Multi-coloured lights spin around me. I stand on tiptoe to touch the silver disco ball. But it’s out of my reach.

“Damn it!” I hiss under my breath. I spread my arms wide open like SRK and hum a song. Humein to loot liya milke husn walon ne… The disco ball bounces above my head. Just like Deepika Padukone. The lights desert their jigs and form a row of lines around me, trapping me in a rainbow prison. I flail my hands, screaming.

“Help!”

But this time, my best friend doesn’t come to bail me out.

Holy shit! I am lonely!

Tears stream down my cheeks. I can feel their salty wetness. Suddenly, the lights start fading. This is my chance to escape. The disco ball comes loose, but I budge in the nick of time. I dash towards the clock tower.

I lean against the damp wall. Is it raining inside a disco? And clocks? What are they doing here? People are nuts. I chuckle and dance to the tune of Jhoomey jo Pathan. When did the DJ change tracks?

Something cool slaps my face. My brain tells me it’s the sea breeze. My mind disagrees. I sway like a naagin. Speaking of snakes, I remember aunt. Her slaps when I rode her scooter without her permission... Uncle’s whacks with a belt when I dragged home the dented blue Activa...

“Mummy,” I whimper. “Where are you?”

But mummy dearest doesn’t respond.

This fucking DJ is now playing sad songs. I must bring him to his senses. There’s nothing a tight slap cannot fix. Fuming, I start searching for him.

Just how big is this disco? I must have been walking for eternity now.

And then I see it.

It’s the single-story house. My papa had painted it a bright canary yellow. Look! It’s throbbing. As if it’s got a life of its own. My papa’s! He took his last breath here before deciding to hang himself. The blue door opens slowly, creaking slightly. I expect to see mummy welcoming me with a smile on her face.

“Why so late?”

“I am sorry, mummy. There was a party a...”

What is this? What is aunt’s blue scooter doing here? I peer at it. It is glowing. As though a thousand fireflies have descended on it, shimmering in the night. Something metallic touches my head. I look up. It’s the disco ball.

I try to swat it. Suddenly, it starts revolving like a maniac. A kaleidoscope of colours and patterns forms on its body. Tiny cracks form on the yellow wall as the music reaches its crescendo. The door slams shut. The bang makes its way through the beats and the DJ’s turntable. I miss mummy. The loan sharks had dragged her out through the very same blue door, hurling obscenities. What could I have done? A helpless ten-year-old boy. I pissed my pants when she dropped dead. Shame? Stress? Nobody knew!

The wall takes on the shape of uncle. I must escape. The scooter kicks to life. I mount it. For a second, it threatens to fling me to the ground. But I cling to the handlebars. I see various shapes swirling around me.

What’s that word?

Psy.. something. Some big words only Tharoor can pronounce.

The disco lights push the scooter. I hear the waves lapping against the shore. The abandoned lighthouse is dark. I am not afraid of the dark. How many times has aunt locked me in the storeroom? With lizards and mice for company, I spent my nights huddled against my knees, shivering.

Suddenly, the scooter deserts me. I am floating on a bed of iridescent hues.

The yellow wall seems like a distant memory. Mummy will never open the blue door for me again. The bloody scooter was the same colour. Aunt’s favourite. No wonder she screamed like a hysterical witch when she saw those dents on its gleaming body.

Accident! I snigger. Foolish wench!

“Fuck you all!” I scream.

No regrets!

I am not sorry for what happened to uncle and aunt. No way! What a surreal feeling it was as I hacked them to pieces! My best friend says LSD makes you happy for no reason. It makes you psy... damn! I've never been that good at English.

The gentle breeze propels me up. The chains loosen, and I gather speed. Before I close my eyes, I wiggle my middle finger at my ebbing life.