The Vows We Exchanged

8) Night of the Party

"Let's Party!" Mayank heard the DJ scream over the speaker and he began to feel his body being hit by the loud sound waves. While he stood near the entrance of the pub, scanning for familiar faces, he felt like the electrifying music will electrocute him if he'd step any further.

'It's official now, pubs and partying are so not in my forte. Well, maybe not my thing at all!' He cursed himself for accepting Aaruhi's invitation. Although he very well knew that even in his right mind he wouldn't have said 'no'.

Unconsciously his hand traveled to his pant pocket. He was wearing jeans to suit the environment instead of his simple formals. Inside his pocket, his fingers traced out the edges if a crystal pendant. Glowing gold as he remembered it's color to be, he had picked it thinking it'll perfectly compliment Aaruhi in her favorite red dresses.

Barely realizing the change in the song due to the heavy beats bombing around, he finally spotted Tanuja near the edge of the crowd. He pulled off the black hood over his head and readjusted his hair into a side fringe while he headed out in her direction.

Aaruhi spotted him, his head held high in the crowd. She jumped and waved at him, "Mayur! This way!" Mayur awkwardly waved back lightly as he joined them.

"Happy birthday!" He greeted her, extending his hand.

"Thank you..." She prolonged the 'you', tilting her head as they shook hands. Under the heavy blasting of music, her words the only melody he was able to hear. "But, you don't have to wish me every time we talk or meet today."

"I'll try to keep that in mind." They both giggled and Mayur took back his hand, making sure he won't repeat the last time. "Anyway, you look gorgeous!" He complimented, noticing her red satin dress. Her slightly wavy hair we set free and a bright red lipstick complemented her dress.

"Of course she's looking hot!" Yug complimented.

"Thenks!" She cutely mispronounced. "Okay, let me introduced you all to my new friend and the guy's whose life I saved," she said pridefully. "Everyone this is Mayur and he followed me all the way to my housing society," she nudged him, teasing casually.

"A total coincidence," Mayur added, waving lightly at everyone.

"And Mayur," Aaruhi continued. "This muscle guy here is Yug; my boss's son. I've already told you about him, remember?" She gestured towards Yug, who wore a red leather jacket with faded jeans torn at knees.

"I guess I do," he grabbed Yug's hand and Yug gave him a hard squeeze with a stern shake, a demonstration of his strength.

"The guy beside him is... Um... 'Bro'," she quoted. "His name is too hard so we all call him Barry." She gestured towards the guy wearing a black biker jacket with a skull t-shirt inside and denim.

"Bartholomew, I presume. Pleased to meet you," Mayur guessed, extending a hand with a smile. Barry scrutinized him. His shady looking outfit clearly contradicted his polite seeming personality. With a smirk, he slapped off Mayur's hand.

"We're Bros now! And Bros do fist-bumps," Barry declared and the two bumped their fists.

"Now," Aaruhi took over. She walked up to Tanuja and pulled her in a side hug. "This is Tanu. But you can't call her that. That name is reserved."