Dreamy Red

Episode 11 - Chirathu Club

"Why was the CCTV off?", I asked Armaan when I got the chance. "A woodpecker damaged the CCTV two days ago. We informed the municipal office. They were going to fix it today. But as usual, they didn't show up", replied Armaan exasperatedly. "And why aren't you having any cameras inside your home?", I asked before he could even finish his sentence. "Um. Nishu didn't like cameras. She felt uncomfortable with them. When I said that we have to install cameras at home, she said it is our home, nothing can happen!" and his eyes filled up while he was talking. My eyes filled up too. Then he left inside.

When I was about to leave home, Ravi called me by phone and told me that he got a response for the posters made for Naveen. Arfaaz, a bartender at Chirathu Club had some valuable information to share regarding Naveen. "Wow, that's great. Who's going? Should I go?", I asked eagerly. "I have a pretty lot of work, Bibbi and looks like Karan is busy too", he said. I looked at Karan who at a distance was still helping out Mrs Manyavathi clean the mess though all the guests left. Perhaps he was trying to gather some clues. We both laughed mildly and Ravi said with a sigh, "So I think there is no other go than you going to the club." I nodded, collected Arfaaz's mobile number from him and went home on my Vespa.

*****

At home, I dialled Arfaaz and informed him that I will come to the club around 8 PM to gather the information. "But I can't guarantee any amount unless I'm convinced that the information is of value to the case", I warned him. He replied warmly, "I'm not doing this for any money. I just wanted to share what I knew." And he cut the call. I freshened up and dressed up. I wore a pink layered blouse with white polka dots tucked in a pair of body-hugging black jeans with white stars beside the pocket. I informed mamu that I was going to the club. "What? Why?", he questioned in shock. "Hah ha", I laughed. "I'm not going to party. I'm going for an enquiry", I told him convincingly. "But you don't look so", he said while looking at me from top to bottom. I winked at him and left for the club.

*****

I reached the Chirathu Club around 8:30 PM. It was beside the national highway at the end of Shipra path. The two guards at the entrance allowed me in only after thorough checking. The inside was luxurious and glittery. There was a discotheque beside the stylish bar. There were different varieties of people. Some danced wearing short, glamorous clothes while some were old folks enjoying casual drinks. I walked slowly toward the bar counter dodging across the dancing teenagers. At the counter, there was a beautiful lady attendant wearing a black mini dress with red stripes. I asked her for Arfaaz. "He is inside, I'll send him right away", she said with a smile. She walked gracefully like a feline through the door beside the counter and a young bearded man in a black and white tuxedo with a red bow appeared a while later from the same door. He was too charming to be a bartender, I thought to myself.

"Are you Bibbitha?", he asked passionately. I nodded. "Do you wanna have a drink?", he asked in a soft, pleasing voice. One peg wouldn't cost me much. So I said, "Yeah, ok, hand me a glass of champagne" and I sat down on a barstool near the counter. I thought he would offer in a tiny cocktail glass, but he took out a large goblet. 'Was he trying to get me drunk?! I had to be careful!', I told myself. He seemed suspicious. He could have shared the info via phone if he wasn't anticipating money. It might have been a trap. So when he was filling the glass I silently snapped a photo of him on my cell phone without gaining his attention just in case.

"Naveen sir visited yesterday around 6 to 7 o'clock. He was with Arpitha mam and Sid sir. They had a heated argument and they left after some time!" He then murmured, "It was about them running away." I took a sip of my drink. Ah, the heat soared through my throat. I took another sip. "Sid is the owner here, right?", I asked with satire. It was the effect of the drink. I took yet another sip. "Yes, mam. Shall I refill?" No, No. Despite me nodding in disagreement, he poured more champagne into my glass. "And, Arpitha is his girlfriend, huh?" "No. Arpitha mam is Naveen sir's girlfriend. They visit here regularly. In fact, their love story began here just like Sid sir and our Christy." Hmmm. He seemed interested in telling stories. Well, I needed to know more and needed more champagne too. I was in a drowsy state. I had already finished the glass he had refilled.

He continued while filling my glass again, "Naveen sir made friends with Sid sir only about a month ago when he first visited our club. Sid sir has many girlfriends. I mean friends who are girls. He is such a sweet man. Never misbehaved with anyone. So Sid sir introduced Naveen sir to Arpitha mam. And as they kept talking on and on, they fell in love." He smiled as though he was trying to make the air romantic. Duh. Or was it all my thinking? I was so very drunk!

"And about Christy and Sid sir, they are the best couple, you can say. So much made for each other!" He heaved. "Christy was the bar girl here..." "Oh, he too talked with a bar girl for hours, huh? And you call it love?!", I commented. I had finished an entire bottle or even more, I didn't know. It was dizzy and blurry. Arfaaz was blabbering continually. I wasn't able to listen anymore. My mind was wavering. I thought of my happy times, reminiscing the time when I was in love too. Love like no one would have ever experienced.

*****

I opened my eyes. I was in my room. It was 9:30 on the clock. Morning or night, I wasn't sure. At a distance, I could hear Karan and Sashwath busily discussing something. What was Karan doing at home? And how did I end up at home in the first place?! Mamu would have been disappointed looking at me like that. I felt ashamed of myself.

I sat upright on my bed and I saw Mamu standing right at the door and looking at me expectantly. "Good Morning, Bibbi", he exclaimed in a sarcastic way. He came closer and sat next to me on my bed. "It's ok, Bibbi dear. You don't have to worry. It's fine to get drunk once in a while. But be careful not to drink to that extent", he advised as he patted lightly on my back. "I will make you a cup of tea. You will feel relieved", he said and left for the kitchen. I got up, fixed my messed up hair and walked to the hall. Karan excitedly pushed me onto the couch. In an elevated tone, he told "I went to Krishna Vilas yesterday. I got to know so much and it is a great twist in the tale!" 'Another twist?', I thought. But I was not quite in the mood for any excitement.

Mamu's tea was ready. He handed it to me in a cup. I drank it hot in just two gulps and felt afresh. The first thing I appreciated to know was "Who brought me here and how?" Sashwath explained that Arfaaz had dropped me home in a car. "Oh my god", I panicked aloud. Mamu sensed my fear and told me not to worry because I was at home by 9:30 PM itself. So nothing wrong could have happened so soon.

Before Karan could begin his narration, I asked him about Arpitha. "Yeah. Arpitha Ghosh is Naveen's girlfriend. She is Kamal Ghosh and Bhairavi's daughter." I knew the name from somewhere. But I could not recollect exactly where and when. "Kamal is Armaan's Badde papa, the owner of the chest. We can ask him about the chest and we can go on an adventure", Karan said excitedly. "I will come too, didi", said Sashwath quickly. I explained to him calmly, "It will be dangerous, Sashwath. Anyways, we are not going on adventures unless we solve this case. By then it will be time for you to go back to college. Moreover, your mom will kill me if I take you on adventures." Sashwath frowned and urged Karan to tell me what had happened.

"Yesterday you would have seen me working as a slave to Mrs Manyavathi, right?!" Yes, I nodded. Though I showed very little interest, he kept on talking. "She bossed over me to do work. In return, she promised to share a secret. She did not get a good opportunity at the funeral, so she asked me to visit Krishna Vilas around 8 pm when Rajesh, her husband was out. And believe me, she gave a piece of exceptionally spicy information." He spoke enthusiastically as he widened his hands swiping through the air. "Can you guess who was Nishu's past love?!"