Chapter 1 - First Meeting
"Sir, a girl has come to see you. " Arnav heard his receptionist on the phone "She says she has an appointment with you at 9:30 " she continued when she heard no response from him "Akash sir has sent her."
He stared blankly at the wall for a minute unable to comprehend what he was hearing. Then he remembered Akash asking him if he could take on his friend as an assistant. He had mentioned that she was a graduate of the Pune film institute and was looking to assist a well known director, and since she was a big fan of ASR, he thought she could assist the legend himself. He groaned silently. Not another one of his I will die for you ASR fans'.
As an award winning young director, Arnav singh raizada had his share of women throwing themselves at him. Hell, he had even been propositioned by a number of men. His successes, his looks, not to mention his personal wealth courtesy his business minded family, made him a chick magnet. He had been offered many a role, but his interests had always lain in directing. He didn't think he would be able to follow anyone else's rules. At just 30 he had 4 films to his credit, all blockbusters and a couple had fetched him multiple awards. Given that his family thought this was just a passing fancy when he was young, he thought he had proved himself nicely.
Arnav looked at the woman who had walked into his office. Woman? She looked more like a girl who just made a stop at his office on the way home from school. She was not short enough to be called a midget but neither tall enough to make someone take notice. Her figure was extremely petite. She walked in hesitantly , looking wary and scared. She had a small heart shaped face, with a straight sharp nose and bow shaped lips. But the one feature that arrested ASR were her eyes. She had large doe like hazel eyes framed with the longest lashes he had ever seen. And she had no makeup on. Not even an eyeliner or kajal. It was criminal not to enhance those eyes noted his mind with detachment.
She was wearing a long red cotton skirt with a short white three fourth sleeved top. She had a bluish green scarf wrapped around her neck. Wait was that a scarf or a stole he thought. It wasn't as long as a dupatta neither was it short enough to be called a scarf. Idiot Raizada, prompted his mind. What did it even matter?
"Had you been a little taller, you could have tried modeling. You have the figure and face for it. You might have had a steady income"
"Huh? Excuse me sir?"
"I don't like to repeat myself. I require absolute obedience. I don't like assistants who ask too many questions. You will be my sixth or seventh assistant...and the only girl." He continued without a break. He wasn't sure why he wanted to intimidate her. He didn't need any gushing fangirls disguised as assistant in his set.
Her face looked like she had swallowed something that tasted really bad. Earwax flavored one from Bertie Botts every flavored bean maybe..hell..he really needed to stop these Harry Potter references. He didn't even like Harry Potter much!
Khushi looked at the man standing before her. She never dreamed that she would be standing in front of ASR one day and he would be talking to her. He looked so different from the pictures on the magazines she had sneaked in when she was just sixteen. This ASR looked disreputable at the very least. He hadn't even asked her for her name or asked to see her certificates. He was just telling her things not asking her anything. This was supposed to be her interview wasn't it?
"We start shooting soon but I would need you to come in for pre production work from tomorrow. Do you have a car?"
"No, I will manage"
"Leave your address with the receptionist. I will have someone pick you up."
"No sir, I said I will manage" she insisted.
"I don't like to repeat what I say. For the first and last time, just because we are meeting for the first time, I am doing it. I will have someone pick you up!"
*
"Where are you lost? " asked Anjali Singh Raizada, CEO, Falling Stars Productions looking at her new partner Akash Mehra.
Falling stars productions was a collaboration between Raizada Enterprises and Mehra Productions, an established production house which had fallen on hard times since Mr Arun Mehra, Akash Mehra's father made some unwise decisions. Akash came up with this idea of partnership with someone looking to venture into the movie making business and thus, was born, the collaboration between Raizada Enterprises and Mehra Productions.
"Nothing, I sent a friend of mine to your brother" he said.
"What???" asked a shocked Anjali.
"What? No, that's not what I meant!! I mean, a friend of mine needed a job. She has done a course in film making at the Pune Institute of Film Making and I sent her to your brother asking him to take her on as an assistant." He elaborated.
"Oh? I hope she's ok " said Anjali looking alarmed.
"No, it's just that ASR is not an easy man to be around" she elaborated at his look of enquiry.
"I hope so too.." whispered Akash almost to himself.
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