Wake up !

<<Beep>> The cell phone gave its faint plea citing an arrival of a message.

Surprisingly, it woke me up !

But, my mind was still lingering in the horizon, it was unwilling to come to full conciousness, the serene beauty of sweet memories which come unannounced, spelled a charm which was irresistable. There I was half awake drowsed in my flickering illusions, in a dark room, lying on a bed.

I had the most sweetest memory of all, my first cycle ride with my kid brother. As I was relishing it, the scene became fainter, and finally it was pushed out by another blissful one. It was so wonderful, I had the best time of my life. As time went by my inner self was regaining lost ground. Lying supine, I tried to swirl my legs to get a better posture, and find my K750i cell phone, in the end I did it after struggling a bit. My mind was trying to recollect the chronolgy of events that occurred today. It was murky in the beginning, but everything streamlined as the annals unfolded before me .

I remembered that I woke up a bit late, and my mother was already steaming ahead with full force in the kitchen to prepare lunch for my brother, who had a gloomy countenance looking at the clock. Unbothered I began doing my daily chores. It was Friday, and I had to do the Pooja. Grudgingly, step by step, I finished my "Home-Work". Finally, it was my turn to get the lunch box from my mom. But as usual, it was not ready."Ma, You are making me go late everyday",I shouted, but to myself I acknowledged that she is doing her best to finish her cooking in time. I have habitually become late for my classes,particularly for the XML classes which was taken by Mr.Prasad, the GNIIT instructor."One minute and its done", she prophesised back from the kitchen.

In the meantime, I had a quick glance at the morning newspaper, Saddam was all over the first page, uninterested I moved to the sports pages. I began reading the Apology rendered by Ponting to the BCCI president. My mom finally appeared from the kitchen with my lunch box. "Eat your lunch fully !", she commanded, and went on to say, "Remember to eat curd rice in the second container". I was nodding my head to each and every instruction, I grabbed my lunch box and rushed to the door saying "Cya". She called me back as I missed my XML book,cell phone and my daily allowance. She has a terrific presence of mind. After recovering *essential commodities*, once again I rushed but before I could disappear from the main door, I said "I will be back late... Amrita called me for a treat !" to my mother who was watching me. I knew that my final minute pleading for permission would work out, I had tried this clever trick quite a number of times to get a favourable answer. There she stood nonplussed and finally reluctantly nodded her head. I heard "Be careful", from my mother as I paced my steps down the street.

I remembered that I reached the NIIT centre in the nick of time before Prasad's class started. But to my surprise, I found that Amrita did not turn up for the class. I thought that my plans for a day out with her was ruined. As I was walking through the verandah with a broken heart. I saw Amrita waiting for me in the reception lobby. "You thought that I had broken my promise, isn't it !", she said rising from her seat. Totally suprised and blown-over, I replied back, "Hey what a surprise !!!". Amrita said, "Buckle up, we gonna rock today ! "." Yeah, Surely we will",I replied back. We almost ran to the auto stand. There Amrita called an auto to MOCHA . I was startled, I have never been to a pub in all my life. But I cant say NO to her. Reluctantly I got into the auto.

Amrita saw me tensed in the auto and giggled. This hurt me and I tried my best to act normal throughout the journey."Dont worry, I know that place, I chose MOCHA because Spencers and Mayajaal are becoming boring lately",said Amrita after sometime. There was definetly truth in her argument. We went to those places umpteen number of times and it was high time we found new ones, but definetly not a pub. The thought of my parents flaying me if they knew that I am going to a pub, sent a chill down my spine. But to continue with the brave face act which I was playing I said,"Its OK,Amrita".

MOCHA was very much alien to me. The dull lighting, the sneering eyes of the bouncers at the gate, who let us in after Amrita showed her CARD, the smell of cocktails and hookahs, and above all the fear of the unknown. Vagaries of thoughts clouded my mind, which rather wanted an azure. She lead me through the bar table an through the partitions that were on the other side. Amrita knew the place quite well, and even spoke a word or two with the bar attenders.

I did not peek into the partitions as we passed through, though I had a great temptational urge to have a look.Finally, Amrita led me to the last partition. There I saw a man sitting on the couch, smoking using his hookah. There was unusal about this person, he was wearing shades, considering the dull lighting prevalent in the pub. But to say the truth, he looked awesome in his shades. He captured my eyes. Amrita took the seat opposite to him and introduced me to him. Rising from his seat, he said, "Hi, I am Ajay", lending his hand for an handshake. After our handshake, I took a seat beside him, as I had to after he showered courtesies upon me.He took of his shades. He looked even smarter than on his shades. He accosted with me freely, and in a matter of minutes, we were on a flow. I was drawn to his style and his demeanor. Amrita who was looking at the menu card in the meantime joined in our conversation.

It was time to place the orders, when the bar attender came to our partition. Both Amrita and Ajay ordered Cocktails and I ordered water melon juice. "Why dont u try Water melon cocktail? It tastes really good",said Ajay. But I was firm,"A juice would be fine for me", I replied back. I had fears of drinking a cocktail in my first visit. Ajay did not fret over my decision but Amrita did. She tried to convince me that a cocktail isn't that bad. Seeing my situation, Ajay did the sensible thing and shifted the topic. Finally our drinks arrived, and I waited for Amrita and Ajay to sip a few gulps. Seeing me hesitant to drink my juice, Amrita started laughing and teasingly asked, "You dont have the guts to drink a juice in a pub,uh?". Ajay started laughing too. I felt I was making a fun of myself and began drinking my juice. The juice tasted really good. I wanted more, the smoke from the hookahs were not noxious anymore, now they had a unique fragrance. I became light, I felt as if I was flying. I felt a strange bliss surrounding me and eventually conquering me.

The memories stopped flowing thereafter ...

<<Beep>> The cell phone received another message. This time my mind was able to free itself from my opiation. Upon opening my eyes, I felt fear ... fear and a lot more of it. There was a strange notion that something really nasty happened to me. I sprang up from the bed and snatched the mobile phone beside me. It showed 17 missed calls and 20 messages."Oh Shit, what happened?", that was running through my mind. My hands were trembling, and there was a great urge filled with guilt and fear to see what was the message ...

It was a message from my classmate Anila and it read, "Anjali, Where are you?"

I was shocked and looked at the dark room in which I was sleeping. No way, it was not my usual bedroom.

Before I could think any further, at the next moment, there was a call and I looked at the screen. It showed, "Home Calling".

"Where am I ?", I said unto myself ...