Seasons Of Love

#9 : A Sweet Detour

Vicky's POV

🎶🎶

Ah, yeah, ah, yeah

I got this feelin' inside my bones
It goes electric, wavy when I turn it on
All through my city, all through my home
We're flyin' up, no ceilin', when we in our zone

🎶🎶

                Having booked a traveler bus to accommodate all of us, Akhil took the liberty to plug-in his pen drive at the driver's cabin, resulting in music being bombarded all surround the vehicle. He was jumping away mimicking the male dancer's moves of Boney M's Rasputin song.

"The way he is frolicking away, we won't be able to distinguish if we hit a landslide or earthquake. The entire bus is shaking because of him". I snarled at him, who turned a deaf ear to me and was enjoying his audience's applause and encouragement to continue.

"He has a back-up plan for his profession —circus clown". Govind responded whilst making a video of Akhil's dancing talent. "I'll lend him this clip which he can use as his audition tape". He went on to quip while flashing a smirk while standing hovering over his seat. Ria and me where seated across the aisle in the same row and everyone behind us, like back-benchers creating havoc. Thoroughly enjoying the trip from the word go.

In Akhil's words, "We need to compensate each and every minute of our toiling hard work, with double the fun. Only then it's a successful trip."

Ria snapped open a large pack of potato chips and offered it to me with a smile. I replied with a subtle smile, "Thanks!"

In between the crunchy sounds of the chips getting broken, she spoke. "This is so unlike you, to sit quietly in the front, during a trip."

"If I go back, it'll spoil their fun. So I'm good here."

She shook her head in negative while offering me the chips, alternatively after she had taken some. "You?!? And spoil the fun? How's that even possible. Your name should literally mean - 'Life of the party'".

"But it doesn't", scrunching my nose in disgust I said.

She chuckled her heart out. "I still don't get you and your hate for your name? Why do you dislike it so much? You do know your parents named you so aptly. Vikramendra means King of Prowess. In layman's words, great skill at doing something; which you are!!"
She exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Ya, I remember many used to call me Vicky of all trades." I beamed.

She grunted while picking another chip, "You guys like it only if someone praises you in English, when they say the same in your regional language you get offended." She did her famous sarcastic eye-roll, that doesn't stop until her pupils swing like a pendulum for a minimum of two swings.

"It's sounds cooler in a foreign language". I shrugged matter-of-factly.

"Angrezi babu ko Angrezi meam laaoun (Shall I bring an foreigner lady for your foreigner self) ?"

I bit my inner cheek to avoid slipping of what was at the tip of my tongue. Clearing my throat, I diverted back to the earlier topic. "I feel old and won't be able to mingle with them. Moreover, due to my seniority in cadre, they will hesitate and it will be just be like a downpour on their sunny day. So let the kids enjoy."

Stuffing the empty chips packet in a make-shift garbage bag, Ria dug out a pack of ready-made mini samosas. Passing two large packets to Govind between her, to share it with others.