Best Buddies - The Meet Up - Part 1

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and bears no resemblance to anyone.


Introducing,






Nikhil, a smart, passionate cricket player, a best friend anyone could ever have, popular, and most wanted and missed by people.
(I will say my story in his words)




Ranbir, dude, casanova, not at all serious about life, wants to enjoy every second of life, always ends up in some sort of trouble, the most eligible boyfriend, friend of all your friends.






Ishaan, always confused about life, yet lives tension free, loves hanging out with friends, solution giver for all problems, a true friend.








I was new to the city, where many dreamt to be, Dubai. Dad had just landed a new job in an international bank, and we had just landed in the city of dreams a week back. I was strolling around my building, trying to familiarise with the area. Dead bored at home, I had no idea what to do to kill time and school was to re-open after a fortnight.

It was almost 9p.m., time to be back home for dinner, and I was sort of lost, as in wasn't sure, where exactly was my building, on the right or on the left. I had been out for almost an hour, and was now finding it difficult to find my way back.

I then saw someone passing by, and asked
"Excuse me, can you please tell me, where is Wonder City?"


Wonder City, was the name of the building in which I stayed. It was just an awesome building, with all facilities I could ever ask for. But I actually wondered, why was a building called a city.


"Its right there." pointing towards the right. "Anyways I am heading straight there, if you don't mind, then come along."

"Yeah, sure, thanks a lot."


The guy removing his i-pod earphones.
"So, are you new to the area. Actually I stay in Wonder City, and haven't seen you around before."
"Well, yeah, we have just moved in last week. So not much aware of this place."
"Oh! nice, By the way I am Ranbir. I stay on the 7th floor.", raising his hand ahead for a handshake.
Shaking hands, "I am Nikhil. I stay on the 8th floor."




Then all of a sudden came a loud sound of rock music being played. It was actually Ranbir's cellphone that was ringing.


"Hey, whats up babe's. I am out now. How about meeting on Wednesday?"


I could hear just one side of the conversation. I quickly calculated, that today was Monday, so he was talking about day after tomorrow.
Actually I was feeling happy, that, finally I know someone around, a prospective friend, and I missed out on the rest of the conversation, well who cares.


"So which school have you joined dude?" he asked.

"The Indian School. I just know the name, and basically nothing else."

"Well! I might actually be of some help. I also am in the same school. Just gonna go to 12th."

"That's awesome, even I am gonna join the 12th grade."


We almost reached our building, when a girl came running in, and pushed herself on Ranbir, hugging him.

"Where have you been Ranbir? Its been a week since we met last. I so miss you."

Even before Ranbir could reply, she continued," I hafta rush home, so see you soon again." And she vanished in a flash of a second, after giving a flying kiss.


I began to wonder whether that was for him or me, coz all the time, even while speaking to him, she was just staring at me, as if either she has just seen a ghost, well I don't surely look that bad, well maybe the hottest guy she has ever seen. And a smile sprang up on my face.


"She has a big time crush on me. That's what some of my friends say. But I don't think so. Bhavika's such a sweet girl."
I felt jealous of that statement.

'Bhavika, ahaan, so that's her name.', speaking to myself. Not bad Niks, start from name, you never know, where you shall reach. And again I started blushing. She was actually cute, no doubt.


"So see you around buddy, need any help, I stay in 703, drop in anytime. Bye." and Ranbir got of the lift on the 7th floor.


I was still lost in Bhavika, "Bye", that's all I said, that also after the lift closed. Surely he must be wondering, what sort of a absent minded person I was. Well I was still lost in Bhavika's world.



Back home, had dinner, and laid back on my bed still recollecting that sweet smile.


And all of a sudden a pillow came bang on my face.

"So, which girl are you lost in" asked Shrishti, my sister.


"Shut up Di, there's no girl." I trying to act normal, though I am way to bad at it.

"No girl, don't temme its a guy, you okay naa Niks."

"Di! you are gone crazy, just go to sleep, and let me also sleep."

Di, she was two years elder to me, but my best friend. I shared everything with her. You can say, she is my friend, philosopher and guide. She is the best person I know on earth.




Next morning, when I woke up, well actually it was post 12p.m., and went to the living room, their was a surprise awaiting me, Ranbir, was sitting in the living room, and chatting with my sister, and laughing out loud.


"Hey! good morning, you do have an early morning." came in Ranbir's comments, pulling my leg.

Before I could even reply, Di started off, "Maybe was lost in some dream world, right naa Niks."

I was yawning, like I had woken up after just an hours sleep, but this comment, threw the sleep miles away from me.

"Shut up Di." and turning to Ranbir, "When did you come up."

"Well, around an hour back, while you were in the dream world." and Ranbir and Di starting laughing, and that laugh was getting on my nerves.

"I will freshen up, give me 10 minutes dude.", and now staring at Di, "Di, give him the milkshake, Mom makes in the morning."

"Already, done Nikhil bhaiya, he is waiting for you, make it fast."


I just didn't want them to keep pulling my leg, so after my quickest ever bath, I took Ranbir to my room.

"So, what's up dude, so early in the morning.", trying to find out, what the hell was he doing at my place for an hour, with my sister, that also when I am asleep.

"Umm...actually dude, I need to go for a booze party, tonight, and I need to take someone along from the building, that's the condition my Mom has put. So, be ready at around 9."

"But.."trying to stretch a bit, "I don't drink. And then I also won't know anyone out there."

"Arey, just come along to accompany me, umm and friends, no worries you will make many out there. ", and he got up to leave."I am getting late, so catchya at 9 sharp. And be on time, I hate people being late for parties."


Before I could even think, leave answering, he left, and I was left in a weird position. Whether to go or not, what to tell Mom, I don't even drink, and thousands of questions came gushing up with the blood flow, to my brain, but the last question was the best,"Will Bhavika be there?"

It was 30minutes to 9, and I still hadn't decided what shall I wear to the drunkards club. In short, I knew I was going. But flat 15minutes, I was ready in my favourite tee and jeans, and thanks to last minute styling tips by Di.
"You are the best Di, love ya." I had just finished the statement and TING TONG, rang the door bell.
I just unlocked the door, and Ranbir pushed himself in, and pulled me out.
I had forgotten the keys home, and didn't even carry Mom's cell. I was sensing, being in deep trouble tonight, got a strong sixth sense, maybe.

We caught a cab, and he took me to some place, where we reached at 10, after beating the traffic at its own pace. All the while, I was gazing out at the lighting's, the architecture of the buildings and all. Ranbir was busy making some last minute plans for my first ever booze party. I bothered a least, as I was so lost in the surroundings. The city was like so clean, and the roads were so well maintained.

But something distracted me,
"Bhavika, you are better coming jaanu, no buts and excuses, I want you there in 15minutes." and bang Ranbir cut the phone line. I don't have a clue if she replied in the positive or not, but how could someone be rude, to a girl with such a sweet smile.

We waited below a weird shaped building, I guess with the buildings tummy popping out, for a while, and around 15 people gathered around us, and I just kept staring at others.


Ranbir, was busy hugging the girls, and meeting his friends, and I was standing all alone.


After a while we went up, to the terrace, and some girl unlocked the party hall.


The decors were beyond my imaginations. It looked more like a marriage hall, but surely not the place, for a booze party.

It was almost eleven, when the music was turned on, on full volume, and around 10 couples, were present on the dance floor, with glasses of that weird liquid in their hands. They were more interested in the drink, then their dance partner.

But, I was sitting all alone, at a corner, wondering, "What the hell am I doing here?"

Then, all of a sudden, out of no-where, Ranbir and his friends popped up, around me, and they were half drunk. They lifted me up, and before I could even think, I was in the air, once, twice thrice, and bang, on the ground. Luckily, the floor wasn't hard enough to crack my back.

But, here I fell, and there Ranbir, also did. I was flat on the floor, 'undrunk', he lay there, 'drunk'.

Yes, he wasn't conscious anymore, and I knew I was in deep shit.

I didn't know anyone around, and didn't even know the way back home. Now, what the hell am I supposed to do. I stood their, waiting for a magic, to turn things in my favour. And, yes I guess my lucky charm, Ms Bhavika, just entered the party hall, of part drunkards. She wasn't a drunkard, I guessed, atleast she didn't look one, but you never know. Never judge a girl by the way she looks.

She looked hot, in the sleeveless, Punjabi outfit, she had worn. I forgot, what, was actually going around me, and just gazed at her.

All, of a sudden, another drunkard, a loser I guess, pushed me, and I almost fell on her. We were lost in each other, for the next 30seconds, when, she shouted, "Nihkil move, whats wrong with Ranbir."

What the hell she actually said my name. But wait, whats wrong with Ranbir. He had puked, expectantly.

"Nikhil, take him home, he has had it beyond a limit."

Again, she said my name, I was still lost in her.

"Nikhilllllllll..........", she shouted again.

"Bu..ttt..., I don't know the way back."

"Ishaan, where the hell are you hiding.", she shouted again, but I couldn't hear my name, maybe she actually didn't take it.

Ishaan, was over well dressed for a booze party, maybe was confused about what to wear, for a booze night. And luckily I guess he wasn't drunk.

"Nikhil, even he stays at Wonder City. He will take you back.", said Bhavika and then turning to Ishaan, "Take, them back home, right now."

Wow, she has so much power. Although I couldn't talk to her, what a first meet up. She was indeed a dream girl. But like, a small boy, I quietly followed her orders, and left the venue.

"Hi.. I am Ishaan. Which floor do, you both stay on.", as we walked off the hall, with Ranbir on our shoulders.

I was still, gazing at her reflected image, in my brains. So, I took a while before I answered his question.
"Hi!, I am Nikhil, and he is Ranbir. I stay, on the 8th floor, and he on the 7th."

We went back home in the cab, and this time the Wonder City came way faster, than the time, we took to reach the party hall.

But, now I remembered, I didn't have keys, and it didn't make sense, to send Ranbir home.

"Ishaan, there's an issue."

"What's wrong dude?"

"I am not carrying my house keys, its quite late to ring the bell, and it isn't wise to send him home in this condition."

Ishaan, was staring at me, as if I had just asked his girlfriend out, and she had said yes.

And then he burst out laughing.

"No, worries, come over to my place. Stay with me tonight."

He stayed, on the 5th floor. We entered his home, and his parents were fast a sleep. We tip-toed into his room. Three beds lay their, with ironed bedsheets properly laid upon, as if waiting for us only to sleep on it.

And luckily Ranbir stayed asleep all the while, to avoid any chaos or drama, on the way back from the party hall, to Ishaan's residence.

We laid, Ranbir on the rightmost corner bed, and Ishaan took the middle, one. He jumped on it, as if I had come to steal it.

Within, few minutes, he was also fast asleep, to tired to even turn his head, leave trying to know about his room mates for the night.

I laid down, thinking about, spending a night at a persons place, whom I don't know anything about, more than his name. But, within another few minutes even I dozed off, too tired with the days happenings, from the happening Bhavika to the drunkard Ranbir. I guess he spoilt my would be date with her. Maybe something else was destined.

...to be continued...