Short Stories-page 6 - Page 2

Prologue: Scene One, Take One

Im going to let you in on a little Hollywood secret: Movie starts don't always get along. It's true. You can't believe everything you hear during interviews on Access Hollywood. When a star is asked about her costar, she'll gush about how the two are best buds who go to starbucks every Saturday for a fat-free vanilla shake. The truth is they probably haven't seen each other outside of work for six months; except for that occasional run in at a premiere or in a launch party.

How do I know? Im one of them. One of People's "20 Hottest Stars under 20" and number 6 on The Insider's "It List"… and unfortunately, Im as guilty as anyone of this. What can I say? My publicist, Liz, says that unless I keep up my so called 'Image' , I won't get the love of America and the jobs that will make my resume even more impressive.

But let me tell you, it is HARD as hell. Ever since I was 4, I was under a spotlight. My mother, Gayatri, who now goes by the name "Gina", was from India. She married my dad (Suryaben, but now Sam) and they both came to the US. One day, as they were working the hot dog stand in Central Park, an agent came up to them, took a look at me and offered my parents a deal.

"If you let Kripa work in a new and upcoming soap, Family Tragedies, we will give you half a million dollars. Depending on how well she does, we will sign a contract."

My parents, who were basically desperate for any kind of income, said yes.

And that's how I, Kripa Sharma, born and brought up in the US, became the first Indian kid to get a 5 year contract on a primetime drama on ABC. But it's not all a fairytale. Like the saying goes, "Good comes with the bad". And the bad came for me in the form of Mishti Bose. The second Indian teen to land a primetime gig. Our relationship was rocky since the first moment she hit it me in the head with her pink Barbie Corvette.

Mishti was the polar opposite of me in real life as well as reel life. We both had brown eyes but that's where the similarities ended. She had long , black, hair that had to be treated because of all the damage she did to it- while I had long dark brown hair that was healthy and shiny. She put so much make up, that she usually went through her foundation within a month, whole I just dabbed a little eyeliner and lip-gloss. (Unless I was on set- then Shelly and Paul , my hairstyler and makeup people, made me put full fledged make up on.). I looked my age, (which is 17 by the way) and she looked like she was 25. And in Hollywood, 25 is like 40.

On Family Tragedies, she was the bad girl. This season alone she had crashed the Lexus, had an affair with our TV-dad's boss, and ruined our on-screen school.

I, however, was the good girl. Infact, it made me kind of sick how unbelievably 'good' I was on the show. For instance, in one episode, I skipped my Homecoming Dance (where I was going to be Homecoming Queen, of course) and helped organize a food drive for the homeless.

I was used to Mishti's catty nature, and she often made me pissed. ("Nice zit K", she had said to me one morning. "Every heard of Clearasil?") And I, being the goody two shoes I was, didn't say anything in return.

Now as the season of Family Traceries was coming to its 12^th season closing, she had outdone her self. All the tabloids were staying stuff like "KRIPA SHARMA, TV'S GOLDEN CHILD, IS REPORTED TO BE KILLED IN HER DAILY SHOW" and stuff like that.

But now that I don't have any projects lined up (atlease, not yet!), I am going to take a hiatus from the Hollywood scene- and I bet that no one has ever taken such a hiatus. I, Kripa Sharma, am going to go undercover.

No, im not going to be a spy or travel around the world, trying to find ways to torture Mishti, (although, that idea seems extremely satisfying!). I am, however, doing something more interesting than that.

I will go to a regular high school with my only non celebrity friend, Alliyah. But little do I know, this hiatus may lead me to lose my career and find true love in a very hot hunk by the name of Angad Khanna…how and when? Well that's what's going to make you wonder!

Hope you all will enjoy it and give me some feedback!

x3 Prakriti