Musical Chair Game of the Elite

The perfect winged eyeliner and that retro red lipstick did all the justice to the polka-dot short dress worn by Kritika. Her waist long hair were beautifully curled and left open with a scarf tried around as a hair band. It was the first informal event that Kritika was supposed to attend post her wedding and all those wedding dinners by friends & family. Rajiv’s family was amongst the richest families of Delhi who resided in the posh colony of Chattarpur farms. Coming from a middle-class background, Kritika was a manager at a private bank where Rajiv’s father had a daily visit for work. Kritika’s politeness & simplicity enraptured Mr. Suri who decided to welcome her as his daughter-in-law. A formal meeting between the 2 families, and the engagement became the talk of the town. A month long courtship and the two were then declared husband and wife at a lavish destination wedding in Udaipur.

A final look in the mirror and wearing her My Burberry, Kritika was all set to face Rajiv who was getting ready in his own dressing room. His black Brunello Cucinelli tuxedo and the gelled hair made him appear no less than a royal but it was Kritika who was stealing the show today. The sound of her heels and his shoes clacking across the living room could be heard from a distance. The driver was signed off for the day and Kritika thought it to be a romantic plan by Rajiv. With a passionate lip lock in their Mercedes-Maybach, the couple was off to a lavish farmhouse owned by Somani’s in Sainik Farms. It didn’t take over 15 minutes to reach for them to reach their destination at 9:30 pm on a Saturday. It was Kritika’s first time at such a high-profile birthday party of Rajiv’s friend Karan Somani and she wanted to present her best foot forward. The place seemed exactly the opposite of what Kritika thought it to be. The party hall was too dark to clearly see anything much with some Disco lights added to match the “Bollywood Theme” of the event. The greetings were way to different from what Kritika has a habit off; for everyone was hugging and kissing each other in the name of addressing. “A high-society etiquette, maybe” she made herself understand and kept her best ever smile despite of all the twinge she had within. Hooches were flowing freely and cigarette or cigas in every hand, Kritika found the place too bizarre to be in, but decided to keep calm for Rajiv was exceptionally cheerful. In the name of proposing a toast to Kritika and Rajiv, the couple was made to have tequila shorts by their friends at the bar counter. Kritika’s resistance was ignored by both Rajiv and his friends and she was made to gobble the bitter transparent liquid by Rajiv.

The mind started to wonder and the senses failed to justify their jobs; Tequila had did its part for Kritika. The clock struck 2 am and the crowd had filtered to only 8 couples remaining in the house. The little sense that Kritika had in the moment, she assumed it to be the end of her first and not so enjoyable party; while the host announced for a round of musical chairs to be played between the couples. The music started with only four chairs on the floor and 8 people running around to claim one. The music stopped and Kritika felt someone’s arm pulling her towards him and making her sit on his lap. “Rajiv”, she said and smiled before spotting him sitting on next seat with Mrs. Mehra sitting on her lap. It was not a usual Musical Chairs she had been playing from her childhood days for this game had some adult rules and some adulterations. Pushing the arms around her away, Kritika stood up feeling woozy. Before she could call out for Rajiv, the music was played again with dimming the lights of the room. Karan held Kritika again and began to feel her body in the name of dancing, while Rajiv was busy doing the same with Mrs. Mehra. A major struggle with dizzy head and against a strong hold, Kritika finally helped herself to set free from the Karan’s grip and reach out to Rajiv. With teary eyes she started describing everything to Rajiv, when a waiter arrived with a basket having 4 car keys in there, including Rajiv’s while he didn’t pick his own.

It didn’t take a minute for Kritika to realize what was supposed to happen next and her teary eyes were now filled with fear and helplessness. While the wife swapping game was normal and fun for others, Kritika was raped brutally that night.