That was a long queue; my friend shook my shoulders and yelled at me for eating up an hour to get ready. It was freezing out there; my other two friends joined him and accused me. When the woolen jackets and the thermal wears were facing their toughest task ever, my plain black T shirt inside a not so heavy sweater increased their anger exponentially. I never felt too much cold for reasons I don’t know.
Forget it guys, we are here at least, and we will enter in few minutes, or after all this is not the last day of our lives. Calm down, I said and started looking at the ‘beauties’ of the nature. It was so lively; the crowd started roaring from outside when the 10 dB of black eyed peas’ ‘Tonight’s gonna be a good good night’ leaked out of the arena which of course added fuel to the flame.
Queue started moving gently, and we were getting closer to the most happening spot. Our turn was about to come and guys looked nervous. The last thing they could hear was to wait for some more time from the securities in the minus 20 degrees killer weather. Finally things went their way and they got in but I could not. I did not carry my passport to prove that I’m above 18 in spite of being told by my friends, the regular visitors of this place. The security guy did not allow me in. Damn it, I’m 24, do I look like someone who is below 18? I cut the damn it part and asked the 7 ft tall wrestler like security head. Policy sir, pardon me was his answer on the manliest tone one would have ever heard.
Okay guys you carry on, anyways I’m not very interested, I would go home I said. Before I even completed my sentence one of my friend was already in. I was about to start, suddenly the humongous security came to me and said it is ok sir, get in. Dude, you are Jesus Christ; I said and joined the other two.
Out of nowhere, a lady caught my hand and tied a Rakhi like band. Rakhi? Will I ever grow; I laughed at myself the moment that thought crossed my mind. I started feeling something else, the fragrance, how could someone explain it? Hmmm it must be kinda mix of strawberry essence, some sprays of Elizabeth Arden on the pretty chick showing her hand next to me for her Rakhi, added with few over flown Coronas and split lemonades somewhere nearby and some very costly air freshener which for sure must be the smell of heaven if it even exists. The sweetness soothed into every two atoms of Oxygen. I got carried away.
So there I was in a discotheque arena for the very first time of my life. May be I should be ashamed as having born and brought up in a Metro Politian city like Chennai, having studied engineering there, having worked in one of the most happening places on earth Bangalore, I have never been to a discotheque. My principles, ‘rotten’ principles as my close friend call them, did not let me to be a part of these places all those days. Now things have changed, the new place and the anxiety to explore few new things overrode the principles under some principles.
There they are dancing for some song that I hardly heard any lyrics. It was too loud. The Bass levels were terrible and the Treble levels were just out of audibility. It must be ‘Bose’ I told the one next to me. Aah damn your acoustic research, enjoy the beats mean, nodded his head for the rhythm. Not bad not bad. Situation started getting on to me. Everyone started dancing as if something went into their clothes.
Our guys started some heavy movements to grasp the attention of four desi babes that looked at us once in a while. At the other side, the competition was heavier, local Canadian groups, a French speaking group, few Chinese and some guys from Middle East danced like hell to get applause from the diversified lot. Our guys were busy impressing the babes. I was like a lost child in the middle. I could not dance, last time when I danced in front a mirror I almost lost my own respect. So I had to be stubborn to escape shame which I did, accompanied myself with a drink and took the best view to watch all these dramas.
Couple of hours later, I felt I could not bear the beats anymore, heart started pumping vigorously and 70 would have easily risen up to 140. Head was banging and I realized I could not stand there for one more minute. The most courageous or shameless of the three not sure how to categorize, asked those girls for a dance but could not get through. Poor fellas lets start before the bouncers throw us out, I called them and we started from the place. In a totally unconvinced irritated tone told them don’t you guys ever call me here again; we reached home at 3 in the morning. Way back home I wondered what’s in this? What on earth makes these guys die for this? It sucks!!
One week later, it was 10 in the night and I was alone waiting at the bus stop to go to Ottawa downtown wearing the newly bought Black casual Jacket. I did not notice how my Passport got into it and how my legs were rehearsing the steps I learnt over the last 7 days.
It is Saturday in Chennai today; it has been more than a year and half since I became shameless and all I could say today is ‘Discotheques in Chennai are not that good’.
Cheers!!!
