At Eight on Saturday morning Nia and Mahua brought down the shopping bags containing the gifts, the boxes of cookies, pastries and sweets from the apartment, loaded the trunk of the SUV, then drove to home. Nia had invited Mahua's friend Bornali, Mornikornika and her friend Pynsuklin Syiem and also Zubeen Gohain to celebrate little Astha's birthday at her home.
Mahua, Bornali and Zubeen were in Nia's SUV while Pynsuklin and her cousin Nungshi went in Monikarnika's new Hyundai Elantra. Nia let Zubeen drive her car. She allowed herself to float in a dreamy languor sitting comfortably on the front passenger seat, listening to the soft music and the conversation of the others with closed eyes. It was a cool, cloudy day without any rain.
Nia hoped that the next day would be without rain too. Rain would kill the children's joy. Zubeen, Mahua and Bornali were talking about the two girls' preparation for joining the police service. After completing the bachelor's degree both Mahua and Bornali would be sitting in the national level exam. Nia's own contribution to the conversation was only Hmm, Mmm or an okay.
All of a sudden she was mercilessly jolted out of her peaceful languor by the shouting voice of Monikarnika from the other car.
"Let's have a challenge, bro."
'Oh the demoness! All the pleasure from indulging in drowsiness will be blown out through the window in no time.' Nia was unhappy.
Zubeen raised his hand in a mock salute. The next instant he increased the speed of the car. Maybe Monikarnika Sonowal was a true devil behind the steering wheel or perhaps Zubeen was hesitant to drive at high speed on the main street, the other car soon left them far behind. The two girls on the back seat of the SUV wailed in disappointment when he reduced the speed of the car. He only laughed and shook his head.
Nia could not contain herself. The excitement of the two girls was contagious.
"Move over to my seat." She readied herself to take the wheel from Zubeen.
Mahua and Bornali cheered up instantly but Zubeen poured water on the fire of their enthusiasm.
"No," he said to Nia. "I can't jeopardize your safety for momentary thrill. We need to reach home safe."
The three girls kept quiet. Soon Mahua and Bornali started talking about the next day's party. It was going to be a big day for the inhabitants of the shelter which was a home to them. Grandma, mom(Nia's mom was mom to everyone) and sister Nia made certain that they celebrated every joyous occasion.
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Because of the little challenge in the midway, they reached home in less than an hour. When Zubeen parked the SUV in the spacious courtyard in front of the two storey building where Nia's grandma and mom stayed, Mornikornika, Pynsuklin and Nungshi were sitting on the porch with grandma, mom and the children.
Zubeen and Mahua took the bags and boxes inside the house. Nungshi and Bornali helped them in carrying the loads. Later Sarita Mai took the children away to their Saturday art class after Zubeen gave them the candies he had brought. Little Astha refused to go with the other kids and stayed in his arms.
The guests followed the hostesses to the living room. During tea they planned to go out for dinner at a favourite restaurant to give to the guests a taste of the local cuisine. The girls decided to go to a nightclub after dinner. Nia stole a glance at her grandma.
"What? Don't tell me after your mother you are to lecture me about my night with my friends." Grandma caught Nia stealing glances at her whenever she was not looking at the latter.
"Lecture you?" Nia laughed, raising her hands in mock surrender. "I don't dare."
Monikarnika laughed loudly, Nia's mom looked a bit embarrassed by her mother-in-law's accusatory tone, while the rest looked bewildered.
"All that I want to say is that, I missed the great show." Nia teased her grandma. While she winked at the old lady, her mother glared at her.
Grandma humphed and went out with Mahua to the art class of the kids. Monikarnika returned to the town with Pynsuklin and Nungshi. Her parents lived in a big modern Villa in a newly developed residential area for the elites of the town. Mom took Astha with her to the office while Nia showed Bornali to Mahua's room. Zubeen had his own room in the house.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the evening Nia and Zubeen wanted to stay at home to be with grandma and mom. Grandma forced the two out of the house as she knew Mahua and her friend were looking forward to the night out. She saw Mahua working for hours in the kitchen, in the afternoon, baking a big, beautiful cake for the birthday next afternoon, so that she would be free at night.
When they reached the restaurant the other three girls were already sitting at the table. They immediately ordered for the food. Except Nia and Zubeen, the others were more eager to go to the nightclub.
As they waited for the food, Zubeen joked,
"With six beautiful women, the guys here should have been popping with jealousy like the popcorn kernels in a cooker. But it seems they are pitying me instead." He eyed a group of men who were ogling the girls. "Don't bro me here."
As the chorus of laughter subsided a waiter approached with a bottle of red wine.
"Who ordered wine?" Nia asked.
"The gentlemen over there have send it for you ladies." The waiter pointed to the men ogling them.
"Return it." Nia did not bother to look at them.
"But ma'am..." The waiter hesitated.
"We aren't gonna accept it back." One man smiled at the girls facing their table.
Zubeen stood up and took the bottle of wine from the waiter, "Okay." He dismissed the waiter, then slightly bowed to those men and dropped it on the floor. Everyone in the nearby tables were startled. They sat in anticipation of a drama.