ArHi SS: Swayamvar | COMPLETE | 31/7 - Page 24

Chapter Ten

Six Months Later

I step behind the cameras, watching as the actors step close to each other on the screen. Their eyes light up in recognition as they grasp each other's hands in a firm handshake, staring at each other in barely concealed surprise.

"Andrew..."

He shakes his head in disbelief, as if he can't believe she's standing there in front of him.

"Maya... Wh- What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I- I'm here with..."

She turns, her eyes filling with hurt as she glances over his shoulder to see the girl standing behind him, talking animatedly to the street vendor.

There is an awkward silence as the two former lovers stare at each other, regret in their eyes.

If only things had been different.

Maya smiles, clearly attempting to mask the pain.

"Maya, I wish... I wish I could change it. If I had known, then..."

"If you had known, a lot would be different, Andrew. But you didn't, and now..."

There's a poignant pause, before they sigh heavily, lost in old memories.

"I- I should go. It was nice seeing you."

Maya sticks out her hand, willing him to respond. He hesitates for a split second, before placing his own hand in hers and giving it a firm shake.

"Good luck with her, and with everything."

Andrew smiles as Maya walks away, her shoulder slumped slightly as she makes her way down the street. He looks after her disappearing figure for a minute, a melancholic longing in his eyes.

"Ready to go?"

He glances down, looking at the smaller girl with the curly hair and bright blue eyes. Slipping his hand into hers, he nods, turning away from Maya's disappearing figure and resuming an animated conversation with her.

For the first time in years, there was no aching pain. Only simple acceptance, and a tentative friendship remains as Andrew glances back one last time, before smiling softly at the girl beside him.

Sometimes... People are better apart.

"Cut! That's a wrap, everyone!"

I stand on the side, watching as the actors playing Andrew, Maya, and Andrew's girlfriend drop their characters and walk off the sets.

I'm absolutely thrilled with the way my short film has turned out. The ending scene is something I've envisioned since I put the words on paper, and the actors have done a wonderful job of depicting the bittersweet acceptance of a lost love.

I step back into the shadows, simply relishing the moment of having finished my first ever production.

It's an elation I can't describe in words, and I find myself blinking back happy tears as I take in the scene in front of me. The chance to do this film has been a dream come true for me, and I'm still struggling to believe that it's actually happening, despite the fact that it's been six, long months of grueling work.

The film itself is only 15 minutes long, but the work that has gone into it numbers in hours. The time we've spent reworking the script, casting, and filming has been absolutely exhausting on me.

But it's a good, satisfying exhausting. Even though I collapse into bed night after night, completely drained, I'm content. I get to do what I've always dreamed of, and for once, I can honestly say that I love my job.

It hasn't been without its own difficulties though.

I wince, recalling the nearly 2 hour long argument I had with Shaan, who insisted that the ending should be happier. I had won out in the end, but only after a long discussion that ended with him giving in conditionally.

If he liked it after fming, the ending would stay. If not, we would have to change it.

After watching the final scene being filmed, I know almost intuitively that my ending will get to stay.

"I have to say Khushi, that ending is painful, but perfect for this script. You were right."

I smile as I take a sip of the champagne Shaan hands me, savoring the bubbly liquid.

"Thank you. I'm glad you finally have faith in my knowledge of the characters I created."

He laughs aloud, tilting his glass slightly in a salute.

"How very modest of you."

"I've been told that modesty is my finest trait."

We stand in companionable silence for nearly ten minutes, hiding from the commotion going on within the comfort of the shadows.

Shaan has become a dear mentor to me, and I've formed a great bond with him. We tend to disagree plot wise, with him being consistently optimistic and my pessimistic attitudes, but the result has been nothing short of phenomenal.

We've combined our differing personalities to create something that has an equal balance of both, and I find that I'm satisfied with the product.

"You know Khushi, I have to hand it to Arnav. The man has always had an eye for talent, and while you're still a little rough, you have great potential."

I smile uncomfortably at the mention of Arnav, trying to ignore the guilt gnawing at my stomach.

All of this... is thanks to him.

If he hadn't had enough faith in me to urge Shaan to consider me, I would still be broke and filming trashy TV.

I can't help but feel guilty at the way I left our relationship.

I know I owe him an apology, but I can't muster up the courage to go knock on his door.

***

"Khushi bitiya, filming is done?"

"Yes, Amma, it finished today. Could you pass some of those jalebies please?"

My mother sends me a disapproving look as she breaks it in half, earning an irritated look from me.

"Don't give me that look. Your husband will run away if you eat that much."

"Mummy, I'm not married. And it's not happening any time soon. Might as well enjoy myself."

I wrap my arms around her waist, ignoring her squirming and planting a loud kiss on her cheek.

"Khushi, leave your mother alone."

I immediately drop my hands to my waist at the sound of my father's voice, deep and serious. I turn around, expecting to get reprimanded for acting like an eight year old.

Even at the age of 28, my dad can make me still with one disapproving glance.

To my surprise, there is merely a glint of amusement in his eyes, and a small quirk at the corner of his lips. He walks up to me, giving me an awkward half hug and placing a kiss on the top of my head as he used to do when I was younger.

"I'm proud of you, beta. When do we get to see it?"

"The first screening to a select audience is in a month, and I have tickets. Will you come?"

There's a silence that seems to stretch endlessly as I await my father's response, fiddling with my fingers.

Our relationship has improved dramatically over the past six months, but it's no where near what it was like before. We tiptoe around each other, as if... we're afraid that something will upset our relationship again.

"Of course we'll be there, bitiya. It's your first shot on the big screen."

A wide grin breaks my face, and I blink back tears as he smiles at me uncertainly, his fingers tightening around me.

"I love you, Papa."

I feel him stiffen slightly as he hears the words that I haven't said in years, before relaxing.

"I love you too, Khush."

***

The lights slowly go on in the darkened room filled with people as raucous applause begins, the screen fading away to black.

Shaan pulls me up on stage, and I look out into the test audience, scanning the room for my parents. Under the dim lights, I can see them smiling at me, my mother's hands moving rapidly as she claps as quickly as she can.

I pull my eyes away from them, shifting to a grinning NK who gives me a thumbs up. I squint at the man sitting next to NK, suddenly realizing who it is as I take a closer look.

Their fingers are threaded together, and I raise an eyebrow at NK. I see a deep blush steal up his face, and make a note to ask him how that happened later.

The room disperses as everyone flocks to the hors d'ourves placed out, picking up tall, long stemmed glasses of champagne along with it. Shaan raises a toast to me across the room, and I vaguely hear him saying something before the party begins.

I walk over to NK, poking him sharply in the stomach.

"Khushi! The guy you picked to play Andrew was so hot. What sort of powder did he use to keep his nose from being shiny? You know those lights that NK picks always make my nose shiny."

I struggle to keep my laughter in as Shyam reaches over, pulling me into a tight hug. Over his shoulder, I glance at NK, who's looking at us with a soft smile.

"You finally did it Khushi, and you did a kick ass job. I always knew you could do it."

I give him a tight hug before dropping my eyes pointedly to his hands, which are entwined with Shyam's tightly. He shrugs his shoulders, smiling mischieviously as Shyam's fingers tighten around his.

"Er... Forgive me for being tactless, but how did that happen?"

NK and Shyam exchange embarrassed glances, and I note that despite the hilarity of this unprecedented event... the two of them seem to genuinely like each other.

"Well, if you must know... I've always thought NK is sexy. Those V-necked sweaters... Ooh, baby, they do-"

"Long story short, he kissed me when I was yelling at him and well..."

Shyam gives NK a reproachful glance, before turning back to me.

"NK darling, please, let me tell the story, okay?"

NK only laughs, shaking his head as Shyam continues, his hands flailing in the air.

"He was wearing that V-necked sweater... You know the baby blue one that really brings out his eyes? Yeah, that one. And he just looked so edible in that, and his eyes do this flash whenever he's angry, and it was just so hot and I coulnd't keep my hands to myself. And he kissed me back, and the next day, I bought him some roses and wrote him a poem, and he said yes!"

I can't keep my snort of disbelief in this time, and I look over to NK, whose cheeks burn brightly.

"He brought you roses and recited self made poetry?"

"Well-"

Shyam interrupts him, giving NK a smile that clearly reveals how... in love he is. I see NK's face soften, and he leans down to press a light kiss on Shyam's lips.

"Yes, he recited poetry and bought me roses. Seven of them, one for each day of the week. And I still have all of them."

I don't laugh this time, not when I can see just how much they care for each other. They may be unconventional, with Shyam's dramatics and NK's sarcasm, but surprisingly... they balance each other out.

Shyam walks away, muttering something about needing to make connections, and I watch as he murmurs something to NK that makes the blush appear again.

"I'm happy for you, NK. I'll admit that it'll take some getting used to, but... you look happy, and that's all that really matters."

"Thank you, Khushi. Shyam's a little insane, but his dramatics make life interesting. He drives me up the wall, but after five months... I'm actually finding it weird when he's not around to add some "sparkle" to the world."

"You sound in love."

He smiles, a true, genuine smile.

"I am, Khushi. Speaking of which..."

He nods his head behind me, and I whip around to see none other than the towering figure of Arnav Singh Raizada.

"I'll just... go find Shyam..."

I barely hear NK as I take in Arnav for the first time in six months. He looks impeccable, in a pressed three piece suit with neatly combed hair. I feel the familiar tingle of desire build deep in my stomach, and we simply stand there, staring at each other.

"Khushi... well done. You've made a very real, a very honest film about life. Even though it doesn't have a happily ever after, I think... it suited it."

I wonder for a minute whether his words have another meaning, but quickly push it out of my head as I shake his hand firmly, momentarily relishing the feeling of his fingers against mine.

If I had fooled myself into believing that my feelings for him would be gone, I was mistaken.

"Thank you. I'm glad you liked it."

There's another awkward pause, and we continue to simply stand in the shadows in each other's company.

He opens his mouth, and then closes it before he says anything, instead taking a sip of his drink. I shift in my spot, trying to come to terms with the feelings that I can't seem to let go.

"How is... How is the Bachelor?"

He seems momentarily stunned by my question, clearly not expecting me to continue the conversation, but recovers quickly, giving me an easy smile.

"The usual. Dramatic girls, roses, NK yelling at Shyam... we just finished filming the final episode, actually. And in a weird way, I'll miss that show."

"Sh-Should I be giving you congratulations?"

I struggle to say the words, cursing my inability to keep a facade of calm.

The corners of his lips quirk up into a soft smile, and he regards me with an guarded, inscrutable expression.

"I guess you'll just have to wait for the episode and see. Cheers, Khushi."

He tilts his glass towards me before walking away. I'm in shock for a second, but quickly gather myself as his figure becomes smaller.

I can't let him leave.

Not yet.

"Arnav!"

He turns back towards me, surprised.

I fight the urge to stare at the ground, steeling myself and looking directly into his penetrating, dark eyes.

"Thank you. For everything. For believing in me enough to reccomend me to Shaan, for putting up with my whining, and for financing this film."

He looks surprised by the fact that I know he's the one who financed it, given the fact that the producer was known as "Rajeev Akash Singh", or RAS- which unscrambled, reads ASR.

"What are friends for?"

He turns to walk away again, but I stop him once more with my voice. He stiffens, and I know he hears the way my voice breaks slightly as I force the statement past my lips. I see his brief nod, and I know that he's accepted my veiled apology.

Someday, I'll be brave enough to take off the veil, but for now... I know he understands.

"Thank you for caring enough to be honest with me, Arnav."

***

Note: And that's where I'll leave you for now! There is one more chapter and then an epilogue. I'm still in the process of figuring out my next story, and I will let you know as soon as I have that decided.

As always, please follow @ipkchotidesi or this blog for updates!

Love,

Choti