---
The Bar - Around 11:30 PM
As they stepped into the bar, the first thing that caught their eyes was the dim lighting and the soft jazz music playing in the background. The tables were half-occupied-some people chatting casually, others sitting alone, absorbed in their smartphones. A cherry dangled from the rim of a cocktail glass, and the air carried a faint scent of alcohol.
Everyone settled at a corner table. The light there was softer, reflected off the glassware by the warm table lamp. Anurag stood silently-his eyes clearly showed hesitation.
Rahul (in an excited tone): "Here we go, the perfect spot! Tonight, we're celebrating our Anurag!"
A waiter approached.
Rishikesh: "Waiter, bring four beers. And a special toast for Anurag!"
Anirban, sitting beside him, chimed in,
"He said he's not drinking."
Rahul: "Oh, just one glass! Let him taste. Nothing will happen."
Anurag didn't say anything.
Anirban (quietly, eyes on the table): "I won't have anything."
Rahul (grinning): "We know! One whiff is enough to make your head spin."
Shubhradeep (smirking): "Get him some tea!"
The waiter took the order. Even though Anurag hadn't said anything, Rahul ordered a light whiskey for him.
Rahul (raising his glass toward Anurag): "Cheers, my friend! To the beginning of your new life-just a small sip!"
Anurag picked up the glass and said,
"You guys never know how to take a 'no' from me."
He brought the glass to his lips. A small sip.
Rishikesh: "Don't forget your old style! Start light, then slowly go up."
Anirban: "You can take soda if you want. No one will mind."
By then, Anurag had already taken another sip.
Anurag (quietly): "No, this is fine."
He took another sip. Then, as if something had settled heavily inside him, he suddenly finished the entire glass in one go.
Swarnendu (surprised): "Whoa! You're back in full form!"
Shubhradeep: "See? Who said he's changed? This is our old Anurag!"
Rishikesh: "Waiter! Another round!"
Anirban (concerned): "Anurag... you said just a little... why this much?"
Anurag (head down, in a soft voice): "Just felt like drinking a bit today... You all enjoy, I'm here."
Five minutes... ten minutes...
Rishikesh, Shubhradeep, Jitendra, Rahul, and Swarnendu were all enjoying their drinks in their own way. Anurag too was drinking. Anirban walked over and stood beside him.
Anirban: "It's really surprising to see you like this today. Haven't seen you like this in a long time."
Anurag: "Don't worry about me."
Anirban: "So... you haven't said anything about your new school joining."
Anurag (taking a sip, calmly): "It went well."
Anirban: "I guess the girls must've been curious about you."
There was no reaction on Anurag's face.
Anirban continued: "Schoolgirls really are naive. They don't even realize what they're doing. When I first joined, they were really curious about me too. Now that it's been about a month, I've seen a lot. They all just look for a chance to talk. Some even sent love letters. Can you believe it? For you, it must be even more-since you're more handsome than me."
Anurag didn't respond. He just kept drinking silently.
Anirban: "But honestly, one doesn't feel that way about them. The student-teacher relationship should stay pure. And to tell you the truth, romantic feelings toward students... they don't even come. They're just kids."
Suddenly, Sneha came to Anurag's mind. He saw a flash of her mesmerizing body in his mind's eye-her stunning breasts.
And then, almost absentmindedly, Anurag muttered,
"Kids...
Yeah, they really are kids."
Trying to shake off the image of Sneha, he picked up the glass again and gulped it all down in one go.
Seeing that, Anirban became worried. But the others were thrilled.
Rishikesh: "Anurag's definitely back in form!"
Swarnendu: "Great going! Another toast-this one's for Anurag!"
Glasses clinked. Laughter, music, and light made the moment feel alive.
But Anirban still hadn't touched a drink. Only water. He sat quietly, watching Anurag.
Third peg... fourth...
Anurag's eyes had started to blur.
Anirban (with concern on his face):
"You're drinking too much, Anurag. Have you looked at yourself? Your eyes are bloodshot. Are you alright?"
Anurag (with a sad smile):
"I missed you all so much, you know..."
Suddenly, he stumbled slightly, and the glass fell on the table. Luckily, it didn't break.
Jitendra: "Bro, your capacity is awesome! You've had so much, and you're still fine!"
Rahul: "That's the Anurag we know!"
But Anirban pressed his palm to his forehead. His voice was a bit firmer now, but the worry in it was unmistakable.
---
---
Anurag kept drinking, one glass after another. There was no pause, no end.
His friends laughed and joked,
"Bro, we overate at the restaurant. There's no space left in our stomachs. But he barely ate anything. Guess his stomach's empty - now he's filling it with booze!"
Another one added,
"Hey, you know his drinking capacity has always been higher than anyone else's. He can handle a lot in one go!"
Anirban suddenly interrupted and said firmly,
"You were the one who said you'd start fresh, Anurag. So why are you going back again? Do you even realize how far this one night can take you?"
Anurag stared at him in silence. A shadow of something unknown flickered in his eyes.
Anurag (softly):
"You all said it... I just wanted to make you all happy. I'm fine... I'm fine, Anirban... Don't worry..."
But behind those words, Anirban could sense it clearly - this wasn't about making anyone happy. It was a quiet surrender.
Anirban replied,
"Anurag, make yourself happy. Not others."
Anurag responded,
"Happiness! I lost that long ago."
Anirban felt a deep wave of sympathy for him.
---
In the next hour...
The glasses kept coming, and Anurag just couldn't stop. His voice grew heavy, a reddish haze crept into his eyes, and the clarity in his speech began to fade.
By then, all his friends had stopped drinking. They were swaying, tipsy and drowsy from the alcohol.
Jitendra (laughing drunkenly):
"Wow, man! You've outdrunk us all! Our handsome sir is drinking king-size tonight!"
To be continued...