NIGHTCLUB CHRONICLES
CHAPTER 5
I braced myself for the coming onslaught. I had often heard that the best form of defence is attack. Of the three of them who approached us, the first to reach was the guy in white. I didn’t wait for him to attack first; I welcomed him with a hook on his chin. He fell on the table and scattered all the drinks. I aimed a solid kick on his stomach.
Pandemonium had broken out. He rose from the floor and all three of them came at me at the same time. However, Tercy and Nessa hadn’t been idle. Tercy broke a bottle on the short one’s head and he started bleeding from the cut that resulted from the impact. The third tried to rush at Nessa and slipped, lost his balance and pushed another guy who had come to separate us. The guy, while falling, pushed another guy who fell on a table where a birthday was being celebrated. Fresh fighting started on that table too.
Bottles were flying everywhere. It had become a free for all fight. In the heat of the scuffle, I didn’t realize I had been wounded and was bleeding. It was Nessa who drew my attention to it. I got a paper napkin and tried to stem the flow of blood but the guy in white rushed to me again and was greeted by my favourite move; a hard kick in his stomach. He fell on the floor, writhing in pains.
All the bouncers in the club were deployed to bring things back to order but they were unsuccessful. Finally, the police were called. Five police came into the club and tried to stop the fighting. They failed. One of them fired a shot at the ceiling. The sound of the gun caused everyone to freeze. The arrests began.
Several of us were taken into custody. I was grabbed by two policemen and handcuffed. in the days when things were fine, I would have fought them. Now however, I couldn’t dare. I was half dragged outside the club and forced into the police van. I resisted. They tried again to get me inside but failed.
I told them I will only get into the car when my lawyer comes. I was told that would be taken care of in the morning. I refused to oblige and insisted on my right to a lawyer. Finally, the police accepted and I made a call. I wasn’t calling any lawyer. I was called my sister’s fianceé who was running to be mayor of the town. After three rings, he picked and I explained the situation to him. He dropped without saying anything.
Five minutes later, his Mercedes parked in front of the club and he came out in his pyjamas. It was about 3:00 AM. He walked towards us as my heart leapt with joy. He went to the police and they talked for a while. Then he came to me.
“Hope I am going home?” I asked.
“Nope, you will be spending the night in custody.” He said, bluntly.
“But why? I didn’t start the fight.” I protested.
“Yes, you didn’t.” He agreed. “But you fought nevertheless and people are injured, some seriously.”
“I am injured too.” I persisted. “Am I supposed to be taken to the hospital or to jail?”
“Your injuries are not that bad.” He said. “Go with them. We will see tomorrow.”
“You mean you can’t get me released?” I asked , shocked.
“Not possible, presently.” He said and moved towards his car.
“So what’s the use of having a future Mayor as a potential brother in-law when one can’t get released when he’s in a tight spot?” I asked.
He ignored me and it finally dawned on me that I and my two acolytes would be spending the night in a police cell. My worst nightmare was coming true. As the police van sped off I kept wondering who even asked me to go to club that day. I was about to start blaming Tercy but when I cast a look at her, she looked more miserable than me. Nessa had the same look too.
We were now at the police station. We were taken to two different cells. The females were taken to another cell and I was taken to a small, dark and lonely cell with a single stool. I was locked up all by myself. I just sat on the little stool staring at the walls of my cell.
I must have fallen asleep for a few hours. The sound of a key turning in the lock woke me up. A policeman came in and told me someone was here to see me. I followed him to the reception area, signed my release papers and left. Outside, I saw my in-law to be, the incoming Mayor. Standing beside him were Tessy and Nessa.
I walked up to him and refused to take his outstretched hand as he attempted to greet me.
“This doesn’t change anything.” I told him. “You let me sleep in a smelly cell. Just forget about my sister.”
He ignored me and didn’t respond. He did however, asked that we get into his car so that he could take us home. We all declined, stopped a passing taxi and headed to the hospital. I needed to get my wounds dressed.
As soon as we got to the hospital gate, I saw all three of the guys I had fought in the club only hours ago and I knew I was in trouble again.
TO BE CONTINUED…
