Part-Time Devdaas... by Rugved Mondkar Read Free Book Online Page B

were given, the fact that she would not be mine would remain constant and that was killing me.
    “Yes,” she said attempting to look through my hostility. “I’ve been thinking about talking to you for a while and...”
    “Thinking for twenty-two days! Is the decision finally made?” I cut her short and took a turn into the by-lanes of her locality.
    “I’m sorry. I should have explained it to you earlier,” she said quietly.
    “Oh please, don’t bother. I’m used to getting jerked by girls like you,” I snapped back.
    “Girls like you? What the fuck is wrong with you” I wanted to smack myself, but it was too late. I was fuming ever since that ill-fated day. I had contemplated the use of all ways – from messaging, to calling, to mailing, even writing a letter to vent out my anguish but the male chauvinist pig who owns point one percent stake in my brain did not permit me.
    Finally I saw a frown on her face that satiated my itch to piss her off.
    There was dead silence on the bike and dogs were barking in the background. I stopped near her building gate.
    She left without saying anything. I started the bike as she entered the gate. Halfway into the building, she walked back.
    “The boyfriend I told you about… he doesn’t exist for me anymore,” she said.
    “Wh…what do you mean?” I asked as my brain only processed the words boyfriend… doesn’t… exist… anymore…
    “Too late, you had your chance to know the details,” she smiled snobbishly and left.
    I stood there experiencing happiness, frustration, confusion and love…all at the same time.
    I tried her number, but it was switched off, so I called Shashank. He cancelled the call. I had to know what was happening. In desperation, I called Neha, but she didn’t answer either. Shashank sent me a message which read ‘Rghu’. I called Raghu.
    “Where are you guys?” I almost yelled.
    “I’m standing outside the car,” he replied.
    “Where is Sachdev?”
    “Inside the car...” he paused “...snogging”
    “Bang the door and pull him out... I’ll meet you guys at Pyaasa.”
    “I’ll try.” He hung up.

    Pyaasa was a round the clock bar opened by Bada Anna in the memory of his younger brother Chota Anna who had died in a car crash. Since its opening thirty-five years ago, Bada Anna’s only motive in life was relieving people of their miseries by getting them drunk. At night Pyaasa had a special management for the customers. The cops stood guard at the gate of the compound making sure no one interrupted Anna’s social service. The three floors of the bar made sure every miserable, unhappy, dejected soul coming to Pyaasa’s doorstep quenched his thirst. Subbu the special ‘captain’ who stood at the door made sure regular patrons got their regular seats on the top two floors which overlooked the lake.
    After waiting for over an hour on my bike, my back began to hurt. I dialled Raghu’s number for the sixth time, but before the call could connect, Shashank’s car pulled up at the gate. The boys along with Neha got down. I was a bit bugged seeing her.
    “How many?” Subbu asked.
    “Four,” I said.
    “Ladies there no?”
    “Yes, Subbu, thirty-four number dena please,” Raghu said.
    The tables from thirty-one to forty were cabins specially meant for guys who brought girls with them, and thirty-four was a secluded cabin with comparatively less noise made by happy high customers who Anna freed from their miseries.
    The waiter escorted us through the service stairs used by hotel staff to the third floor which led to a passage that directly took us to the table discounting Neha of the embarrassment of being X-rayed by drunken eyes. She and Shashank cozied up on the sofa while I slid on the inner side of the sofa facing the floor captain.
    “Will you guys care to tell me what hell is going on?” I said
    “What do you mean? Nothing is on, man.” Shashank said as he adjusted his arm around Neha’s waist.
    “I saw you wink at