Memories in gold against a purple sky

Even if we don't make it: Part 3 (Venky-Nitish)

The idea was, since Chandu sir, Gauti bhai and Shreyas had cut off the celebrations of all previous victories--even the ones against MI and Qualifier 1--by midnight, today's party would go on at least till dawn.

It started with the feast, predominantly cake and drinks. Abhishek bhai was in his element--dunking everyone in purple frosted cake--sober. Harshit insisted that Starcy had to take one swig of whiskey from everyone's hand--everyone meant everyone--and Starcy didn't seem in much of a mood to protest.

Rinku was on sugar rush. His voice, surprisingly, hadn't gone croaky like Rambo's after all the shouting--it had only gotten shriller and very, very piercing. Wherever he went, there was laughter. Mostly, there was laughter everywhere anyway.

Then the dancing began and Suyash, Rambo and Abhishek bhai had no hesitation in getting on to the podium instantly. The former two Venky could understand, but Abhishek sir's confidence at such appalling dancing was indeed commendable.

"You called me our worst dancer the other day," Venky grouched to Russ. "Abhishek bhai is the worst by far."

"If you can see he's bad, how can you possibly not see how bad you are?" VC asked innocently.

Russ gave Venky a conspiratorial wink and shouted, "Our Purple cap holder wishes to get on the stage, too! Go, Varun!"

VC turned blindly away from the stage to flee, but too late--Venky caught him firmly and indicated at Raman to drag him on stage.

"Go, Varun! Go, Varun!"

Poor VC found himself cornered from all sides and short of physically fighting his way out, saw no route to avoid the horror of getting on stage and try to dance a little without making a fool of himself.

"You called me bad because you didn't count VC and Abhishek bhai," Venky shouted at Russ, laughing, above the music of 'Desi boys.'

"No," said Russ, watching the dancers keenly. "You're still worse."

Venky, who knew he truly was the worst dancer on the planet, started to laugh again, the smell of champagne all around making him a bit light-headed.

Then suddenly, he could not laugh.

This was their last day.

VC, trying awkwardly to match his steps to Rambo and Suyash's. Harshit's piercing whistles above the music. Rinku cheering, standing atop a table. Nitish--

Venky needed a while to spot Nitish. He didn't seem to be doing anything much. He was simply watching with an affectionate, teasing Nitish-smile on his face. Angky was clinging to him from behind.

--Nitish just being in the camp. Shreyas having what seemed like a chugging competition with Starcy, who was of course pretty much out by then.

Venky shook his head and pushed through the crowd to reach them.

"Don't get him to drink anymore!" he yelled at Shreyas as he wrested the glass away from Starcy's hand.

Starcy protested, stumbling. Venky gave Shreyas a glare (and got back a sheepish hands-up back), and looped Starcy's arm around his shoulder to lead him to a couch. Vaibhav, looking mildly uncomfortable and out-of-place, came up to help.

And again, it hit Venky.

This was their last night.

All of these...all these precious little things won't be there anymore.

Once Starcy had been made to sit, Venky slipped away into the shadows, blinking hard.

__________________

As the night progressed, Nitish got more and more indignant.

It was like his soul was split into two halves.

One half was in the party, one arm always around Rinku, playing catch with the trophy (Jaani's idea), dancing and chugging champagne.

That half was having the time of his life. A purple dream fulfilled after seven long years.

The other half was constantly searching for Venky, and that was what made him indignant, because most of the time, Venky was hovering around out of the crowd, or even when he was laughing with someone or cheering at Chandu sir's speech, his expression was, somehow, vacant.

How dare Venky be this upset, today of all days?

What had Nitish said that bad that had made Venky this upset and absent from their team's celebrations?

"Why aren't you talking to Venky bhai?" Rinku complained.

"I'm mad at him," said Nitish.

"How can you be mad at him today?" asked VC in exasperation. "What exactly did you two fight over anyway?"

"I'm not mad because we fought," said Nitish with dignity. "I'm mad because he's upset."

"Makes perfect sense," said Narine, exchanging a bland smile with VC.

Nitish glared over at Venky, who had slipped away from the bunch he'd been talking to a while ago. His glass of cranberry juice (which had presumably been given by Narine) was still full. He hadn't touched a slice of cake either. Nor anything.

Why was he this upset?

All right, thought Nitish finally. They hadn't lifted the trophy together, they hadn't looked at each other all evening, and Venky didn't want to talk to him. Since he was the one who, it seemed, had got Venky to this state, he might as well leave the party. Maybe then Venky would stop being like this and act like a normal person after winning their first IPL trophy with the team he loved.

___________________

Venky made a beeline for Rinku, VC and Narine the moment he noticed Nitish's absence.

"Where did Nitish go?" he asked, finding no need to beat around the bush, because luckily, they were all amongst his closest friends.

His closest friends who might not be here next time, or with whom he might not be here next time.

Any combination was possible.

"He's upset with you because you're upset," said Rinku.

Venky was speechless for a bit.

"How much of an audacity does he have," he demanded finally, "to be upset with me for being upset after getting me upset?"

He got back a bunch of blank expressions.

"See, we're a bit behind things," VC said. "Since neither of you're telling us what happened--"

Venky turned and stomped off, too.

Not that he particularly wanted to talk to Nitish. But at this point, Nitish severely deserved a piece of his mind.

Being upset with Venky because he was upset--sure!

Nitish with his whims and tantrums. All the time.

And next season, Nitish and his whims and tantrums might not be there in the purple camp--or Venky might not be there to withstand them all, and--

Venky swiped a hand across his eyes and stomped faster.