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Part 6
Credit: Neha
Amita finished her morning prayers and entered the room. Ranjeet was engrossed in the newspaper reading an article that was explicitly praising him..Since the time she had heard the conversation between Kaustubh and Ranjeet she wanted to talk to him. She put the Pooja plate down and sat besides Ranjeet. Ranjeet her husband of 25 years..her companion in everything..except for that one thing..Amita had debated the whole night whether this was the right time to tell Ranjeet and will it matter after all this years..But when she had heard the Kaustubh would be shooting the film in that area an unknown fear had gripped her..the fear of losing her only child..
Amita cleared her throat. Ranjeet looked up from the paper and offered a smile to her. She had been unusually reticent since yesterday..
Ranjeet: Whats the matter?
Amita: I heard Kaustubh going to that place..
Ranjeet: Hmnn..so?
Amita: Can't you discourage him on not doing this film? Better can't you tell the director to not shoot there?
Ranjeet: What's the problem?
Amita shifted uncomfortably in her chair..
Amita: I don't like that place Ranjeet..you know that..Why do you want him to there?
Ranjeet eyed Amita ..
Ranjeet: Look Amita..i know why you are apprehensive about..but trust me i have not renewed my connection with that place ever since..Its been 22 years now..can we not forget it ?
Amita: Ranjeet..i am not raking up the past..i just don't want Kaustubh to be involved in any if that..
Ranjeet: Its just a film Amita..and a matter of only 15-20 days..those will pass off in a jiffy..Don't forget i am financing half the film..if this film succeeds it will do much more for mine as well as his career..
Amita: Your Career?
Ranjeet: Afcourse..this film is based on prostitutes..it will increase my vote bank..
Amita: But
Ranjeet: Enough Amita..i will not entertain any more discussion on this..I assure you that i will be having no connection with that place..
Saying that Ranjeet walked off leaving Amita to her own thoughts...Amita prayed hard hoping that there would be no glitches ..no blast from the past that would haunt her future..
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Priya stood besides Ram as he adjusted the camera angle and explained the shot to Riddhima. Riddhima listened with rapt attention while sipping on her Green tea..Suddenly there was a buzz on sets and frenzied activity all around..Ram looked back at what the commotion was all about when he saw an entourage walking inside..
Kaustubh walked in with every bit of the attitude of the star he was. Even his dark shades could not hide the glint of his eyes..He looked around absorbing the flutter that has caused to everyone present there. He removed his shades and tossed them carelessly into the hands of his waiting Man Friday..Rohan watched the entire drama unfold from a distance. As far as he knew Kaustubh was not required today and he could not understand why had he not come..A chair was immediately pulled besides Riddhima..Riddhima rolled her eyes anticipating another me, i myself talk from Kaustubh..
Priya looked in awe at Kaustubh..Till now she had only seen him in films and photos..but now that he was in front of her she could not hide her excitement..Kaustubh had a finely cut face..almost symmetrical..everything in proper order.. She watched as he flashed his famous smile at Riddhima..a smile that made women go weak in their knees..Rohan walked over to the two of them..
Rohan: Kaustubh? You here? I don't think you are required for today's shoot..
Kaustubh got up as he gave his charming smile to Rohan..
Kaustubh: True..but i thought i ll come and get a hang of this place..this is a real location and it will only enhance my performance..Besides being the lead hero ..Kaustubh emphasized on the hero word ..I am also financing the film and hence as a producer it is my duty to be present on the sets to ensure everything goes smoothly..
Rohan sighed ..he knew Kaustubh's way of ensuring a smooth operation was to meddle in everything..Reluctantly he pulled himself away from him and gestured Riddhima to rehearse her lines..Rohan stood beside Ram and Priya..
Ram: Rohan, i wanted to speak to you regarding the script..
Rohan: What about it? He asked curtly..his mood already spiraling down..
Ram: I think we can change the end...the heroine should not kill the hero..
Rohan stared hard at Ram..not sure if he had heard it right..
Rohan: Care to explain?
Ram: I mean..Reena our protagonist is a ...i mean she works here..she falls in love with a gangster. A love that engulfs her totally..she has never felt that kind of an emotion for any one..She dreams of a future with him..away from this life..a secure future..He may betray her at the end but for her this love is sacred...however deep the wound maybe she will not kill the person she loves..
Ram said everything in one breath...looking at Rohan for a reaction..Priya stared at Ram in disbelief he had actually taken her suggestion into account and had even voiced it.
That is a marvelous thought...Kaustubh's voice broke the silence.
Kaustubh: Your assistant is superb Rohan..what a wonderful insight into the story..true love..true love will never permit killing..Way to go young man..
Ram: Errr..actually i do not deserve any credit for this..its Priya who actually suggested this change..I had written the original script where Reena pulls the trigger on Raja..the hero..
That was for the first time Kaustubh set his eyes on Priya..Priya blushed a little as she felt Kaustubh's gaze on her..He looked strikingly handsome much more than he looked on screen..
Kaustubh: I must say Rohan..you have quite a young and amazing talent yaar..I am so blessed to work with you. Without as much as a second thought he thrust his hand forward at Priya..
Kaustubh: Hii..Kaustubh...Kaustubh Mehra...
For many seconds Priya just stared at the extended hand..not knowing what to do..This was Kaustubh Mehra..the star..millions could kill to just meet him and here he was extending his hand towards her..
Ram nudged Priya softly..Priya looked at Ram who pointed to the still outstretched hand of Kaustubh..
Priya slowly put her hands in his feeling her heartbeats race away..Kaustubh shook her hand and kept looking at her..Priya was too overcome with emotions to speak anything..
Ram: Her name is Priya and she works with me..
Kaustubh: Nice name Priya..pleasure meeting you...
Priya just smiled at him..
Rohan: I need to think about this change..but that will anyway be shot later..so as for now we can go ahead and shoot as per schedule..
Kaustubh: Sure...i ll be around if you need anything..
Rohan walked off towards Riddhima...
Priya: Can you pinch me?
Ram: What?
Priya: Was that real or was i dreaming...he shook my hand...did you see he shook my hand..
Ram laughed seeing Priya's antics..
Ram: Yes i saw ..he came he saw and he conquered..
Priya: He looks so good...
Ram: Hmn..
Priya: By the way why did you suggest the change in the script, it was just my point of view..
Ram: I felt it to be apt..you know the way you see situations is very amazing..its so realistic..
Priya: But films are not realistic..they are fiction..dreams...Priya's thoughts drifted to the conversation with Mangal in the morning..Out of the corner of her eye she saw Santosh sitting quietly in a corner..like a shadow..protecting her..
Ram: Little bit of realistic approach won't harm..and i was actually convinced by your logic..You cannot kill someone you love ...i mean we have seen a lot of betrayals..not all lead to killings..
Priya: Have you ever fallen in love?
Ram: Not yet...but i am married...
Priya looked on at him puzzled..
Ram: Married to my dream..i feel love is a distraction..As if on cue his eyes found their way to where Riddhima was sitting..She was laughing her head off looking at something that Kaustubh was showing her..
Priya followed his gaze..
Priya: If the distraction is that pretty..i am sure you would want to be distracted often..
Ram: No...she is good looking but not my types..and anyways i don't have time for this..once i get selected i am off to New York...he flew his hand in the air mocking it like an aircraft..
Priya: Lucky you...atleast you something as a dream in your life..
Ram noticed the sadness in her voice...
Ram: Priya..you know you have a very realistic approach towards life and you are a keen observer..you should try your hand at writing stories...you ll do good..
Priya: Me and writing ?
Ram: Yes..i think you can...
Priya: Only if you promise that you ll make a film with my story...
Ram smiled at her...i already am Priya..i already am..he spoke to himself..
Ram: Consider it a deal...i have full faith in your abilities...just put your thoughts down and i promise i ll direct it..
Priya: Ram, i was kidding..
Ram: I am not Priya..i am not..
Priya: Thanks Ram..but i don't know what lies in store for me..she looked at Santosh before facing Ram again..This 10-15 days of my life ..i ll cherish it forever..
Ram: Me too...but why just this 10 -15..i ll cherish this friendship forever Priya..
Priya looked at Ram..he had spoken every word with sincerity..the first person who was her friend..who did not belong to her world..who had treated her with respect..But Amma's words echoed in her mind..such relationships were not forever..Forever for her was this world..this place .. Ram was far far away from all this and once this shoot ended he would go even far...Still she was thankful for this
She watched as the unit geared up for the first scene and there was complete silence in the room..Rohan's voice boomed over the mega phone as Riddhima was completely transformed..Her get up looked so realistic that for a moment Priya thought she was one of them only..She watched the with which Riddhima enacted the scene..Rohan okayed the shot in the first attempt..
Priya watched mesmerized all this things were so new to hear and so exciting..She thought about what Ram had said..writing and her? Ram was just being a nice friend..she had lied to him when she said she was uncertain about her future..She would eventually marry Santosh..not that she did not have any choice but that was the least she could do for Amma..Maybe as Mangal said..she would fall in love with him or better learn to love him..whatever may be the case her fate was sealed..
Kaustubh: Hey..
Although initially startled Priya found her voice this time..
Priya: Hii...
Kaustubh: I have to say thanks to you..
Priya looked at him puzzled..
Kaustubh: Rohan agreed to change the end of the script..and it was possible only because of you..
Priya: I ..I did nothing it was Ram who..
Kaustubh: Ram himself said the idea was yours..you are the mastermind...you saved me from getting killed..I hate dying...
Priya laughed at that statement..She had witnessed Rohan saying about Kaustubh's high handedness but the one she was talking to seemed totally different person..
Kaustubh: I haven't seen you before ..you are new?
Priya: Actually I
Nandan: The food is ready sir..Nandan interrupted their talk..
Priya: I ll see you later...
Kaustubh: Wait...i have organized a party at my place today..for the entire unit..you should come ..
Priya looked at him uncomfortably..she had never stepped outside of the lane and he was inviting her to a party..He probably still thought of her as related to the unit..
Kaustubh: I would be very glad if you came..
Priya just smiled at him and left from there...
Kaustubh watched as Priya left the set and moved inside the building..
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Amma was pacing to and fro in her room..She should have not agreed in the first place..how was she to know that a part related to her past will haunt her this way..
Priya: Amma..time for your medicines..
Amma: I don't want the medicines..
Priya watched Amma carefully..she always denied medicines but this time the tone was something else..
Priya: Whats the matter Amma?
Amma: These people..the film people are my headache..should nto have given them the permission only..
Priya: What have they done?
Amma: Don't you see..everyone is distracted..wanting to see the shooting..speak with the actors..no one wants to do their daily chores..how will i manage if this continues till the evening?
Priya: Amma..you are over reacting..let us all have some fun...
Amma looked at Priya sternly
Amma: Fun? You think this as Fun? Just because i gave you permission to be with them..you will abuse the freedom?
Priya was taken aback with this sudden fury of Amma..She was at a loss of words and understanding as to what had gotten into Amma..
Amma: Enough of this entertainment business..you are not going anywhere near them...
Priya: But Amma..what has happened suddenly..i have not done
Amma: Don't you dare argue with me and do as i say...
Priya shuddered at the intensity of the rage ...
Priya: But Amma what has happened?
Amma: Should i wait till something happens? Look Priya..i have given you enough freedom..but not anymore..your marriage is fixed ..and my decision is final..
Priya stared at Amma..she knew that marrying Santosh was a given but when Amma had said it to her it seemed more harsh..
They heard a faint knock on the door and Ram stepped in..
Ram: I am sorry Ammaji..i eavesdropped on your conversation, i did not mean to but i was passing by and
Amma: Whats your problem?
Ram: No problem Ammaji..i am here for my friend...I know you are protective towards her and love her like anything..but isn't your decision too harsh?
Ram: You have not allowed Priya to work here ..she is very lucky to have you but what you are doing now is just clipping of her wings and still telling her how fortunate she is to be just alive..As far as i know Priya has not defied you ever..neither does she plan to..She knows you have planned the best for her..but before she treads down the path chosen by you can she not have a few days of her freedom? Can you not let her take a flight? To let her wings know the strength that they have? To let her know she can fly too?
Amma: Its easy for you to say all this..but you don't understand our difficulties..Why let her fly when she has to come back here and never ever use her wings again?
Ram smiled at Ammaji
Ram: True that maybe she would never use her wings again..but this short flight can create a memory so strong that it will help her be happy for the rest of her life..Atleast she can smile that it happened rather than regretting that she never got the chance...
Ammaji looked at Ram carefully..there was no mistaking the straightforwardness in his voice..She had enough experience to know when a person was lying and when he had ulterior motive and right know Ram's intentions were as pure as it can get..She looked at Priya who had bowed her head perhaps defeated and resigned to her fate..She remembered her own self when she was young and when she had the same dreams..unfortunately there was no Ram to support her..She immediately knew what she had to do..
Ammaji: I am sorry Priya..i just don't want you hurt..don't want you to go through the same pain as me ..
Ram: Pardon me Ammaji..i am no one to comment on this but just as all women here do not work here..all women here do not have the same fate either..Till i am here for the next 15- 20 days..Priya is my responsibility..and i take my responsibilities very seriously..
Priya lifted her eyes for the first time to look at Ram..She felt blessed to have a friend like him..who had not been bothered my her background..who had honoured what he had said a little while ago...he would indeed cherish this friendship forever..
Priya: Amma..you don't have to be sorry..i know you mean well and believe me i will never go beyond your word..Just this last time let me get the taste of this world...please..
Ammaji smiled at Priya maybe she was worrying too much...Her past would not touch Priya in any way...She would give Priya..what she herself craved for..the freedom that she wanted..if only for a short time..but still..it would be the best marriage gift she could give her..
Amma: Enjoy your freedom Priya...and you..she pointed at Ram as Priya ran towards her and hugged her..
Amma: I expect you to keep your word..
Ram bowed a little as if saluting her..
Ram: We have a party tonight if i can take her?
Amma cast a scornful glance at Ram but then immediately smiled..
Amma: Get her back before 11..
Ram smiled at her and took out his mobile...
Nandan jumped as the mobile vibrated in his pocket...He had been enjoying a good sleep which now had been disturbed because of this phone call..He cursed but then straightened when he saw the collar. He put his ears to the phone and listened intently as his face broke into a smile..
Excited with the news he ran off in the direction of the house..He almost bumped into Ranjeet who was at the entrance..
Ranjeet: Are you practicing for the marathon? Ranjeet asked him irked..
Nandan: She is coming Sir..she is coming...to the party tonight..
Ranjeet's frown immediately curled into a sly smile..He looked approvingly at Nandan..
Let the game begin darling...let the game begin..he said to himself..
To be Continued
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
CID
