Blood Love

"My friend has scientifically proved that vampires can't exist". As this was said after the third round of drinks, no one said anything in reply. The knowledge was greeted with a sage nodding of heads. Arjun was holding forth. After a brief bow of acknowledgment, he continued, "the nutritional value of blood is too low to power the enhanced predator metabolism of the hunter". This was met with blank stares. Arjun said, "Hey, those were her words. She is a biologist".

"What does that mean?" asked Karan.

Arjun clarified, "You dimwit, it means it takes more strength to hunt a human than you can get by drinking their blood".

"Aah" chorused the other three around the table.

All this was flowing over Arpana. She wasn't here for the conversation. She wasn't here for the booze. She was here for Arjun. Also, her being here was not the casual accident she had taken pains to make it look. From the first day of college, Arjun had caught her eye and held it in an effortless if unknowing grip.

"But how are they supposed to hunt people?" piped up Sachita.

Aparna didn't really like Sachita and thought her dim and shallow. But she was dating Arjun's buddy Karan. So Arpana had cultivated an acquaintance and had taken care to be free and looking bored on the evening she knew the other three were going out.

Arjun replied, "Well it stands to reason, doesn't it? You have to be stronger than what you kill".

"Bro!" Karan interjected. "I've seen goats that could clobber you".

"I didn't say eat" Arjun asserted, putting another spoon of mutton biryani into his mouth. "I said ..." He had to pause to swallow the mouthful. "I said kill" he emphasized. "Anyway, that's totally different. Man is the supreme predator because of his brain. Not his brawn".

Arpana was too tipsy to follow the logic. But she loved the way Arjun had declaimed it. He was a natural orator. Was there anything this amazing guy couldn't do? Why would someone like that take notice of her? Could she think of something to say? But as usual, nothing occurred to her. Should she have prepared some witty quips, just in case? But then, the moment had passed. Now, that stupid cow Sachita was trying to look clever.

"So, why can't vampire be smart?" Sachita had objected.

Karan snorted, "when did you last see a smart vampire movie?"

Arjun waived the waiter over for another round. Karan declined saying he had a class the next morning. Arjun made a majestic gesture. "As I was saying, that's impossible. Man is the pinnacle of evolution and we are getting better all the time. It's all about survival of the fittest". He flexed his biceps while saying this. "Just imagine a centuries old senile fossil trying to fool us and fit in." His raised his left eyebrow in mock challenge.

Arpana felt he was looking straight at her. She had to think fast. Come on, say something, anything! He probably thinks you are a mute or an idiot. But again, the words would not come. After taking almost a month to arrange this meeting, she was going to mess it all up. She had barely said more than a hello to Arjun. By tomorrow he'd likely forget her name.

But now Arjun was addressing her. "So Arpana, tell me, do you" he paused for effect, "believe in ... vampires?"

Arpana tried to chuckle in a way she hoped would sound sophisticated and world-weary. But to her ears it came out as a squealing giggle.

Their drinks arrived, along with water for Karan. There was a clinking of glasses and a slurred, "Cheers".

"Anyway, why worry about vampires" spoke up Sachita. "We have our own monsters. That son-of-a-bitch Professor Biswas gave me only 40% in literature. God! He is so ugly I bet his wife stays away from him. I swear that horny bastard is taking out his frustration on us".

Arpana flinched at this crudity directed at a teacher. She reminded herself that she only hung around Sachita to meet Arjun.

Karan cracked a half smile. He glanced at his watch. It was 10:30pm, time to go. The waiter brought their bill. Arjun grabbed it and insisted on paying. "But you never do that" objected Karan.

"Well today I'm going to" Arjun stated.

Then they stumbled out of the bar. Karan smiled and hugged Sachita. Then he told her to take care of Arpana. Arjun was staggering a bit. So Karan took his arm and supported it on his own shoulder.

After the girls had left in an auto, Karan turned to Arjun and said, "you know, if it hadn't been for you I was planning to go with Sachita tonight".

Arjun wasn't exactly sure where he was. The drinks must have been stronger than he had thought. How had the evening gone? Arpana had been there. Had he impressed her? All that grandstanding, did she realize he had done it for her? Did she like it? Or did she think he was a pretentious jerk? She hadn't said much. Did that mean she was bored? She must think he was an idiot babbling nonsense. He'd have to figure out some other way to get her attention.

But where was he now? Why was he so tired? He noticed his feet were barely touching the ground. He tried to raise his arm for support, but it would not move. Oh yes, Karan was supporting him. That was odd, Karan didn't look very strong. There he was now, his head next to his own. But something looked wrong.

"Dude!" Arjun cried. "Are you wearing lipstick?"

Karan smiled with red smeared lips. "Just relax. Its all going to be ok" he said, clamping his narcotic laden fangs around Arjun's neck.