“Good. Do you know how to get to Taboo at Tanjong Pagar?”

Taboo was a long-standing gay dance club. Even Hashwini knew about it. “And why would I need to know?”

“Because I need you to be there at 9pm. I need you to save my ass.”

It turned out that Euu Ki had entered a cross-dressing contest at Taboo, but he discovered that his best friend, who was doubling up as his make-up artist, had overcharged him for the range of cosmetic products the latter acquired at wholesale prices. The two had a colossal argument. Now Euu Ki was sans make-up artist.

“And among my friends, no one comes close to you when it comes to make-up. You have the magic touch,” Euu Ki added.

Hashwini wondered when he had decided she was his “friend”. But she was curious about Taboo and so said yes.

It was an eye-opener for Hashwini. There was such a blatant display of pulchritude and lust. Throughout the night the dance floor was jam-packed with a gyrating mass of wriggling limbs and bouncing torsos. When the contestants sashayed down the runway, the hoots and catcalls threatened to bring down the roof. Eventually, the emcee reappeared with the contest result slip to make the announcement. Hashwini screamed herself hoarse when Euu Ki was pronounced winner. And not only did he win the title, he bagged the award for best make-up. Euu Ki was so ecstatic he almost crushed Hashwini hugging her. That was the moment he decided to grant her three waves of the magic eyeliner brush.

The two became fast friends back in the casino. They teamed up for practice sessions dealing blackjack, baccarat and Caribbean stud poker, and constructed skyscrapers out of roulette betting chips to challenge one another on calculations. They shared their sandwiches at lunch breaks and drooled over magazine spreads of scantily-clad fitness models. Hashwini was there to lend him moral support during his life-changing crisis of 2012. It was an HIV scare that turned out to be a false alarm.

“It’s my rest day tomorrow. Can you please come over to help me out with the photo editing?” Hashwini needed to nail down the date. She knew how fickle Euu Ki could be.

“Of course, darling. I’ll be over at 7pm,” Euu Ki said.

Going by past experience, Hashwini knew she would be lucky if he turned up by 9pm. “Alright then. I’ve got to go. I’m working the midnight shift today.”

“I know. Steady yourself for a nice little surprise coming your way at the casino.” Euu Ki threw her a teaser right before he disconnected.

The surprise presented itself when Hashwini reached the casino and swiped in her punch card. It had finally happened! She was assigned to the VIP lounge for table game duty!