An invite for small send-off dinner by our first floor Bhabhiji was forwarded through her favorite lad among us Raghu. We are a bunch college students living together for the past four years in this rented office space behind our college campus. Our hostel facility were very meager and not welcoming, hence we all shifted to this empty office space that was available. The only first floor above us was occupied by a North Indian couple from far up there.
The lady of the house, Bhabhiji is the one who invited us for this send-off dinner as we all have completed our course and leaving for our native places the next day. We all assembly like obedient boy for this surprise dinner as Bhabhiji was very strict regarding our late night activities. The old window air conditioner and TV were on and we all adjusted in this limited space available in the Hall. The TV was playing some wild Bollywood numbers. Raghu was arranging some table for all of us and suddenly he placed two full bottles of our favorite Rum on the table.
We all looked at each other wondering what has changed our strict Bhabhiji. Raghu followed up with empty plastic glasses, soda and chill Coka-Cola. As he requested all to open the bottle and merry. We all were still a little bit hesitant.
Bhabhiji entered the Hall, with freshly fried Chicken Pakodas and fried eggs in her tray, welcoming all of us all in her ever broken Tamil. She asked us to start pouring and she insisted few surprises await for us tonight. Raghu started mixing Rum with Cola for us and Bhabhiji requesting us to try some of her Chicken Pakodas, we all softly said Cheers! gulped the first of Rum closing our eyes as we often habitually do. After all have finished our first round Bhabhiji said she cant have a glass as she said in Hindi like in old Hindi movies do "Main Maa Banne Wali Hoon!"