Aradhana Sehgal
"Behenchod!"
Is the first thing I say as I slam my phone screen half-asleep and repeatedly, trying to blindly turn the alarm off that I've snoozed five times now, every five minutes.
I get up with a groan and turn it off properly before slamming my head back into the pillow, the bed smelling like hotel detergent as the AC chills outside my warm, soft comforter, luring me back for just a bit longer.
Mujhe insaan nahi bhaalu paida hona chahiye tha, aaram se hibernate karti.
I stay in bed for about five more minutes before I finally sit up, wrapping myself in the comforter and stretching my legs and neck, getting out of bed to get ready for the day.
About twenty minutes later of cleaning up and planning my appearance, I shower and head out for breakfast that I'll surely miss if I take any more time.
I move quickly towards the dining hall that has a consistent amount of people coming out of, entering to thankfully see the food still being served around as I pick a plate and start filling it with my likes.
"Oye Aradhana!" I turn around mid-bite with a full mouth as Nishtha sitting with everyone signals me to 'come over'.
I smile and go greet them before sitting down and eating with everyone, contributing to conversations occasionally.
"What will you wear for the masquerade?" Jheel asks me, the hall much quieter and empty now given most people had left already. I guess we were all latecomers courtesy to our 'jaagran'.
"Abhi tak maine options nahi dekhe, koi suggestions?" I speak and immediately recieve Jheel forwarding me the card of the cruise displaying all the different rentable options and sizes.
"Shit these are so bougie"
"Haina! I lovee the third blue one" Nishtha said and I couldn't agree more, they were all such pretty options.
I took the card from Jheel with me and headed back to my room, missing the group's plan to go to play billiards in the gameroom because I had some due work to complete.
I got off my laptop not earlier than 5:30, checking my phone notifications once as I hear a knock on my door and go to open it.
"Good evening ma'am, here's some instructions to tonight's masquerade" says the member of cruise staff as I thank him and accept the envelope.
I open it and start reading,
"Surprise surprise! Of course a masquerade at Sunsail cannot be a basic simple event.
Tonight will be a game of tag takedown, and you are invited to be a member of the 💚GREEN💚 team.
The rules are:
1. Target, Hunt and Shoot enemy team (♥️RED♥️) members to earn 2 points for your team and eliminate enemies!
2. Accidentally shooting your own team members will cost you -1 point, so be wise!
3. After successfully taking down one enemy, a player should receive 15 seconds of night vision!
4. Identify teams of players by the colour of their gun lasers carefully!
5. Always keep your gear and masks on, remember to have light hearted fun!
People uncomfortable with darkness and dim lights are advised to refrain from engaging in the game and instead join us for formal masquerade ball!
Good luck, may the best team and best players win to recieve fun prizes!"
Oh wow, this shall be interesting.
Abhijay Narang
I check my phone about an hour after I took a nap after playing non stop billiards. It was fun but oh so exhausting. Of course everyone has recieved their takedown invitations, for the group chat has blown up with a discussion.
It's evening and before I realise it, we are all asked to get ready for the game.
It's noisy in the big hall that is surrounded by barricades as everyone is excited and animated. I quickly spot my friends and make my way over to them, Dhruv bids us all luck and leaves for the formal ball because he's uncomfortable with darkness.
"Woh akela kya karega itni der?" Aradhana asks with a small pout in concern.
Aradhana is fun no doubt, but is she really genuine with her actions? I really doubt it. Koi itni jaldi kisi ki chinta kar kaise sakta hai? Main kuch zyada selfish hu ya woh kuch zyada hi acchi? Ajeeb hai.
Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not that deep, we're all here just to have fun, not like I have to keep her around for long enough to be worried.
We all disperse with a member of staff and wear our gears.
The gun lasers will activate when we all enter through the barricades into game zone, this is quite thrilling.
If only Dhruv was playing, his tech geek ass would've loved all of this taam-jhaam.
The lights are dim, almost gone and the speakers announce a loud countdown.
I feel my heartbeat speed and adrenaline rush, dim lights with only a few cluttering noises and neon stickers on playzone barricades, no indication of any sense of awareness whatsoever, only the movement of the big cruise's sail keeps me conscious, grounded and alive.
"Three! Two! One and begin!"
Fuck.
Author's Note
Long time no see! I had written this chapter way way back and only polished it now
Word count: 891
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Khair, Tum Batao?
Romance"Time. It's just a matter of time Aradhana. I promise." I breathe deep after noticing how strained his tone is, as his unabashed eyes bore into mine. "Well you're wrong." I swallow, trying to stabilize my breathe but the moment he brushes his lips a...
