Rahul (staggering):
"This is what real friendship looks like! You have to chew through life slowly, piece by piece!"
Anirban, serious now, leaned close to Anurag and said,
"Anurag... that's enough. Let's go now. It's too much."
Anurag (turning his head slowly):
"Don't be like this, Anirban... after all this time... Just give me one night to breathe..."
Anirban (softly):
"You don't know how worried I am about you. You had just begun to stand on your feet again, and now... now you're slipping again..."
Anurag smiled, but his eyes shimmered with tears.
"You wouldn't understand... You have no idea how empty it feels inside. Maybe this is just a glass to you, but for me... it opens a lid... all the old things come flooding back..."
Anirban (eyes widening):
"Are those... tears? Anurag...?"
Anurag turned his face away and reached for another glass, but Anirban quickly pulled it out of his hand.
Anirban (firmly):
"No. You need to stop now. Come, let's go home."
Anurag (wearily):
"You don't get it, Anirban... I can't stop..."
The laughter from the friends faded. Silence fell. No one had anything clever to say anymore. A shadow of pain was visible in Anurag's eyes.
His friends began to realize their mistake. It had taken Anurag a lot of effort to quit drinking. It wasn't right to drag him back into it.
Rishikesh (in a low voice):
"We didn't understand, man..."
Shubhradeep:
"Maybe we pushed him too hard..."
Rahul (quietly):
"We thought the old fun would return... but actually..."
Anirban sat beside Anurag.
"Come on, Anurag... Let's go now. I'm here for you."
Anurag lowered his head and said solemnly,
"I could stop today only because you were here. If you weren't... I don't know where I would've ended up."
Anirban gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Outside, the night breeze had turned a little colder, and from a distance, a car horn sounded again.
---
Flat - Around 2 a.m.
Anirban brought Anurag up to the door of the flat, holding him steady. He unlocked the door.
As soon as the door opened, Anurag staggered in. His shirt buttons were undone, his hair disheveled, and his face looked pale. He stumbled a bit near the balcony.
Anirban (rushing to him):
"Careful! Slowly, Anurag! Come, I'll help you. If I leave you alone, you'll probably fall."
Inside the bedroom, Anurag sat down straight on the bed. He clutched his head with both hands. His voice was trembling.
Anurag (in a faint voice):
"My head... it's spinning, Anirban... the room is swaying too..."
Anirban (quickly sitting beside him):
"Lie down for a bit... I'll get some water."
He fetched water from the side table and pressed the glass into Anurag's hand. Anurag took a couple of sips, then grimaced.
Anurag:
"Ugh... I feel like I'm going to throw up..."
Saying that, he suddenly stood up, but his legs were shaky. He held onto the wall beside the balcony for a moment, then tried to rush toward the bathroom.
Anirban quickly followed him.
"Careful! Don't fall, okay?"
Anurag (head down, voice shaking):
"No, no... don't come close... I'm feeling awful... I'll manage on my own..."
There was a mix of discomfort, shame, and pride in his voice. He didn't want Anirban to see him in this state.
But Anirban didn't stop. Slowly, he came from behind and placed a hand on Anurag's shoulder.
"Don't say anything. I'm here for you, understand? These things are trivial... come on, lean on me."
Anurag tried to resist but couldn't. Anirban supported him and took him to the bathroom.
Anurag bent over the sink and threw up a little. Anirban gently rubbed his back with one hand and pulled out a towel with the other.
"Just a little more... breathe slowly... you'll feel better..."
Anurag (whispering in a hoarse voice):
"Why do you... do this for me? You could've just stayed away..."
Anirban (calmly):
"Because you're not alone. And no matter how bad you're feeling, I feel worse seeing you like this. That's why I'm here."
Anurag didn't say anything in reply.
Anirban held Anurag's shoulder firmly with one hand and gently wiped his face with the towel using the other. After a while, Anurag slowly straightened up. His body was still trembling, but a hint of calm had returned to his eyes.
Anirban (with concern):
"Come on, let's go back to bed. Take your medicine and rest. You've got school in the morning. If you don't rest, you'll be really weak."
They slowly returned to the bedroom.
Anurag took the medicine Anirban gave him and collapsed onto the bed. He closed his eyes; his face looked peaceful.
Anirban pulled a thin blanket over him.
He stood silently beside him for a while, then quietly turned off the light.
The room went dark, with only the faint glow of the streetlight coming through the window, casting a soft light on Anurag's peaceful face.
Anirban lay down on his own bed and fell asleep.
---
*****************************
Morning - In the flat's drawing room, around 8 a.m.
Soft sunlight is entering through the window. A gentle smell of tea is coming from the kitchen.
Anirban is making tea. He's wearing a loose T-shirt, with traces of sleep still in his eyes.
There's a sound of a door opening from inside.
Anurag walks out slowly - hair messy, face tired, reddish lines under his eyes. He rubs his eyes and sits down in a corner of the sofa.
Anirban (walking over with a cup of tea):
"Oh, Mr. Hangover is finally awake! So, how are you feeling? My god! You really can drink! Last night you finished all those bottles on your own!
Dude, I couldn't even dream of that. I feel like throwing up just from the smell of alcohol."
Anurag (in a weak voice):
"My head is pounding... feels like it's going to burst..."
Anirban (handing him the cup):
"Here, drink this first. I made it with ginger, lemon, and honey. Works well for hangovers. Then I'll toast you some bread. And if you eat a banana, it'll help with the acidity. Have a light breakfast, and then take a paracetamol."
Anurag takes a small sip and frowns.
Anurag:
"Ugh... my mouth still tastes bitter..."
Anirban (with concern):
"What was the need to drink that much anyway? Today, drink plenty of water, okay?
Tell me honestly-how are you really feeling? Is it really bad?"
Anurag (half-opening his eyes):
"Feels like someone's sitting inside my head with a wooden hammer... and going tung-tung..."
Anirban (in a regretful tone):
"Ugh! Just look at the state you're in! I feel like grabbing those guys and thrashing them for forcing you like that.
And don't forget to take your medicine, okay?"
Anurag sits quietly for a while.
Anirban (gently):
"Don't worry. Take a shower, eat breakfast - your body will calm down.
And I'm here, right? I say take it easy today. Leave a bit late if you can."
Anurag stays silent for a moment. Then softly says:
"You don't have to take so much care of me... I only ever... disturb you..."
Anirban (looking him straight in the eyes):
"Listen, worse than a hangover is guilt.
If you don't get over that, that's when the real sickness begins.
So stop thinking like that."
Anurag smiles a little. His face still looks worn out, but there's a hint of calm in his eyes.
Anirban gets up and heads toward the kitchen.
"I'm making you some toast and a banana. And later, drink some water with salt, sugar, and lemon.
Your electrolytes are all messed up."
---
To be continued...