“Impossible! I remember smirking at the paan-waalah last night and wondering how he ended up in such a place,” I explained.
“Salim, my friend, you drank too much last night and you're still in the hangover zone. Happens when you drink after a long interval,” Jigar said in a tone that suggested regret.
“I'm perfectly in my senses. Just tell me one more thing. Running Wateris on Kings Road, right?” I asked.
“Yes, it is but I can bet my backside that's not the place you had visited last night. Too sad, you missed a fantastic setting. Hot chicks in red lingerie, mugs of beer…”
“Jigar, I'll talk to you later. Ammi's calling,” I lied and disconnected before he could further make me doubt my sanity.
“Ammi, what did you do after I left last night?” I asked coming out from my room, hoping that she would not shock me by saying that I had never left the house last night.
“Slept, what else? What time did you come back?” she enquired and I mumbled an incoherent reply before rushing back into the room. I hurriedly put on my clothes and picked up the bike keys lying on the table.
“Where are you going now? Breakfast is ready,” Ammi called out.
“Will be back for lunch,” I shouted back, not waiting for a reply. I rushed down the stairs two at a time, not waiting for the elevator. Zooming the bike towards Kings Road, I found the morning traffic was not much of a deterrent to my confused emotions. I negotiated the bike through corners, jumped two signals, came perilously close to bumping into a stupid urchin running across the road and then I reached the place.
Yet I was sure this was not the place I was at last night. To my left was the club, the dome doors and blue walls shining in the morning glory. The Greek lettering stood out in the regal state of the neighbourhood. I looked to my right and there I could spot three huge towers beyond a high-rise fenced wall. I could make out the busy officer-goers entering the complex in their expensive sedans.
“No,” I shook my head in incredulity. Trying to calm myself down, I started the bike again and took a U-turn from the next signal, searching for something that I was not even sure of. I kept combing the paths to spot something familiar. And then I saw a small-unmade path to my right. I would have avoided it but something about the path seemed vaguely familiar. I recollected the directions Aarusha had guided me as she sat behind while I raced the bike. The deteriorating buildings on the opposite side of the road were a great help in zeroing in on the location. The street did not seem as lonely as it had during the night. A bunch of people were gossiping on the pavement, a few vehicles zoomed past mine and some beggars surrounded me asking for alms as soon as I alighted from the bike. I made my way to where I had seen her go. I considered asking someone around but there weren't too many people in the compound.
There was an old man with a hunch and a flowing beard who was strolling at a leisurely pace. I called out to him and he turned to face me.
“Assalamvalekum, Chacha,” I greeted, seeking some bonding.
“Walaikumassalam, janaab,” he answered, trying to place me.
“Chacha, do you have any idea where a girl called Aarusha stays here?” I asked.
“There must be so many Aarushas here, child. Which one do you seek?” the old man asked.
“Tall, fair, wears shalwar-suits and has a really lovely smile,” I described. The old man stared back blankly. Knowing that would not help, I decided to give him a gist of the events.
“Yesterday night, I dropped her home and I saw her walk toward this colony, may be this building. I am not sure,” I said, pointing towards a three-storied structure that looked on the verge of crashing down any moment.
The old man hobbled uncomfortably and looked away.
“There's no Aarusha there,” he said, his tone changing.
“Look, it's urgent.” I was sure he was hiding something.
“Go home, child. It's not your business being here, poking around,” the old man said.
“No Chacha, I need to know. It's a matter of my sanity. Perhaps much more than that. Please guide me to her house,” I pleaded.
“Very well,” he sighed. “Follow me,” the old man commanded and turned towards the building I had pointed out. We climbed the creaking wooden stairs of the crumbling building and stopped on the third floor.
“That's where she used to stay,” the old man said pointing to the third room from the right at a distance.
“Thank you, Chacha,” I said, registering his action and bent down to kiss his hand. He eyed me in a probing manner and unlocked the door right opposite where we stood. He shut the door on my face, waking my lost self.
Consciously, I knocked where the old man had pointed. The faded mint green coloured door showed some movement after my fourth knock just when I was beginning to get impatient. I came face to face with a woman who seemed to be an older version of Aarusha.