2| Afsana

🪞 Mai samandar, parinda hai yeh ishq re,

Mann maatam, aur zinda hai yeh ishq re🪞

"Chal na, Kavya. Bahot maza aayega, trust me." Kavya heard one of her friends, Dev say.

Come one, Kavya. We'll all enjoy a lot, trust me.

"Yaar tujhe pata hai na party and all kitne risky hai. Ghar wale kabhi permission nahi denge." Kavya tried explaining to them.

Man you know how risky these type of parties can be. I'll never get the permission to attend one from my family.

"Jhooth bolke aaja. Keh dena Radhika ke yahan study session hai." Dev tried convincing her.

Lie to them then. Just say we all have a study session at Radhika's.

There was a farewell party the next day, for the last year students, which consisted Kavya's batch as well, organised by the juniors. Everyone in Kavya's friend circle were going to attend it except for her. She didn't come from a very outgoing and broad-minded family so getting permission for a party which might stretch beyond 12 am was a task, next to impossible.

"Mai aise ghar par jhooth nahi bol sakti, Dev. Maine kabhi usne kuch chupaya nahi hai." Kavya said as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers. The idea of lying to her parents and brother didn't settle well with her.

I cannot lie to my family like that, Dev. I've never kept anything from them ever.

"Aree Kavya zara soch, university ke sab log waah honge, tere saare friends honge, mast gaane bajenge, dance hoga, tasty khana hoga. Aur kya chahiye." Dev tried cajoling her by painting a pretty picture in her mind.

Kavya, look at it like this, everyone from the university will be there, including all of your friends. There will be nice songs being played, we all will dance together, and tasty food will also be served. What else do you need.

"Woh to theek hai lekin mai aise kaise..." Kavya tried explaining her side when Dev cut her off again.

That's all good but how can I...

"Dekh Kavya, tune aur Radhika ne pichle 3 saalon mei koi bhi aise party attend nahi ki hai. Yeh last party hai jo tum as a university student attend kar sakte ho, one last hurrah types. Isse miss mar kar. Meri mane to aaja kal raat." Dev said in a soft tone. He was done cajoling Kavya to join them.

See Kavya, you and Radhika haven't attended a single party since last 3 years. This is the last one which you can attend as a university student, it's gonna be your one last hurrah. Don't miss it this year. Listen to me, attend the party tomorrow night.

"Baat to sahi hai Kavya. Mai apne ghar pe baat kar lungi agar tu haa kahe to." Radhika said in a sad tone as she looked at her best friend.

Something to think about, Kavya. I'll talk to my family if you say yes to attending the party.

"Yaar mai soch ke thodi der mai jawab deti hu." Kavya said.

Friends, I'll think about it and give you an answer in some time.

She was still confused as to what should she do. It didn't feel right to lie to her family but truth be told, she really wanted to attend the party. This was the last chance for her and all of her friends to celebrate as group since after graduation, all of them will disperse.

She was jumbled in her thoughts for the rest of her college day. Once she reached home and freshened up, she gave the idea a good thought.

This is the last party of her college life. The last time she'll get to enjoy with her friends and honestly the last time she'll get any kind of relaxation since her exams are starting soon and once she's done with those, the whole of giving interviews and getting a job will commence. She's not gonna get time to enjoy at all amidst all this.

I'm going.

She decided and gave herself a smile.

.

.

.

"Ye theek lag raha hai?" Kavya asked Radhika as she gave a twirl to her phone. She was currently on video call with her.

Is this looking okay?

"Theek? Bahot khoobsurat lag rahi hai. Jaldi kar aur mere ghar aaja ab." She said as she smiled.

Okay? You look very beautiful. Now hurry up and come at my place.

"5 minute mai nikal rahi hu." She said and disconnected the call.

I'll leave in 5 minutes.

She gave herself a last look in the full-size mirror and smiled to herself. She was wearing a pearly white dress which was chic and classy. Not too revealing and graceful altogether.

After spaying a last spritz of her favourite perfume, she quickly picked up her purse and the bag which consists her overnight essentials and hurried downstairs. She's going to stay the night at Radhika's just how she told her family members she would. All three of them were busy in their own work so none of them saw her leave.

Sitting in the car, she asked her driver to quickly drive her to Radhika's. She dropped a text to her brother that she's off and got a quick thumbs up back from him.

In another 15 minutes, she reached Radhika's. She called her best friend and asked her to come outside. As both the girls saw Kavya's driver leave, they sat in Radhika's car and started moving towards their university.

"Yaar, can you believe hum actually iss party mei jaa rahe hai?" Kavya excitedly said as she turned towards Radhika.

Bro, can you believe we're actually going to this party?

"Haan na. Bahot maze karenge ajj. Nachenge, gaayenge aur mast mast khaane khaayenge." Radhika said and raised her palm in the air.

Yeah of course. We'll enjoy so much today. We're going to dance, sing out loud and eat all the delicious food.

"Yes!" Kavya gave a high-five to her and both the girls beamed at each other.

Shortly they reached their university. Both the girls exited the car and went inside. They spotted their friends and started chatting with them immediately. Loud music was playing over the speakers and people were seen dancing and enjoying amongst themselves. There were multiple food and drinks counters and some fun-fair games were also being played. Kavya and Radhika started clicking lots of pictures and enjoying themselves with their group of friends.

.

.

.

"Kavya bas ek sip aur." A college mate tried giving Kavya another sip of an alcoholic drink.

Kavya, just one more drink.

"Bas karde. Dekh nahi raha uski pehle se kaise halat hai." Radhika immediately stopped the person.

Stop it. Can't you see her condition's already not good.

Kavya was drunk.

Not on purpose but due to her own carelessness. Their friends had sneaked in alcohol and had started mixing it in their drinks. When they offered her a sip, she thought what's the harm in trying one drink and so she did.

One drink, turned into two, turned into three. Before she realised, she was completely wasted now. She had very little control over her conscious let alone her body. Radhika left her for not more than 15 minutes and this was what she had done to herself.

"Kavya, idhar dekh. Kuch khana hai? Ye le paani pe." Radhika handed her a bottle of water after confirming it really is plain water.

Kavya, look here. Do you want to eat something? Here, drink some water.

Radhika had never taken care of a drunk person before so she was herself confused as what to do next.

She made Kavya sit at a sort of secluded table and made her drink lots of water. She also tried feeding her some french fries. Kavya rejected food at first but she force fed her some anyways.

Kavya kept her head on the table as everything around her had started to spin. She was feeling more sick after eating now. She was somehow keeping herself from completely passing out.

"Isse daaru kisne di?" Radhika angrily asked their group of friends.

Who gave alcohol to her?

"Dev ne." A friend said and Radhika slapped Dev on his arm. Dev himself was a bit tipsy so there was no point in arguing with him.

Dev did.

"Kis khushi mei? Aur tum logo ne usse roka bhi nahi peene se?" Radhika turned towards the few members of their group who weren't tipsy or drunk.

Why did he give her alcohol? And why didn't you guys stop her from drinking it?

"Hume pata hi nahi chala ki usne itni kab peeli. Woh jab behki behki baatein karne lagi, hume tab realise hua ki usne kuch zyada hi peeli hai." One of their friend, truthfully said.

None of us realised when she had so much to drink. When she started talking gibberish, it was then that we realised that she had so many drinks.

Inne kuch bhi kehne ka kya faida. Bewakoofi to meri dost ne hi ki hai. Radhika thought to herslef.

What's the point of saying anything to them when my best friend's stupidity is the real culprit here.

Radhika shook her head at her best friend's stupidity and walked back to where she was. Kavya was massaging her temples and groaning in a low voice.

"Kavya, kya ho raha hai?" Radhika kneeled next to her and asked.

Kavya, what's happening to you?

"Mujhe accha nahi lag raha, Radhika. Mujhe ghar jana hai." Kavya said holding her head in her hands.

I dont feel very good, Radhika. I just wanna go home.

Isse aise halat mai apne ghar bhi nahi le jaa sakti. Kya karu? Kise call karu? Krishna ko sacchai pata lagi to hum dono ko maar hi denge. Kya karun? Radhika pondered over what should be done.

I cannot take her to my place in this condition. What should I do? Whom to call? Krishna will kill both of us if he learns the truth. What should I do?

Abhijeet! He will help us for sure. She exclaimed as his name struck her mind. Radhika didn't waste a second in dialing Abhijeet's number.

It was half past 2 in the night when Abhijeet's phone rang. He groggily checked the name on the screen but his eyes widened as he saw Radhika's name flashing on it. He checked the time and got alarmed, sitting on his bed, trying to wake his body up. He picked the call in two rings.

"Hello? Radhika, sab theek to hai? Isse waqt call kiya tume." He spoke into the phone.

Radhika, is eveything alright? You've called at such late hour.

"Nahi na. Kuch bhi theek nahi hai. Aap abhi meri university aa sakte hai? Ek emergency ho gayi hai." Radhika said not wasting any time.

No, nothing's alright at all. Can you please come to my university right now? It's an emergency.

"Iss waqt university mai kya kar rahi ho?" He said as he got out of his bed and walked towards his closet to get dressed.

What are you doing at the university so late?

"Sab batati hu. Aap bas jaldi se jaldi yahan aa jaiye please." Radhika requested.

I'll tell you eveyrthing. Just please come here as fast as you can.

"Bas 2 minute mai nikla mai ghar se." Abhijeet said and cut the call.

I'll leave from my place in 2 minutes.

Radhika carressed Kavya's hair and tried making her drink more water. As she was drinking water and peeing, her condition was gradually getting better as compared to how she was 20 minutes ago.

"Bas thodi der aur. Abhijeet aate hi honge." Radhika whispered and continued caressing her hair.

Just wait for a few more minutes. Abhijeet must be on his way.

Even in her drunk state, the mere mention of Abhijeet's name brought a smile on Kavya's face. Radhika noticed this and shook her head with a small smile gracing her own lips.

Pagal ladki. She thought to herself.

Mad girl.

~ Kavya's dress ~

~ x ~

So, what do you think is gonna happen next? Any guesses?