Chapter 9 - Drugged

Next few weeks I balanced my stressful job and exciting happy moments with Ishaan. We met almost every weekend and sometimes on weekdays as well if we were able to squeeze out time from our busy schedule.

We went to movies, hung around malls, explored places in and around Pune sometimes as a couple, and sometimes with the gang. By now everyone in the gang assumed we were a couple. Which was true to some extent however we had not graduated to the next level. Apart from a few hugs and the peck on the cheek we didn't do anything else.

He was addictive and I was hooked to my new addiction.

As usual one Saturday we went along with the gang to a disco. I felt a smug satisfaction when Ishaan's jaw fell open for a moment spotting me in my little black dress.

He simply commented "Looking good".

The disco was usually noisy and crowded. I was sitting along with others sipping my cocktail. I am not a very party person but I loved reveling once in a while.

One thing I loved about Ishaan was that he wasn't the insecure type. He never stopped me from interacting with other guys from our group or tried to control my friend circle. We just let each other do their own things.

Some girls thought this meant he wasn't serious about me. I just preferred it this way. I have never liked anyone breathing down my neck all the time. Ishaan was not my first boyfriend either. I had some dates and short-lived relationships earlier but the moment they turned possessive it used to turn me away from them. I was weird in that way. I didn't find Stockholm syndrome romances appealing.

I was talking to Swati when Ishaan approached me and said "Wanna dance ?"

I said, "I was wondering why didnt you ask until now."

He laughed "I was trying to gather courage I am not very good at dancing."

I kept my cocktail and took his hand "We'll see."

We danced and he was not too bad. The music was blaring so I had to lean close to him said into his ears "you are not that bad."

He said "Its effect of my company."

Suddenly he encircled his arm around my waist held my other hand bringing them real close. He twirled around with me in a waltz or whatever it was.

I stared into his eyes and my knees turned to jelly. Good that he was holding me.

We danced for, dont know how long. When the music suddenly changed to a faster beat. He released me and ran his hands through his hair looking slightly embarrassed "Perhaps we should take a break."

I was barely breathing and simply nodded.

I came back to my couch and finished my drink. Ishaan went to get some more drinks while I started chatting with my friends.

"Hey, Arya heard about Sumit?"

Sumit was one of our college friends.

"No why? Anything important ?"

He said "I came to know that he and Gauri are a couple now. I caught him online last week. He seemed very happy he is planning to propose her."

" Really? That's nice never thought such opposite characters would end up together" I said. 

I felt dizzy. Maybe it was due to the crowd or loud music. Whatever it was I was feeling strange.

Ishaan was back and caught my disturbed expression, he could make out something was wrong. He was immediately by my side "What's wrong Aarya ?"

I looked at him and felt relieved.

"Nothing I...I am feeling suffocated."

"Would you like to go out?"He asked.

I thought for a minute and said.

"Ishaan please take me home I am feeling dizzy."

He said, "Sure... let us leave now."

When I got up the room seemed to swim around me. He immediately caught me in his arms.

" What did you drink ?" He asked.

I pointed at the empty glass. He picked it up and smelled it. He looked angry.

"We need to leave immediately !" 

He supported me in his arms and we walked out of the club. By now I was totally wasted. I had just one cocktail and it wasn't like my first drink.

I was used to social drinking.

I dont remember when he put me in his car and took me home.

He supported me as we stumbled towards swati's flat. He took out the keys from my purse and we went in. Swati was not yet back.

"Hey, Ishaan" I mumbled.

"Hmmm," He said as he dropped me on the sofa in the living room and browsed through his phone to call Swati.

"Please kiss me," I said.

"I would love to the baby but this is not the right time" He chuckled.

"Why not ?" 

He turned towards me and grazed his knuckles on my cheeks

"Because you are wasted. It would be inappropriate. You won't remember anything tomorrow and I want our first kiss to be special not some drunken error. " 

I gazed at him as my vision blurred. I dont remember anything after that. I simply blacked out.

I remember getting up the next morning with a splitting headache.  I have had hangovers before but this was unbearable. It was like being loaded with a tonne of bricks.

I sat up and my head swam.

"Finally you are up." Swati entered carrying a cup of water.

She gave me a capsule "take this. It will make you feel better."

I swallowed the capsule "what happened last night? I was suddenly dizzy. I didn't even have that much alcohol."

She sat on the bed near me a looked serious " you were drugged Aarya."

"What!" The cup nearly fell from my hand.

"When you left your drink to dance with Ishaan. Someone dropped a drug pill into it. It happens in clubs, but I never expected it would happen to one of us."

I shuddered "are you sure? How do you know?"

"Ishaan got you back. He called me and stayed here till you were ok. Had he not been there.....Oh! I can't even imagine what could have happened"

She held my hand ."It could have been any one of us." 

"Ishaan got me home?" I asked trying to recollect the series of events.

"Yes, and I am sure it wasn't him otherwise why would he call me instead of taking advantage of you. He said your cocktail glass smelled funny and he suspects it was someone from the gang."

"Oh my God! Swati this is not good. It means we have a psycho in our group."

"Yeah, we can find about that psycho later. Right  now you need to rest and call Ishaan he was worried about you."

She left while I thought about the previous night.

"Ishaan please kiss me" I recalled this line and felt the blood drain out from my face. 

"What have I done! What would he think about me?" Did I want to die of embarrassment?

"Maybe I can pretend memory loss and just not talk about it. Yeah, that would be better" I thought.

I picked up my phone and messaged Ishaan - Thanks for your help. I am fine now.

He replied immediately -

Thank God! I was worried about you.

Me - Nothing to worry I am fine.

He - I will find out that bastard!

I kept back my phone. Ishaan had saved me again.

To be continued.