"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
―Dr. Seuss 

Chapter 18: Two can play a game

   Once Riya shut herself in her room, Madhan sat in his chair motionless for a good whole half an hour. He was numb with shock, and couldn't believe what their marriage has come down to now. Maybe Armaan was wrong. Maybe things like that worked only with good looking guys. His thoughts wondered to families where either the guy or girl was good looking, and the other partner wasn't. But each and every one of them seemed to be happy.

   Was he condemned to this love life forever? He had no energy to get angry. Time flew as he kept thinking, and at around six in the evening, he checked his phone to find six missed calls from Armaan. Sighing as he realized things would be really awkward between him and Riya, he texted Armaan that he would be there at his house in a few. He washed his face, did a little shaving, wore aftershave, and dressed into casual cargoes.

   Madhan always believed in looking pleasant where ever he goes. It was for that reason he had plenty of branded clothes. It didn't matter if it suited him or not, but it should look classy. Putting on his leather jacket, he locked his house door and walked to Armaan's apartment.

   Armaan was waiting for him in his living room. He was looking forward to hearing good news from him, since he didn't get a call all day, but was dismayed to find Madhan looking forlorn. What happened now, he frowned.

   "So what happened? Did you charm her," he winked, trying to lighten the conversation. But he knew the answer anyway.

   "No. I pushed her away. Now she won't even talk to me," Madhan replied, fidgeting with his fingers. "It's okay. I'll just stay out of her way, and provide her food."

   "What? How's that even possible? Aren't girls crazy about guys who give them their space?"

   "Not Riya. What I said made her feel that nothing can ever happen between us. She said we can't even be friends now," Madhan sighed.

   "Well, she must be a hard one, I guess. Chill. I said you can trust me right? Come on, let's go clubbing."

   "Heck no. You know I don't drink."

   "C-L-U-B-B-I-N-G."

   "Still the same thing to me. I don't dance either," he muttered.

   "Well, you're dressed. Let's make it worthwhile. I'm not going to take NO for an answer," Armaan said, getting up from the couch. He excused himself for a minute and came out of his room in jeans and a shirt. "I need to make a few phone calls. Okay? Gimme two minutes."

   Madhan waited impatiently on the sofa. After a minute, he got cold feet. He was about to head home when Armaan came out of his room again.

   "Not so fast, brother. Chal. Let's go," Armaan said, as he wore his overcoat and took out his keys. (A/N: Chal means let's go in Hindi)

   The car drive was silent. Madhan was really nervous, as he rarely goes to parties, and it was always an official meet when he used to go. Now that he was going for leisure, he wasn't sure how to react.

   "Relax, brah, I'll take care of everything. You just let yourself free, okay?"

   Madhan meekly nodded, worried about what was going to happen next.

   Armaan pulled up in the parking lot and ushered Madhan out. Since it was only six thirty, there wasn't much of a queue.

   Madhan looked around and gulped. The hotel looked really expensive, but it was only three star. The parking lot had three levels, and above it, were 20 stories. The building front was made up of glass, and there was a giant chandelier hanging in the middle, as they entered. Armaan was a frequent visitor, so he had a pass, and had to just buy a ticket for Madhan.

   It was quite empty, but as they walked, Madhan could see rooms where meetings were being held. It reminded him of the meetings he had to go to, but during those times, he never bothered venturing anywhere near the bar.

   Finally they halted at a door, where they were asked for another pass. Madhan gaped as he went inside. It wasn't anything like he had imagined it to be. It was a place totally similar to a bowling venue!

   Armaan took Madhan to a prime spot where you could see all the action happening. Soon enough, one girl acknowledged Armaan but focused her gaze on Madhan.

   "Sheila, is that you," Madhan asked, looking surprised.

   Sheila merely smiled, but Armaan was speechless. "Wait you two know each other? Why didn't you tell me that before, Sheila?"

   "Why do I have to," she asked seductively, tugging on Madhan's hand and pulling him onto the dance floor.

   "Sheila Venkat, fancy seeing you here," Madhan chuckled.

   "Fancy seeing you here, handsome," Sheila flirted.

   Madhan stopped laughing. Was Sheila flirting with him? They worked together on a project. It turned out to be a huge success, but after that, they lost touch as they delved into many other projects.

   "Why did you take a month and a half off," Sheila asked, curiously.

   Madhan was just standing there in the middle of the ballroom. People were slowly trickling in, and he was getting very uncomfortable. He didn't know how to dance!

   "Come on, don't just stand there," she said, wriggling her hips, and placing her arms around Madhan's shoulders.

   Armaan came over to where they were standing and whispered something in her ear. She nodded, and whispered something back, and then focused her full attention on him.

   She took his hands, and tried to make him move a bit, but once she understood that Madhan wasn't interested, she guided him to a corner where they could talk.

   "So what brings you here," she asked, curiously. Armaan had told her to come today, to give his friend company. She was about to say no, but she heard Madhan's voice in the background. That's when she knew she just had to come. She hadn't seen him since his return from god knows where.

   "I went to India," Madhan shrugged, casually.

   "To meet your family?" Sheila asked.

   "And yeah, something else."

   "Something so important you had to take leave immediately? I've missed you. You could have told me you were leaving."

   "I'm sorry Sheila, but we were out of touch, and I didn't have time to tell anyone except the colleagues I was working with."

   "What did you have to go for?"

   "To get married."

   "WHAT?" Sheila shouted. No! No, this was not happening! He couldn't have gotten married this quick. "Engaged you mean? You are getting married only next year right?"

   Madhan looked at her funnily. "Um no? I'm married."

   Sheila took a step back. "One minute," she said and asked the bartender for a drink. "You want anything?"

   Madhan shook his head no and looked at the room. Armaan was dancing like crazy amongst a couple of girls and seemed like he was having fun. He sighed. Fun was no longer in his dictionary.

   Sheila came back with two drinks in hand. She handed over one to him, telling him that it wasn't alcoholic, so he could definitely drink it.

   Grateful that she was thoughtful, Madhan took a sip. It tasted funny, but he thought that drinks here were like that.

   Sheila drank everything in one sip and asked the bartender for two more. Madhan was panicky. Was it normal to drink like that?

   "Sheila you okay?"

   "Yeah I'm good. Don't worry. I'm usually like this," she said. She wasn't, but she didn't want Madhan to know.

   "You want some more?" she asked.

   "Yeah, surprisingly it tastes really good and addicting."

   Sheila motioned the bartender for another shot, and soon Madhan was drinking two more shots.

   "What's her name?" Sheila pulled Madhan onto the dance floor once more, and this time, Madhan cooperated. He flailed his arms about and wriggled his body. Sheila ground herself against him, and he didn't notice. All he was thinking about was Riya and him dancing like that.

   They danced for half an hour, and Madhan asked Sheila if they could stop. She willingly obliged, and they moved to a table and started talking.

   Sheila ordered for drinks while they talked, and once Madhan had over two drinks, he opened up.

   "She hates me," he sobbed. "I love her so much, but she wants nothing to do with me."

   Sheila was boiling with anger. If only she...

   "Madhan," Sheila pleaded.

   "Don't stop me. She said she could try loving me if only I were slimmer. She hid from the fact that she loves someone else in the fear that I would leave her. But I won't. I never will."

   Sheila drank another shot and cupped Madhan's cheeks. "I'll make you feel better," she whispered. She asked for him to follow, and he followed like a puppy. Just as she was about to enter a room, a voice stopped her.

   "What the hell do you think you are doing," he growled angrily at Sheila.

   "Making him feel better," she said smugly. "Just like you asked me to do."

   "Not that way, you idiot. You know he's married."

   "Yeah, he's married to a witch. Like that's supposed to be even better."

   "I don't know what your deal is, but you better not be thinking what I think you're thinking."

   Madhan looked at both of them clueless. "Riya," he wailed.

   "What the hell? Did you make him drink?" Armaan thundered. "I told you he doesn't."

   "I didn't know he was intolerant," she shrugged.

   "Get out of my way," he roared as he dragged Madhan away from Sheila.

   Sheila let it go for now. There was no way she was going to let Armaan know how she felt.

   Armaan pulled away and drove to their apartment. He wanted to let Madhan crash at his place, but Riya would get worried, so he decided to drop him off at her place.

   He rang the doorbell a couple of times, hoping Riya was a light sleeper to wake up to the bell. It was one in the night, and he was quite worried about how she would react to Madhan drinking.

   "Who the hell is it," Riya shouted, irritably.

   "It's me, Armaan."

   "Go away, you pervert," she shouted.

   "I'm with Madhan."

   Silence.

   He heard the door being unlocked, and then Riya peeped out.

   She staggered back when she saw Madhan literally lying on the floor. He kept wailing her name.

   "You bad man," Riya screamed. "How dare you? He never touched a bottle till now."

   Armaan kicked the door wider when he realized Riya wouldn't open the door further. He struggled with great difficulty to bring Madhan inside and laid him on his bed.

   When he came out, Riya switched on the lights, and said, "I'm not done with you yet."

   Armaan sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. But it was supposed to take his mind off of everything. You did, after all, break up with him."

   "You are never to talk to him again, am I clear?" she spat.

   "I'll let Madhan make that call. You won't talk to him. Who else can he?"

   "Certainly talking to no one is better than talking to a man who will wreck his life."

   "Don't test my patience, Riya," Armaan said, impatiently.

   Riya raised her eyebrow. "Or what," she snapped.

"Or this," he said, and he pushed her onto the sofa, and brought his face extremely close to hers.

   "You girls are all the same. You love one guy, and then you ditch him to get married to another just cause that guy has more money and fame. You are nothing but a witch," he said, venomously. "First of all, Madhan was really KIND to let you stay in the house, after everything you did. And now you made his life so much more miserable, and you expect me to sit still watching him get hurt?"

   Riya was stunned by everything he said. She was about to tell him the reason she told him last when Armaan motioned for her to keep silent.

   "He might think you're an angel, but I most definitely don't."

   Armaan stood up, adjusted his coat, and stormed out angrily.

   He dialed a number, and after the first ring, he said, "I need your help."

Riya sat there all night dumbstruck. She did not see that coming. Madhan didn't know how lucky he was to have a good friend like him.

Phew!! Drama again ;) Who's Sheila? O.o :P New Character introduced! :P Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please vote and comment <3