SUDDEN TWIST Read online

  Mathew sensed her irritation and turned it off.

  “By the way there’s a party on Saturday,” she said.

  “What party?” he peeped outside there was a road jam.

  “Birthday party for all his classmates,” she said looking out the window as well.

  “Sounds boring! Show off!” Mathew turning off the engine.

  “C’mon it will be fun! There will be lots of people and oh ya booze!” she tried to convince him.

  “I am not very social and I don’t drink,” he said dismissively.

  “Seriously! You don’t drink?” she asked amused.

  “My dad was a drunk I don’t wanna be like him,” he said firmly.

  “Oh well where is he now?” she asked.

  “Dead!” he replied and then there was silence.

  The next day Sakshi was waiting for Mathew eagerly apparently Natasha was dodgy yesterday while replying to her list of questions which were no less than fifty. Poor Natasha had to even skip her sleep because Sakshi wouldn’t leave her alone, but even so she didn’t fully trust her friend and hence wanted to interrogate Mathew as well just to be sure Natasha didn’t lie about anything.

  “Your late! Why didn’t you answer my call?” she asked when he finally came she was waiting for him at the college gate.

  “Because I knew what you were gonna ask,” he said calmly.

  “So okay first question what did he wear?” she asked him as they walked in.

  “I don’t know,” he said.

  “I told you to—” Sakshi began.

  “They didn’t let me in, I was waiting at the car,” he cut her off.

  “Aw great! Your so useless I knew I should have tagged along,” she said smacking her fists together.

  “He did kiss her though,” he said suddenly.

  “Really! Ehh!” and she screeched in excitingly and Mathew did a facepalm.

  “Why the hell are you so excited?” he asked her.

  “This is great news!” she yelled completely ignoring him.

  “Girls!” he said shaking his head in disbelief.

  As they entered the class Sakshi quickly took her seat next to Natasha and pulled Mathew next to her.

  “Natasha! You lied to me!” Sakshi said pointing a finger at her friend accusingly.

  “You promised me Mathew!” Natasha scolded Mathew angrily.

  “I promised to spare you for the night which I did,” he replied calmly.

  “Natashaaaaa?” Sakshi teased gently elbowing her.

  “Fine! I kissed him so what! She yelled then suddenly realized everyone was looking at her and so she hid her face in embarrassment as everyone giggled and laughed.

  There were whistles and some one said “Way to go girl!” fortunately it all ended when the professor came in.

  Just then Sachin was at the entrance the professor let him in, as he came in he looked at Natasha but she tried to avoid looking at him and so he went and sat behind her.

  “Hi!” he whispered softly at Natasha’s ear which made her almost jump in shock.

  “Hi,” Natasha replied nervously his warm breath on her neck was giving her goosebumps.

  “Did you sleep well yesterday?” he asked her softly.

  She nodded in reply not looking back at him though.

  “Well I couldn’t….when ever I tried to close my eyes and get some sleep my mind would go back to that moment….those few minutes before you left”.

  Natasha heart starting racing and she even started sweating in nervousness.

  “Quit you too unless you wanna get thrown out of class,” Mathew said.

  Natasha for once was thankful for Mathew for unintentionally rescuing her from an awkward conversation.

  “What’s your problem? Leave us alone!” Sachin shot back angrily.

  “Dude you can talk to her all day long, but don’t do it right now,” he said to him calmly.

  “What? Are you jealous that you don’t have a girlfriend?” Sachin smirked at him.

  “Do whatever you want,” and Mathew rolled his eyes.

  “What’s going on in there,” the professor shouted.

  “Nothing sir we were just discussing about that sum you are doing,” Sachin answered.

  “Well then discuss it let’s all hear what you have to say about it,” and he gave him a nasty smile.

  “Ah….hmmm….” Sachin began.

  “Cant we just use Kirchoff’s Voltage law for that since it has multiple loops?” Mathew asked suddenly.

  The professor raised his eyebrows in surprise.

  “Well your a smart one yes that can be done, okay lets see,” and he began working it out on the board.

  “Phew that was close,” Sachin said to himself.

  “He is smarter than he looks,” Natasha thought staring at him it was the first time she saw him showing such keen interest in anything.

  Mathew realized that Natasha was starting at him, he knew what she was thinking “Exam is approaching that’s why,” he whispered and winked at her.

  “Oh…..I can help you,” she replied.

  “Tuition? Tell me when,” he asked her.

  “Evening…7:00 from next week?” she said and Mathew gave her a thumps up.

  “Can I come?” Sachin asked her, he didn’t like the idea of Natasha spending time with Mathew.

  “Natasha don’t, I cant concentrate if you guys start getting noisy,” Sakshi said. She preferred to study alone in peace and quiet and two boys with Natasha did not look helpful to her.

  “I didn’t ask your opinion,” Sachin told her annoyed.

  “It’s my room too mister!” Sakshi said with an angry look and Sachin backed off.

  “Natasha he better not disturb me or I will kick him out too,” she said looking at Mathew and Natasha nodded.

  As the class ended Sachin walked in to the front of the class and stood on the professors desk and all the students started clapping and whistling, “Okay guys for those of you who don’t know yesterday was my birthday”.

  The girls wished him in unison happy birthday and the guys clapped and whistled to which he replied by bowing.

  “So since all my dear friends couldn’t attend yesterday today I am hosting my birthday party especially for you guys,” there where more cheering and whistling.

  “So everyone be at the evergreen resort by 5:00 pm today, since its Saturday you guys can manage I think,” and there was laughter among the students.

  “Over and out,” and with that he jumped off the desk and left the class.

  “Wow! He really has a flair Natasha,” Sakshi said impressed by his boldness to speak while standing on top of a desk.

  “Not bad that’s the professor desk after all,” Mathew added.

  “I wonder what dad would do if he knew I was dating such a guy,” Natasha wondered.

  That evening both of them were dressed and ready for the party and as usual Mathew was their chauffeur again Natasha was paying him 3 times his usual fee, so he came whenever they called. Sakshi’s said it was safer to have a bodyguard with them since there would be plenty of boozing and Mathew looked stronger than most people.

  When they finally arrived Mathew insisted on staying inside his car but he was dragged along by them to the resort.

  “Look I am telling ya someone’s gotta watch that car its not mine you know,” Mathew kept complaining.

  “I will buy you a new one if that happens,” Natasha said smiling at the guard who welcomed them in.

  “Ha! you? What are you a billionaire?” Mathews said outraged at her answer.

  “What she meant was Sachin will buy you a new one right Natasha?” Sakshi tried to correct Natasha mistake.

  “Oh ya…..that’s what I meant…….I mean there are guards and all to watch your car,” Natasha bit her tongue at her mistake.

  “Ya see? It’s safe and if something happens you can sue our birthday boy,” Sakshi continued.

  “Great! Now I am out of excuses,” Mathew thought to h
imself with pursed lips.

  As they got in there was an open ground ahead of them, a big pool in the middle and surrounding it were all the students and friends dancing to the DJ’s tune. There were drinks being served constantly by several waiters, one of the waiters had come towards the three of them, Sakshi and Natasha helped themselves but Mathew refused to touch the drinks.

  “I’m gonna go look for Sachin you two stay here,” Natasha said almost shouting at the top of her voice, the blaring music in the background made her voice almost inaudible.

  “What?” Sakshi shouted back and showed a finger to her ear indicating she didn’t hear her.

  So Natasha made a heart with her hands and Sakshi immediately knew what she meant and gave her a thumps up.

  Sakshi then finished her drink and punched Mathew’s arm “C’mon lets dance!” she yelled and began dancing shaking her hips and swirling her hair.

  “I can’t dance!” Mathew said in a loud voice.

  “Baby I can teach you,” Sakshi said biting her lower lip.

  “Crap!” Mathew thought.

  He pulled a random guy nearby and pointed him to Sakshi who happily went to give her company.

  “Hey sweety! Can I join you?” the guy asked Sakshi.

  Sakshi winked at him and put her arms across his shoulders and began to dance with him.

  Mathew as usual was sleeping at a table nearby when Natasha finally came along.

  She woke him up “How do you even manage to sleep in all this noise?!” She asked shocked.

  “Oh its you,” Mathew said yawning.

  “You really don’t know how to have fun do you?” she said dragging him by the arm.

  “Did you find Sachin?” Mathew asked trying to free his arm.

  “Nope he is yet to come,” she replied.

  “Wants to make a grand entrance I guess,” he said as they made their way to the crowd.

  “Where’s Sakshi?” Natasha asked.

  “Dancing with some guy,” he said.

  “And you just left her there? I told you to stick together didn’t I?” Natasha scolded him.

  “She can take care of herself,” Mathew replied.

  “No she won’t she will probably get drunk in a few hours…..why do you think I bought you along?” she said turning and looking at him.

  Then they found her dancing wildly with everyone cheering her on.

  “Hey! So….what did he say,” Sakshi said when she finally came up to them.

  “He hasn’t come yet,” Natasha replied.

  “What’s going on there?” Mathew pointed to his right.

  “Let’s see C’mon!” Sakshi dragged Natasha along with her.

  There was plenty of cheering as two fighters were sparring with each other. Some students were even recording the fight with their smart phones.

  “Cool!” Sakshi screamed excitedly.

  “Is that even legal?” Mathew asked Natasha pointing at them.

  “Na its not in fact I hardly think anything is legal in here,” Natasha replied.

  “Why are the hotel owners even allowing this,” Mathew asked.

  “Because Sachin’s family owns this resort,” she replied.

  “Yep and be careful I am pretty sure drugs are circulating here as well,” Sakshi said taking her phone to record the fight.

  “Wow they are so hot! You seeing this Natasha?” Sakshi asked.

  “They look skinny to me,” Mathew said.

  “Oh shut up! They are not wimp’s like you,” Sakshi retorted.

  “Hey! I am not a wimp you hear me?!” Mathew said angrily.

  “Well then prove it! Maybe by sparring with them?” she dared him.

  “Well I have to drive I need my hands in good conditions thank you,” Mathew said.

  “Whatever!” Sakshi said dismissively.

  “This will be interesting they are both judo experts,” Natasha said showing some interest.

  “That’s jujitsu and the guy in red is using Brazilian jujitsu” Mathew corrected her.

  “They look all the same to me Sakshi knows stuff like this,” Natasha said.

  “Ya I know,” Mathew said expressing disinterest in the fight.

  One of the fighters tried an acrobatic move and failed miserably and got knocked back by a high kick to his stomach.

  “Bah! Amateurs what does he think his opponent is a piece of log?” Mathew said annoyed. “Probably saw his instructor demonstrate it to him and thought he could use it in a real fight!” Mathew continued.

  “Its not so easy you know when you are fighting,” Sakshi said defending the fighter as everyone cheered his brave but futile effort.

  “That’s why keep your moves practical and simple flashy moved take too much time to execute and hence they always fail,” Mathew enlightened her.

  “Hey! How do know so much?” Sakshi asked him in surprise.

  “Ah…well the internet I went through some stuff recently,” he said trying to avoid eye contact.

  Sakshi nodded but remained suspicious, the fight ended when the host Sachin finally arrived and there were cheers welcoming him.

  “The man of the hour,” the said the DJ on the mike all the guest’s started cheering and whistling.

  “Thank you! Thank you!” Sachin said waving.

  He took the microphone and said “Thank you all for coming…...now….lets party!”

  “You better go say hello,” Mathew advised Natasha and she nodded.

  “Hey look that’s Rahil,” Sakshi said pointing at a guy throwing knifes at bottles being thrown up in the air. “He is the best fighter in the neighbourhood, you should see him fight its awesome,” she said excitedly.

  “Yo yo,” said the guy throwing the bottles. “That’s five in a row anyone who can beat that gets twenty thousand in cash right here,” he showed the people gathered around the cash.

  “You have to break the bottles though,” Rahil added.

  “Wow I didn’t know he was so good with knife and that too with spinning bottles,” Sakshi was really impressed even Mathew nodded in agreement.

  “20 k is not a bad number,” he said.

  “Ya but its impossible,” Sakshi said.

  “Why because he is your hero?” Mathew teased her.

  “No because he is the best,” she replied.

  “How do you even know?” Mathew asked.

  “Why don’t you try and beat that before talking or you gonna give another excuse like last time?” she said mockingly.

  “I can do it if I want!” Mathew said.

  “And if you fail?” Sakshi asked him.

  “What do you want say it!” Mathew dared her.

  “You will do anything I ask of you and me the same for a day,” she said and he nodded.

  “I’ll try it,” he told Rahil.

  He handed over the knife’s then remembered something “Oh! that will be 1000 pay up”.

  “What a 1000! For what?” Mathew yelled shocked.

  “How did you think I got 20 k to shell out as prize money genius….you pay to play,” Mathew became hesitant.

  “I’ll pay,” Sakshi said and paid him the money.

  “Okay here’s the first one,” Rahil threw up a spinning bottle without warning.

  Instinctively Mathew threw the knife without aiming and it hit and shattered the glass bottle.

  “What the!!!” Rahil was startled.

  “Hey! I wasn’t ready,” Mathew yelled at him.

  “Oh…a….sorry,” here’s the next one he threw up another bottle and another until he reached 5 and Mathew shattered them all calmly as the crowd yelled 2, 3, 4, 5 in unison and cheering every time he shattered the glass bottles.

  And finally after shattering the sixth bottle he said “I am done”.

  “Dude you can crack up more you are crazy good at this,” Rahil’s partner said.

  “Na people will stop trying if I make an impossible record,” Mathew answered and Rahil nodded in agreement.

  “What was that
!!” Sakshi’s squeaked in disbelief.

  “So I win….now your turn to keep your promise,” flashing a victory sign.

  “Okay well tomorrow you are my boss,” she said grudgingly.

  “Not tomorrow right now,” he corrected her.

  “Now?” she was puzzled.

  “Yep right now,” he smiled mischievously.

  “Okay what do you want me to do?” she asked nervously.

  “Boobs flash!” he said laughing.

  “What you pervert! I am not doing that!” she said outraged.

  “A promise is a promise,” Mathew insisted.

  After some hesitation she lifted her top for a few second before pulling it down.

  “There! Now leave me alone,” she said before leaving.

  “Not bad,” Mathew thought as she left.

  “Hey where were you,” Natasha asked the two of them.

  “Just moving around,” Sakshi said avoiding Natasha’s eyes.

  “What wrong,” Natasha asked Sakshi.

  “Nothing,” Sakshi said giving Mathew an angry look.

  “Mathew everyone’s talking about you, we heard the screams from up there Sachin and I,” Natasha said pointing upwards.

  “I gonna have a drink,” Sakshi said and went away.

  “She looks upset,” Natasha said concerned.

  “Don’t worry she will get drunk anyway,” Mathew answered.

  And so she did, Mathew had to eventually carry her to the car as they went home.

  Sakshi Secret

  The next day things were getting awkward between Sakshi and Mathew, Natasha obviously noticed that.

  “What in the world were you two up to yesterday?” Natasha asked them.

  “Nothing I swear,” Sakshi told her.

  “Really?” Natasha raised her eyebrows.

  “Mathew tell her,” she urged him.

  “I caught her sleeping with a guy that’s all,” Mathew said laughing.

  “What!! Lair I did not, do you really think I am so cheap? How dare you!” Sakshi began rating.

  “Okay then what did you do?” Natasha asked “obviously you guys are acting strange today,” she added.

  “I um ….ah….” but she just couldn’t think of anything embarrassing enough.

  “Never mind I just hope you didn’t do anything stupid just because he told you to, I’ve have a bad experience with him remember?” she said looking at Mathew.