Crazy, Stupid an Engaged

The Engagement was modest. Few relatives and gang of family friends made it look grandeur. Although an arranged marriage, Anjali was happy. She got well acquainted with Akhil’s family. She was always reserved, hardly spoke to any but never had a novice touch in being socially active among the family circles or peers. Akhil was a cool dude. Never had any issues with any, extremely fair and little talkative.

Post engagement, any couple in India are half-married, irrespective of Indian cinema logic where anything can happen. Akhil wants to hang-out with Anjali, of course Anjali too. To know each other and understand well in a typical Indian style where couple try to understand post engagement or marriage.  Being a bit wordy, he proposed the hangout. She replied with a simple ‘okay’. They went to a pub.

Working in a place where parents are nowhere near by always helps in exploring places like pubs. Akhil was non-drinker and he never knew what was Anjali’s stand regarding the drinking issue. Glittering LEDs in a small enclosure rendered a romantic ambience. Anjali hardly spoke retaining her ‘reserved’ image. It was time to order something to kill the time.

“Four shots of vodka” She proclaimed. He was dumbstruck.

“Ne-never tried” stammered Akhil.

“Why not? Nothing wrong in it” replied Anjali.

Everything was blurring all around. Akhil could not comprehend what was happening. His imagination and impression about Anjali turned upside down. He managed with a smile. Gained consciousness from what was happening. She was done with eight shots of Vodka. He just checked his phone on a buzz and retreated back to Anjali. She disappeared.

The dance floor was empty. Anjali initiated the dancing part. Peers all around joined the floor. She yelled and danced to the core and exhausted in no time.

She saw a couple who were probably dating, “Hey, new date? So you left other four” she laughed out loud.

“How was your gay partner” she poked another couple.

She argued with some random guy and others joined the argument and she absconded where the guys who fought had an actual boxing match in no time. Chaos continued to spread all around. Everyone in the pub are in some fight. Romantic ambience turned into ruckus in matter of minutes.

Akhil was successful in flagging her. He literally lifted her out of the pub. Brawl continued to prevail. Anjali stumbled across the lane; he was finding it hard to manage to get her to car. In the meantime, he asked to her to hold the pole and he was lost in giving explanation to the security there. Engine roared, he realized it was of his car. He checked his pocket. Keys were stolen by Anjali.

Anjali grabbed the wheel and car was moving like as if it was drunk. But people around never knew that its driver was drunk. Akhil raced to the car and he managed to jump inside a moving car. Thanks to Anjali who left the windows open. By the time he could adjust himself inside the car, it reached 100 Km/Hour and he tried his best to grab the wheel. She pushed him hard with the strength gained from vodka.

“Give me the wheel Anjali. This is no more a joke” warned Akhil.

“I want to go home” declared Anjali in a simple phrase.

Akhil just realized they were in a one-way lane and were moving opposite traffic.

“Look I am a lady transporter” Anjali accelerated.

Akhil sensed an uneasy feeling with Anjali and guessed that something is wrong with her belly. So she was furious in handling the wheel. He pulled her aside and grabbed the wheel using all his strength gained by hours of work out. He raced to her apartment. Ushered her in and fell asleep on the couch in hall and rest was dealt by her room mates.

Akhil woke up next day on the couch to find Anjali right before him offering him a cup of coffee. She was back to her normal mode. She was cool, calm and composed. They talked for hours but nothing regarding the pub issue. He found her impeccable except with the drinking issue.

On Anjali’s advice Akhil started tasting vodka and turned into a regular drinker.

Akhil discerned alcohol better than Anjali

And they were a happily married.