Red lights flashed on a poorly made excuse of a dance floor while the TV had on an old cricket match that seemed to attract the single lonely men who had nothing better to do.
Sipping chilled lemonade while her friends nearly inhaled alcohol like air, Jayapriya seemed lost in thought and was tuned out of the conversation.
"Jp has plans to go to Mumbai! I think you gonna hike?" A very inebriated shrug laughed and got up to get a refill at the bar where a very busy bartender juggled drinks.
Jp simply smiled at the mocking while the other two girls continued to giggle. She waited for Dhruv to return before deciding to speak
"Actually I wanted to talk to you guys" the solemn tone attracted the attention of the others.
"Well, I only Need 7000 for the plane ticket, and maybe another 20,000 to rent a house... And I knew you guys would help me. I mean you're all working. I told my dad that I would take a loan from all of you and pay it off when I have money later on. " shrugging, she emptied her glass in a gulp and looked at them.
"Are you serious ?" Charu asked, breaking the silence that had blanketed the group. Her smile faltered as she realized that she was in fact serious. Having been friends with her since high school, she had had many glimpses of the tone of self centeredness that underlined most things she did, however this level of demand was new even to her.
"J...Jayapriya. A house requires a lot of money! Plus dishes, food, a stove or induction, clothes, your fees, books, the auto and you would have to take a train to save money. How would you get that much money as a loan?" She asked
Jp looked at all of them "I thought that was your job?" a hurt expression crossed her face , "You said you would take care of me!"
"We are taking care of you! You have a place to stay and food with us but nothing more . My mother would kill me" Dhana shook her head, anger flaring through her.
"So you're not taking care of me then?" Jp chuckled, her lips twitching in anger.
"We barely have money for ourselves " Dhruv slurred, laughing mostly to himself.
"didn't you and Dhruv just get a loan Dhana ?" She spat, angrily wiping away a stray tear.
"yes...for our wedding Jp. Were you...wow, you seriously thought I would give you my marriage loan? You're something else. I'm done. Charu. thanks for calling me." She got up and walked away with a stumbling Dhruv in tow. Had her parents not known Jp's parents, she wouldn't even be associated with her.
Charu looked at Jp who furiously blinked back tears "you didn't ...mean that right?" She asked with a small flicker of hope.
"Me? shouldn't you ask her that? Selfish prick. All I needed was a loan. I would have paid it back ... Its like loose change for her anyway! Take me home Charu. I want to go to bed" Jp looked away.
Charu shook her head and went to pay the bill. She blamed the parents, had they disciplined her as a child others wouldn't have had to do it now.
They walked out of the club and went to Charu's home where Jp had to stay. She had left home on a deal she had made with her father, he wasn't willing to fund her dream of being a fashion designer and had given her an ultimatum; if she was to do fashion designing in Mumbai, she would have to do it on her own.
Crashing into her bed, she pulled the covers over her head , attempting to stifle soft sobs, Come morning she would figure out how to go to Mumbai all by herself!
---------