodka bottles with them. Is this jackpot?

The generous lean guy joined them and drank 1/4th of their vodka in one go. Surya joined a bunch of girls to join in dance. Hemanth also took the initiative and joined them but they flew away. Vishal laughed crazily. Everything appeared so clogged for Surya. Hemanth and the lean guy began squabbling over the Vodka and ended up in a tug war.

January 1st 4a.m.

Wednesday

Surya woke up in the car drowsily. Vishal was driving the car. Surya felt the ubiquitous foul smell and it's coming from him! His face contorted. "What happened?" He asked drowsily unable to fathom

“You drank heavily and fell on the floor" Hemanth replied sitting beside Vishal. Surya’s spectacles were broken. His earphones were missing. His socks were wet. But couldn't process all that information.

"OMG! Just for 5 pegs?" said drowsy and again fell into sleep.

Hemanth and Vishal took him inside their 2BHK flat. Surya slept in the hall room over a mat especially arranged for him while everyone else slept in the bedrooms.

Couple of hours later Surya woke up. He saw himself in a miserable condition with puke over all his t shirt. It’s not a dream. Soon, Hemanth crouched beside him.

"What happened last night?" Surya asked innocently.

"I will tell you but remove your clothes. I can't bear the smell" Hemanth blocked his nose with his shirt. Surya complied with him. He removed his shirt and pant, immersed in water with detergent powder. Came back wearing a towel. "Now tell me what happened"

"Yesterday you got too high and lost control"

"Again? Now what happened? Did I post any status on social media?"

"No! But somebody else did for you"

"What!!" Surya shouted terror-stricken.

"After being too high, you went near the gate and hugged the pillar and kissed"

"OH s**t! Embarrassing"

"Later an old man called you by name"

"Old Man! By name? It means he knows me?!"

"Yeah! He was yelling at you but you went near and scolded badly"

"s**t! Is it over?" “Later you recited poems to a girl and flirted."

"I become too creative when I am asleep and... Lost control" Surya said haughtily.

"It's not over yet man! And don't feel proud. You even went on the stage and did dance"

"Seriously?" Surya astounded.

"Yes. And many of them recorded it too" He showed a video in you tube. “Thanks to the guy. You became an overnight celebrity.” Hemanth chuckled. Surya cursed under his breath.

Vishal woke up drowsily and peeked over the conversation. He too joined them, sat over a chair nearby table.

"Later.... you fell upon the stage and...” Vishal sighed heavily. Surya’s mouth left ajar. “Many tried to wake up but you didn't... see" Vishal opened his phone and showed another video. “A moment later you puked and pooled in your puke.”

"Yuck" Surya felt nauseated.

"Even we felt so but it's our responsibility to bring you" Vishal told rubbing his eyes waking from the sleep. "Sorry guys! Seems like I troubled you a lot"

"It is okay yaar. After all you are our friend. As I told you before. We don't go anywhere leaving you" Hemanth assured. Surya became emotional and was about to hug. "Cool! Not now! Bath first."

Both of them repelled.

"By the way what about my friend Tarun who promised to come?"

“He is so weird. He went away before New Year after seeing you puke.

"He might have tired rescuing me and didn't want the trouble again"

"Again?" Hemanth and Vishal asked in unison.

"Yeah! Last new year, I was too drunk and fell in bathroom"

"God!" Vishal asked "You were okay, right?"

"Yeah! It was okay then ... but now...” He was reminded of the song, dance and falling down on the stage. Felt embarrassed. "OMG! My T-shirt. Bye 2019 and Hi 2020?"

"Leave it, as it has no use now. The new year passed" Vishal shrugged.

“Now it is ‘no puke 2019 and puke 2020’” Hemanth chuckled.

Surya sat over the sofa wearing banyan watched the video with obsession. It had already hit 1 lakh views. It became so viral. Surya didn't understand whether to feel happy or sad. While watching keenly he observed a person in the crowd. He immediately paused the video to have a clear picture. As the image was more zoomed, the man in the picture became clearer with huge moustache, grey beard with black hair. Hemanth who was coming that side peeked over him. "I remember he was with the one who you hugged yesterday night."

"OMG! It’s my Professor, Sridhar. Is this the one who I scolded?"

Vishal intervened. “Don’t forget, you flirted with his daughter and was about to hug her. She pushed you away. You were heart broke. Went on dance floor to do a dance on a break up song. Ended up with puke. So dramatic”

Hemanth proceeded “When you fell upon the stage... Someone poured water to wake you up. You woke drowsily and went towards your professor. Wished him happy New Year and hugged him. Later...”

"Later?” Surya asked out of suspense. “Later you were about to hug his daughter but missed and hugged.”

"Hugged? Whom?" Surya’s eyes shone with delight.

"The pillar behind" Hemanth continued "You have a smooch, straddled your legs across it. That’s when your professor yelled at you but you scolded him in return. Later you sprawled on the ground and puked all over there"

"Gross!" Surya kept the video aside and held his head in his hands.

"We lifted you to the car. Slept for a few hours. Vishal drove us back that’s when you woke up at middle in the car"

"I wanted to forget one messed up situation and now landed into another trouble"

"Just relax today. We will sort out these things later"

"Sort out? How shall I even show my face to my Professor?”