Part 2
It seemed as if it had only been a few minutes that she had been asleep when she heard Mohit scream her name "Anjali!!! Get the tissues" he had hollered down the doorway. It appeared as if the shoot had paused she had quickly kept her bag aside and had jumped up to search for the tissue roll through groggy eyes. It had felt so good sleeping, she had sighed wearily fumbling for it amidst the blow dryers and curling irons there it was stuck in one of the drawers of the vast dressing table. Pulling it out she had shut the drawer before sprinting to Mohit who stood with arm out stretched to retrieve the roll from her. "Get the sponge and compact too" he had instructed her before running down the corridor. Life as a make up artist was similar to a dog's she had thought one had to be in attendance on the stars twenty four seven. Returning to the green room Anjali had picked up the various glosses brushes and powders gathering them she had trudged to back stage where Kunal stood sponging Sambhavna. She held a mirror to the actress while the latter wiped off moisture off her face, dabbing a bit of the gloss she had returned on stage. "Anjali stay here in case someone comes along I can't keep going to the make up room to get you" Mohit had whispered conspiratorially and she had merely nodded her head. She was indebted to Mohit and was willing to do as asked, he was the one who had helped him secure the job in the first place else she would still be fretting at Lisa's beauty salon with a 2000 rupee salary per month. Mohit lived in the same chawl as her and was her friend Supriya's elder brother, Supriya had been an angel in disguise and had pushed Mohit to help her emerge from the cess pool of Lisa's salon. She looked around for some stool or chair to sit down on but before she could even move an inch Bruna had stepped back stage.
She hardly knew hindi and was pleasantly surprised when Anjali helped her out aiding her with the flawless english accent of hers. "You'r such a sweetheart" Bruna had thanked her as she combed her tresses and sponged her face to perfection. "Thanks" Anjali had smiled it felt nice when people appreciated her hard work. Back stage was humid with no vent for air and Anjali felt lonely in the solitary confinement. Kunal and Mohit had gone on stage to fix the judges make up. She groped around for a stool she had spied earlier hoping to reach the vent up high, the glaring bulbs were doing no good either shining down on her making her sweat profusely. Fumbling around she managed to produce the stool from behind a pile of props steadying it she had stood up on it. She was five feet five inch but even with all that height it seemed a futile attempt on her part to reach the vent. Standing on tip toe she had etched her fingers to pry the hatch open when her foot slipped and she felt herself fall colliding against something solid. Since she had toppled practically over whoever it was the plunge hadn't rendered her traumatized though the one pinned beneath her definitely was. She had opened her deep green eyes to watch Shabbir's serious slate one who certainly was not enjoying lying flat beneath her. "You might want to get off now since I'm thirsty and very very hot" he had breathed darkly making her realize her folly of staying put in her position even after identifying him. "Sorry" she had apologized scrambling to her feet in haste while he got up after brushing his suit off the dust on the floor. She noticed he limped slightly "Something wrong?" he had queried catching her watch him intently "Is your foot ok? It doesn't seem so by the way" she had worked out his cause of hobbling.
"I think I sprained it during that blasted kick" he had explained and she had offered him the stool. "Sit here I'll just be back" she had told him before racing to the make up room, she recalled Mohit informing her about a cooler where they kept ice cubes and ice packs ready for any emergency. On reaching there she searched for the cooler finding it tucked away in a corner unscrewing the cap she fished for an ice pack in it's hollow and retreated one. Screwing the cap again she had flown to where Shabbir sat nursing his foot. "Let me see" she had said "I don't have time for this" he had remarked not happy to see her fuss over him. "It will worsen if you don't apply something to it" she had reprimanded him contritely and he had gawked at her surprised, no girl had ever spoken to him that way certainly not a measly two bit spot girl. "I said leave" Shabbir had snapped he wasn't one to let people rule him true he maintained a jovial outlook but his privacy and personal matters was something he guarded fiercely. "Well I'm not going to so that's that" Anjali had frowned taking hold of his left foot she pulled off the shoe and rolled down his sock studying the sprain. The ankle had started swelling, she wondered if it was just something that could be fixed the age old way her mother had taught her. It was worth a try she knew they had time Anita was performing on her number give or take they had four minutes to them. Working her slender fingers on his athletic foot she pressed it lightly making him wince "Listen I've got to finish the shoot so don't play doctor here... Aaagghh!!!" Shabbir had muffled his outraged groan as Anjali twisted his foot upwards and then jerked it sideways helping the pulled muscle to regain it's position. "What was that?" he had glared at her wondering if she didn't treasure her job he could complain of her behaviour and she'd be sacked in no time. "That ... is called first aid.. it'll be ok now" she had answered demurely wrapping an ice pack around his foot letting it rest on the floor. She had then sponged his face dry and had shown him the mirror. "It'll be ok" she had smiled to see him scowl he looked so childlike then pouting it made her giggle.
"You said you were thirsty should I get you water?" she had inquired as he handed her the mirror after ruffling his matted curls again. The one bad thing on sets there was no air one could practically faint under all those harsh lights "Yes" he had panted it certainly was extremely hot and this was the middle of December. "Ok" she had mouthed before returning to the green room again where mineral water bottles were stacked she checked if it was cold and fortunately it was. Rushing back to him she had handed him the bottle while he cracked open the top and gulped down the cold water. She had checked his foot gingerly it was swollen but the redness had certainly diminished. Wiping it clear of moisture she had rolled on his sock and lowered his foot in his shoe again, the song had ended then and the audience clapped wildly. Getting up he had thanked her before disappearing behind the solid screen dividing the stage and she had slumped on the stool he had vacated seconds earlier. She laughed softly recalling his scowl as she fixed his foot "Stars" she had chuckled before her thoughts were invaded by Mohit asking her if she was alright by herself and she had nodded in assent.
Four hours had passed by in the blink of an eye Anjali was restless by now she wished to go home but there was still half an hour till the shoot ended. She eyed the increasing number of empty water bottles and used tissues turning into a small heap beside her. She was totally sagged by the sweat and prayed for respite soon hearing the judges pass comments on Barkha's performance she fanned herself with a tissue. Finally the director had called a cut and ordered a wrap heaving a huge sigh of relief she had quickly picked up her stuff making a mental note to ask the janitor to clean the area she had trudged out of the confines towards the green room. Mohit and Kunal had received word for the pack up and were busy doing so handing Mohit the accessories she realized the compact she had used for Shabbir had been forgotten in his van. The make up kit was expensive and misplacing any item meant burning a hole in her own pocket. Telling Mohit she would be back in fifteen minutes she had sprinted outside the room towards his van maybe just maybe he would be in and she'd be able to retrieve the compact.
Praying to God to be so she had reached the van only to find it locked she had sighed in defeat now she'd have to get it the next day she had put forward her foot on the rough terrain when it hit against something. The object seemed small as it had been bumped far under the van due to the slight strike she had bent down to identify it. Stretching her arm underneath the van she groped around in the muddy ground and her hand had closed in on a sleek smooth thing pulling it out she examined it to discover that it was indeed a mobile phone. Rubbing it against her shirt she cleared it off grime she had pressed one of the buttons to see Shabbir's photograph flash onscreen "Oh"she had thought in dismay he had dropped it on his way out. She tried redialing the last called number but the phone was locked and required a specific password to function she had pocketed it then making up her mind to see if he was at the gates. Walking up to the guards she had inquired whether Shabbir had left and they had confirmed her doubts he had indeed left early that night, probably because of his foot she had mused. Trudging to the make up room she found Mohit stacking the items in the cupboards and locking them Kunal had left for another shoot. Watching her forlorn he had asked her the reason and she had confided in him regarding the compact still being in Shabbi's van Mohit had instructed her to go search for it the next day and if it was lost then she would have to report it.
The sudden fear of having to pay for it had made her forget everything else she barely earned enough to pull along a month she simply couldn't spare the extra expense. Cursing herself for being such a fool she had left with Mohit for the bus stand if they were lucky the bus might just arrive early tonight. Shabbir had driven down the cool practically deserted streets in bliss the one fine point about odd schedules was that he could enjoy his drives back home. He flipped on the radio listening to latest bollywood hits "And people you can send your requests on 010101... remember Ronnie at Radio Mirchi" the RJ had reminded his nocturnal listeners, Shabbir had smiled well atleast he wasn't the only one working odd hours. The phone number had made him search for his own cell phone he had to confirm the timing for his morning shoot next day. His hands dived in his jean pockets fumbling for it his eyebrows knit in consternation where had he kept it. He remembered taking it out of his coat pocket when changing attires switching on the overhead bulbe he searched for it in the car it wasn't there either, what if he had left it in the van a sudden desperate thought flashed through his mind. "Damn" he had muttered jamming the brakes he had to go back to get it now, speeding up he raced to the studio he had just bought the cell and couldn't afford to lose it. Reaching there he had quickly parked his Santro and collected his van keys from the manager then opening it he hunted for the appliance all over the van but couldn't trace it. He was tired and was highly strung informing the manager about the calamity that had struck him he had instructed him to get the grounds searched before leaving for home in an extremely sour mood. Sitting in the bus looking out of the window Anjali had felt the cool breeze caress her face closing her eyes she let the freshness of the moment envelop her. She lived on her own in a bedsit in the chawl. She dreamt of getting on her bed and sleeping till eternity not that it was happening but it was a pleasant speculation, that was people like her did best... dream.. dream for the impossible.
The bus had dropped them at their stop and they had pottered to their chawl as Anjali laid down to sleep that night she remembered the mobile phone taking it out of her jean pocket she had placed it on the small table beside the bed. She might have closed her eyes had the screen not flashed incessantly she picked up the appliance to see Home printed on screen someone was calling. "Hello" she had answered it in a soft toe her voice tinkling "Ok who is this and why do you have my mobile?" Shabbir's angry voice had floated from the other end. "Well I'm Anjali Mathur and...." that was when the battery had decided to breath its last disconnecting the call immediately. Sighing Anjali had replaced the mobile while Shabbir had frowned at the ear piece held tight in his hand. Anjali Mathur... now who the hell was that... no clue.. he knew many Anjalis but no such Anjali whose voice was so mesmerizing and innocent. "Hmm" if she had attended the call meant that she hadn't stolen it so there was this faint glimmer of hope of her returning it to him, tucking himself in bed he had tried to shrug off Anjali's enigmatic persona from his mind and had fallen in a deep sleep.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
