The Cocktail Gang

One day five friends met at a bar in Goa, an old haunt actually called “Pedro’s Bar”, it had been their favorite since their college days and they were known as the “Cocktail Gang”. It had been almost 30 years and this reunion was fixed once a year - they would all leave everything behind and meet at the bar to reminiscence the good old days. The first to arrive as always was Whisky, he sauntered in at a leisurely place looked around for his friends and as usual he was the first to arrive so he chose a corner place at the end of the bar, waving out to Pedro the owner of the bar, he gestured with his fingers, “five” Pedro smiled and nodded and asked him to sit down. Approaching him, Pedro slapped him on the back and said early as usual where is the gang, Whisky smiled and said they will come along. He ordered himself a drink and lit a cigarette and waited excitedly for the gang to come.

Soon he could get a whiff of the perfume he was so familiar with and smiled, “aaah here comes Fenny with her favorite perfume with the fragrance of jasmine”, Fenny laughed hearing him and said you have a very good memory Whisky, you still remember my favorite perfume after all these years, not bad. Hugging Fenny, Whisky laughed and said, “how can anyone forget you?, you were and still make our hearts go boom boom every time we see you”. Fenny blushed and smiled saying always a woman’s man. Where are the others? Are we early?Just at that moment Rum entered in his usual sauntering way, dressed in tight jeans and body-hugging t-shirt even at 50 plus he was the fittest in the group and a real flirt and Casanova. Hey guys good to see you both and he sat in the chair next to Fenny and gave her a smile which was more like a smirk. After some time Tequilla came in wearing a flowery skirt rings on her fingers and bells on her toe, she danced her way into the bar threw a flying kiss to Pedro and joined the gang saying,” lovely to see you all “…where’s Vodka she asked. Whisky gave her a knowing smile and said Vodka is with Gin…. very funny replied Tequilla…In another few minutes Vodka sauntered in a little unsteady and all the four laughed at him saying …. there comes Vodka downing a few pegs of Gin. Okay Okay yelled Vodka make fun of me, but let me tell you without Gin I am nothing. Soon Whisky, Fenny, Tequilla, Rum and Vodka sat down and Pedro arrived with their standard drinks and starters and welcomed them saying, Welcome once again to Pedro’s Bar -Cocktail Gang”.

After having a few drinks and talking about their families, kids, careers, Whisky suddenly looked at Fenny and said, Fenny did you ever love me? There was a stunned silence for a second then Fenny burst out laughing …of course I love you Whisky you will always be my favorite boyfriend, you know that…Whisky then held her hand and said let’s dance and led her to the dance floor. The rest sat back to watch them dance and Rum remarked I wonder why Fenny never married Whisky they were so in love with each other in school and college and everyone thought they were made for each other…do any of you know what happened? No replied Vodka I have no idea why they separated and Whisky never gives a straight answer when I question him, same with Fenny, she just waves the question off with a smile but somehow, I can see the pain in her eyes which she tries so hard to hide. Soon Whisky and Fenny came back to their table and noticed all were watching them quietly, what happened? asked Whisky …

Vodka got up saying he will be back and left the table and the conversation turned to other topics. But even in the silence and noise they all noticed something had taken place between Whisky and Fenny and they were quite and avoiding eye contact with each other. Vodka came back carrying an envelope which he placed in the middle of the table and said…. the answer to all your questions is in this envelope… open it and read carefully …Rum picked up the envelope to open it but was stopped by Vodka, not you Whisky you open it… Whisky with trembling hands opened the envelope and saw a letter which had these wording, “great love affairs start with FENNY”. Where did you find this after all these years??? I have been searching for it, how did it reach you??. Vodka laughed and said, do you remember the book I borrowed from you, which you insisted I read, “Love Story “by Erich Sehgal. .  I finally read it some years back and I saw this handwritten note inside… I knew it was yours by your handwriting…The entire gang was silent, Vodka got up and went up to Whisky, you still haven’t expressed your feeling for the only girl you ever loved? Why and what are you waiting for…. Don’t you think Fenny has a right to you??

Whisky shrugged his shoulders and said, Come on Vodka what’s the point now… it’s too late, so much time has gone by, we have crossed so many bridges in life, let still waters lie still now. Fenny on hearing all this, got up went up to Whisky and looking into his eyes said, Why?? Why?? Whisky why did you keep your feelings for me hidden up all these years?? What stopped you? What were you afraid of? Whisky smiled with tears in his eyes, I was scared Fenny, of what asked Fenny… of losing you … What made you think you would lose me?? asked Fenny… You were the most popular girl in our village, everyone wanted to know you, dance with you. . . there used to be a line waiting for a dance with you…. And I was always kept waiting till the end when it was all over. . I never imagined you could love me the way I have always loved you since the first time I saw you in school. By this time the bar was empty and they were the only people and Pedro sensing something was amiss left them and went to do his work…

There was complete silence for few minutes and then Tequilla teary eyed looked at Fenny and said its time you told him the truth Fenny you have kept it hidden in your heart for so long. What truth asked Whisky looking at Tequila and Fenny, well I might as well spill the beans said Tequila, Fenny has been in love with you since the day she set her eyes on you, she has been waiting for the last 30 years for you to come to her and ask her to be your wife.  What said Whisky, but I thought Fenny was happily married and settled…. Fenny and married … how could you even think that way Whisky said Tequilla, remember you always used to say, “true love comes only once in a blue moon” it’s true and the funny fact is you both have been fools in love.

Whisky sat down and looking around his friend said, Fenny I loved you from day one, you were and will always be the one I love, my soul mate and to think we wasted 30 years just thinking that we were happily married in our lives when actually we were unhappy and waiting for each other… and today a miracle has actually happened and so before its too late …Fenny will you marry me??? Fenny looked at Whisky with tears in her eyes and holding his hands, hugged him and kissed him then smiling at him she said, “its better late than never” Mr Whisky Fernandes I have waited 30 years patiently to become a part of you”. Then all the four, Whisky, Fenny, Tequilla, Rum and Vodka with drinks in their hands cheered so loudly that Pedro came running out and joined them in their joy and they are said cheers to the one and only “Cocktail Gang” and the band began to play the signature tune of the movie “ Love Story”…”where do I begin”