2. Escape

"But Sanj, I don't even go to this party. I want to snuggle up in my bed and eat ice cream." I whined.

"Get your nasty ass up from that bed before I come there and throw you out of the window." She replied. She really wanted me to go to this stupid party my father was going to throw which he says is a homecoming party for me but we all know its an open ground for rich businessmen and deals worth more than me and my life.

Expensive dresses spread all over my bed and this was the seventh dress my 'I'm not a perfectionist and no, I don't have OCD so shut up.' best friend made me try. I always teased her for wanting everything in order and cleaned up. She was the Monica to my Rachel, just like them I was always messing things up and she was always cleaning up after me.

"You sure this isn't bothering you?" I asked her as I took off the dress and threw it along with the other dresses and she handed me another one to try. I know all she wanted to do was pick up the dresses, make the bed for the fourth time in an hour and clean the whole room but I always teased her about it and she denied it every time so she is trying really hard not to but, me being me, I'm making it harder for her by making more mess.

"No Naina, this isn't bothering me. I like this dress and you're going to wear it or else I'll whoop your ass."

'hah, there it is! I've annoyed her! oh I love this shit, I know I'm evil.' I thought.

"bleh."

"Bitch, please don't irritate me now and get ready. Your hot piece of ass fiancé is also going to be there so I don't want you to look like trash even though you are but we can use some make up and you'll become prettier trash!"

I took my ice cream tub from the mini fridge along with a bottle of red wine. Trust me, that's the best combination ever and it tastes like heaven. After half a bottle of wine and a tub of ice-cream, we both finally got ready.

The dress that Sanjana made me wear was what I like to call "elegantly slutty". It was a champagne coloured dress with sequins all over it. It was a full sleeved dress and the only reason for it to be called elegant. It reached till mid thigh and hugged my curves pretty tightly, that is the slutty part, not that it offended me but I just wasn't comfortable in it. My high heels were also sparkly. I felt like a disco-ball. My family was going to be there. I had no idea why would she make me wear this.

Sanjana wore a dress similar to mine in black and silver. She was beautiful, she could pull off any outfit. She could wear a garbage bag and still look gorgeous. And then there's me...I look like a 50 day old piece of shit even when I dress up. At least that's what I think.

I drove to the venue, my dad's one of the many fortunes. Our farmhouse was on the countryside and very far off the city. There wasn't any farm related business that went on there. Just a very large field bordered by a lots of flowers of different kinds and at the front was the house. It was a modern three-storey house with expensive interiors. It was only for parties like this, other than that we never visited.

We got out of the car and one of the drivers took the car at the back for parking it. The ambiance was well lit, with fairy lights in the garden and in the backyard and all the lights fitted in the house were switched on.

"There she is!" My father's voice beamed through the air as we walked in. Everyone turned their heads towards me and I felt really self-conscious. I walked towards my dad and gave him a hug.

"Hello everyone." I said to the few men my father was talking to. He introduced them but I don't really remember their names.

All the introductions with people went on for a while. I was exhausted after all the socialisation I  did. It was a lot for me to be honest. The only reason I don't go out that much. And I really don't want to mention my mother because she can be worse than a migraine.

"Come let's get something to drink." Sanjana said and I nodded because alcohol was much needed by my body to be able to function in this situation.

After two flutes of Champagne and a vodka shot, also the wine I had before, I was very tipsy. But then I noticed familiar faces appeared through the doors.

"Hey guys!" I sounded way too excited. My voice came out more like a mouse's squeak.

"Hey beautiful. How much did you drink already?" Ashwin asked, chuckling at my squeaky voice. Really? Beautiful? He totally ignored me and left when we first met and now he was calling me beautiful. Weird.

"Not much." Sanjana answered for me.

"You should've at least waited for us." The hotter one said. What was his name, again?

"I wasn't able to handle all this socialisation with a shitload of rich people. Alcohol just made them tolerable." I answered.

Sanjana and I always tried the telepathy thing but it never worked. I tried one more time but no, she never pays attention when I'm trying to call her mentally.

What's his name? What's his name? What's his name?

It's really irritating me I need to know! I didn't even bothered to pay attention to what they were talking about.

"Hey! Where did you doze off to?" He asked me. What's his name?

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked how are you feeling being back home?" Pathetic.

"I'm great!" No I'm not...

"Good to hear." Can someone please remind me what is his name before I lose it?

"I'm sorry but what's your name, again?" Shit shit shit. Mental note-no talking after drinking.

He just laughed and said "I think you should be able to figure it out yourself"

Little bitch! He's trying to test me. Didn't he think I would've figured it out by now if I had to?

"It's the alcohol I think." Wow Naina, way to go...

By the time, Ashwin went around to talk to people about business and stuff and Sanjana went...I didn't really know where...

"It's Shiv. I think I really shouldn't annoy you right now."

"Oh now I remember! Hi Shiv! And yeah you got it right...never mess with me. I'm having a really bad headache I want to go home." I blabbered like a small child. I swear I can handle alcohol pretty well, I just don't know what was happening.

I took my phone out and dialled Sanjana's number.

"Oh shit I'm really sorry I had to leave. Its my brother, asshole was caught drunk driving and I really didn't think you driving would've been a good idea...also, you never let anyone drive your car so I called a cab."

"Wait that's a lot of words to process." I've got to stop drinking.

"I- I'm really sorry I left you there but it was really important. I'll tell everything once you are sober, okay?"

"Alright." I said in a grumpy voice and hung up.

"All okay?" Shiv asked me.

"Yeah. But can you drive me home?" I really don't think driving is a good idea right now.

"Sure, just wait a minute I'll go and inform Ashwin." He went away and came back after a minute.

On our way out I saw my dad.

"Dad, I'm going home. I don't feel good. Is it alright?" I asked him.

"Sure Sweety, go and get some rest." He kissed my forehead. See this party wasn't for me after all. Me coming home was just an opportunity for my parents to throw a grand party and show off.

"Can you tell mom for me?" I asked him because I didn't really wanted to see her I know that my mom would go furious if I left without her knowing. And also she would've made me stay no matter what.

"Yes I will. Now you go home please you look tired."

I turned and went outside. Shiv was already standing there.

"Now you listen to me very carefully. My car is very precious to me so if anything happens, you save her before me okay? And I don't really let anyone drive it so consider yourself lucky." I warned him, slurring slightly before handing him the keys.

"As you say your highness." He said and bowed down a little. I laughed and he gave me a cute smile.

.

"You know what? I really don't want to go home tonight." I said when he turned for the way to my home.

"Okay, so where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere that doesn't include people showing their rich asses off. And also, I want to get really drunk that would make me regret it tomorrow."

"Okay, you're already pretty drunk but I know the perfect place for you." And he took a U-turn.

.

We stopped in front of a small club with neon signs all around.

"Escape" I read the club's name. It was truly my escape from the Crazy Rich Indians.

"Yes. It's really awesome. I used to come here all the time with Ashwin when we were in college but now he's always busy with work. We used to be each other's wingman. Hey! Maybe you could be my wing-woman tonight!" He said. Yeah right, like I would do that.

"We'll see about that." I winked and got out of the car.