Part 2
The next few months went well for Panchi, her show was doing fairly well and she was getting good response from her growing fans as well. Her parents and sister along with her friends have supported her throughout the phase. At times, it was difficult for her to cope well with the criticism she has to face. But Ekta has been a great help to her, she had advised and her increased her motivation stating that it was just the beginning and she still has a long way to go. Also, each and every actor is criticized and the criticism has leaded them to great success. However, after few months time, her first show's trp began to drip and the production house has called off to take the show off air. Panchi was stunned to hear this. Her first show didn't do so well. And she totally blamed herself for it.
That night after the shooting, she came home. Her face completely downcast. Seeing this, parents and sister immediately came by her side and asked her what was bothering her. Panchi told them about her show going off air soon. Her mother and Priya looked worriedly at her. Panchi has always been strong but that night, all her strength seems to have weakened. Her first venture has lead her to failure. Panchi's father took hold of her hands and began to sooth her. he had always done that. whenever Panchi seem to have lose her strength to fight, her father has always lent her moral support.
"why are you so upset child? This is life, it happens, and people learn from what we gain and experience. You'll see one day you will be one of the most successful girl in the world, this is only the beginning, you still have a long way to go" Mr.Bora said. Panchi smiled at him. She knew that her father would always lend her a courage to fight and she was willing to do so. For her sake and for her family's sake. But first, she thought she would complete her studies thinking that it was necessary just in case that she would change her mind about acting later on.
"Papa, I'd like to continue my studies first, can I do?" Panchi asked hesitantly.
"Of course beta, in fact, I was about to suggest you the same thing to do a course till you get another offer" Mr. Bora smiled at his daughter and patted her head lovingly before retiring to bed.
After her first show went off air, Panchi and her family moved back to Pune where she started her English courses, since she has great likings towards the course English Literature, she took up the subject. She made new friends and would often hang around with them. by the time, Priya's marriage too got fixed but her craziness towards the Kahiin to Hoga boys was still there. At times, Panchi would scold her elder sister for that but eventually would join her ogling over the hunks of the show.
Whenever Panchi would see Shabbir on TV, her heartbeat begins to race. She would still remember their little conversation. She didn't tell Priya about her meeting with Shabbir and Probably she would've never told her if Vicky haven't opened his mouth as soon as he jumped out of his bike. That night Priya was as if she had gone crazy, she didn't even let Panchi close her eyes till midnight or perhaps she wouldn't have let her sleep the whole night if Panchi haven't texted Priya's boyfriend begging him to call her and save her from her sister's craziness..
After that night Panchi always felt a wave of excitement rushing through her whenever she thought about the famous celebrities she met and worked with. It have been a good experience for her for starters and she prayed that she would start working as soon as she finishes her course.
Panchi and Family planned to move back to Pune as soon as Panchi gets her admissions.
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Shabbir was lying on his bed with his elbow propped up flipping the channels of his plasma TV. After watching his usual, Discovery Channel, he flipped on to MTV and saw a promo of the show. The screen appeared with the title: 'Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi Moments'. He sat up on his bed interestingly. Though he had missed the actual telecast due to his work load, he was happy that he was to see a recap of the whole show. His mind suddenly drifted back to the single night where he met her. he had almost forgot her name but still, he remembers her very clearly. She was a kind of person who's not easily forgotten.
He watched it interestingly as he saw her lying on the bed and turning over and begin to day dream. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her plush lips and creamy white skin. 'beautiful' he thought smiling. It was just then his cell rang. Picking it up, he answered the call still not taking his eyes off the TV.
"Heyy Shabbo, Ekta here, listen I want to ask you if you would like to do Prena's daughter's 2nd husband's role" she asked laughing.
"Sneha's daughter? But she is only 8 years old, are you planning to have a child marriage?"
"Nooo, gonna have a 20-year-leap very soon but that character's entry will be way later, so you interested?"
"Yeah I'd love to, who's my wife?" he heard a crack of laughter from the other side.
"I don't know, haven't finalized yet, do you have anyone in mind?" she asked and his attention suddenly went to the names of the cast appearing on the screen. Of all the names his eyes fixed on a single name, 'Panchi Bora'. That particular name was sounding so familiar to him but he was unable to make out from where he heard it. He blurts out the name out loud.
"Who?" Ekta asked. "Panchi?"
"You know her right?" he asked wanting to know who she exactly was. there was a short silence before she spoke again.
"Not bad Shabbir" she said impressed. "She is pretty and quite talented for a new comer, I'll try talking to her today itself" she said and cut the call in a hurry. Shabbir sat staring at the phone and then to the screen till wondering from where he heard the name Panchi.
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Panchi finally did her last of her packing and sat back tired. It was only the day before that she got a letter informing her that she got her admissions and she has to start her first semester within a week. Her family and she immediately started to She closed her eyes and rested her head on the head board when her cell phone rang. Sitting up straight, she picked it up and was surprised to hear the voice at the other end.
"Hi Panchi, Ekta here"
"Hi mam"
"Actually wanted to offer you Prerna's daughter's role Sneha's and also new Mehek's in Kahiin to Hoga, are you free by any chance?" She asked. Panchi couldn't believe her good fortune that she was getting another offer. She was about to say yes when she remembered about her admission. Panchi frowned. She wanted to do both, but she has to choose one.
"What's wrong Panchi? Is everything ok?"
"Yes mam, its just that, I applied to do a course and I'm leaving this week so, I don't think I'll be able to do it, really very sorry" Panchi told her apologetically.
"Oh" Ekta said. Panchi was sure that she sounded very disappointed. She immediately felt bad for rejecting but she too had no choice. Studies have always been her first priorities. "Its ok Panchi, I'm glad you told me, well, good luck and keep in touch, take care Panchi"
Panchi smiled and bid her good bye. She breathed a sigh of relief before resting her head back and closing her eyes thinking about the new college she would be attending in few days time.
Panchi and family left for Pune after Priya's engagement ceremony which was the night before. Everyone was exhausted when they reached to their destination and all immediately fell asleep as soon as they hit the bed.
Panchi's first day at college went smoothly. A lot of her classmates did recognize her but they didn't give her any trouble and instead gave a lot of respect. She was glad she wasn't getting additional attention as she thought that if it had happen, it would be very difficult for her to cope with her studies.
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Ekta was sitting opposite Star Plus Channel Moderator listening carefully as he told that he wanted to have the show kahiin to hoga to go off air due to its dipping trps. After convincing him to give her 2 months time to end the show and to start a new show, he left leaving Ekta nervously thinking on what to do. After calling up for a quick board meeting, they finally came up with a solution that they would rather not have a leap and instead patch up the show and replace it with a new show. Ekta sat back thinking about the new concept of the show while the board members cleared out the room leaving her to give her space to spin the ideas.
Ekta closed her eyes as ideas began to flow one after the other. her eyes snapped opened as she found the perfect story. She took her phone receiver and called creative team.
They all assembled promptly once she called them. After an hour of narrating the entire concept to them. she sat back and wanting to hear a response from them.
"well? What do you think?" She asked again.
"I think that is a brilliant idea mam, the concept sounds very promising, I'm sure the audience would love to see a rich girl who's been protected all her life being left alone to struggle and all. We had showed a lot of middle class girls doing so, I'm sure people would love to see this kind of a story" Bhoomika Joshi, one of the creative' member has concluded.
"so that's it, we are gonna go with this concept, where is Sunil?" She asked noticing that one of the writer was missing in the meeting.
"he went home to write the final chapters of kahiin to hoga" Bhoomika answered.
They were dismissed after discussing few more details about the story. Before Bhoomika exited the board room, she suddenly turned back and asked.
"Who are the cast you'd planned? The lead should be a very strong person don't think a new comer should be offered to play that role of that ruthless guy"
"Don't worry, I have already planned the cast while I was creating the concept" Ekta winked. Bhoomika smiled and giving thumbs up to her.
Smiling, she took her cell and dialed. She heard a freaky ringtone and she almost had to hold her phone two inches away from her ear. At the second ring, he picked up. "hey shabbo, I have a spicy one for you"
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Panchi sat at her study pondering over the volumes of the encyclopedia trying to find historic information about Alexander the Great. It was her latest assignment which was due on next week and her bad luck struck as her net connection broke the very day.
"Panchi, call for you" Her mom called her. Panchi immediately rushed, thinking that it was one of her classmate.
"Panchi?" She heard the familiar voice after a long time. Smiling broadly, she squealed a hi.
"Panchi, I've been trying to find you for months, where have you been?" Ekta asked concerned. "You left no forwarding address, it was such a coincident that I overheard Tarana speak on the phone with you, she gave me your number"
"I'm sorry mam, I just wanted to complete my major" Panchi told her honestly.
"Panchi, can you come back? I want to meet you"
"I don't know mam, I have a huge assignment due next week and would probably be free by the end of this month"
"Its ok Panchi, I wont force you on anything, just come and meet me once when you are free, call me when you can come okay?" said Ekta. They bid good bye and hung up. Panchi was left thinking over why Ekta was searching her for months. Shaking her head, she went back to her study and to complete her assignment.
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"May I help you?" the guard asked as Panchi approached Ekta's building. She looked up at the builing and saw that it has been renovated and smiled thinking that ekta always likes to keep things perfact. Panchi answered the guard saying that she has been called by Ekta. since the guard was new, he mistook Panchi for another wanna-be actress who wanted to barge in and meet the queen. He began to scold her for trying to pass taking ekta's name. However, Panchi tried reasoning with him, but he gave a deaf ear to her all pleas. Panchi not knowing what to do, took her cell and tried calling Ekta, but since her cell was switched off, she couldn't do reach her. Panchi tried to argue with him again telling him to call Ekta himself so that she could speak to her but he was rooted on his word and didn't let her in.
"Is something wrong?" Panchi turned around as she heard someone call out. She turned and saw Shabir hopping down from his bike. Removing his shade, he walked towards them. She saw that he was wearing a white ripped jean with green shirt to go with.
Panchi smiled with relief as she saw someone whom she knew but her smile died as soon as she remembered that they had met only once during the Style Icon party and he would probably had forgotten her by now.
The guard immediately saluted Shabir as he saw him approach. Smiling, he greeted them. "Kyun Nandhu ram, what's wrong? Why are you getting so hot-headed early in the morning?" Shabir asked teasing the old man. Seeing his warm gesture, Panchi smiled forgetting her troubles.
"This girl is claiming that she is a friend of boss and wants to meet her, arre bhai, how can I let anyone enter here just like that? before also something happened like this and later found out that she was neither a friend of boss nor a staff nor a celebrity, just a wanna-be actress so how can I trust someone just like that?" the guard explained his dilemma to Shabir. Panchi immediately felt bad for him. it wasn't his fault that he failed to recognize her, after all, she has returned back after several months so it was obvious that no one would recognize her. Shabir looked at her closely as if examining her and then suddenly he broke into a broad grin. "Oh my god! its you, don't quite remember your name'what was it'Pa'Pa' ..Pan..Pan..Panhi?" he exclaimed trying to remember her name but failed miserably.
"Oh you recognized me" Panchi smiled back. "And its Panchi not Panhi"
"of course I remember you" Shabir let out a laugh and said before turning to the guard.
"Don't worry Nandhu ram, I know her and boss to know her well too" he turned back to her and directed inside the building. "Shall we?" he asked smiling. Panchi smiled back and followed him inside and thanked him once again. Panchi was very surprised when he had recognized her and wanted to ask her so but didn't feeling that it would be too awkward.
Shabir too didn't say anything else after that. he had seen the 'look' on her face when he told her that he knows her. They had met only once and he had well known that she was thinking how a person like would remember her. only if he could tell that he was nothing like what the media has been trying to portray.
They entered the lift quietly together and still they didn't try to start any conversation. Both were lost in their own thoughts thinking why Ekta wants to meet them. that morning Shabir was alarmed to see an urgent message from Ekta to meet her and he had immediately rushed to her office.
Shabir and Panchi entered her cabin only to find Ekta bent over her laptop running her fingers expertly.
They both exchanged a glance at each other before pushing open the glass door and entering in. "Good morning boss" Shabir called out. Ekta lifted her head up and broke into a smile. "Shabbo..and Panchi" she said as she saw Panchi beside him.
"Good that both came together, want to talk to you both" Ekta said putting her laptop aside and gesturing them to sit.
"Okay listen, as you might know that I'm gonna be airing off kahiin to hoga soon, I had planned to replace a new show"
"you are going to replace kahiin to hoga?" Shabir asked disappointedly. Though he has shot his death sequence just a month back, he still love the show and always would as it had given him the recognition. Panchi saw the disappointment in Shabir's face and looked on to Ekta silently. She too had loved his character Rishi and was almost in near tears when he was shown dead. Also, it has been one of her favorite show and getting to know that it was on its last days, she really felt upset.
"So mam, what have you planned?" Asked panchi after a long silence.
"a new show, with you guys as leads" She beamed. "What do you think?" she asked looking at Shabir then to Panchi.
Both Shabir and Panchi was taken aback with the sudden offer. Shabir was pretty much busy with his shooting for his upcoming movie shootout and he wasn't ready to do anything just as yet. Panchi too was stunned to hear it. She was in the beginning of her majors and she cant even think of doing both work and studies at the same time. both remained silent as Ekta waited either of them to speak up. But none of them did. "So, you guys aren't interested" Ekta asked breaking the silence.
"NO!" both said in unison. Exchanging a look at each other, Panchi leaned forward.
"I'm in the beginning of my majors and I don't think I'll be able to cope with both" Panchi said.
"boss, you know na, I'm shooting for shootout and I don't think I can be there, I love to do a new show, but at the moment I don't think I can" Shabir gave his reason after her. Sitting back, Ekta smiled at both of them while both were like a nervous wreck inside. They cant say no to her as she was the one who had given them their first opportunities to fame but with such situations, they couldn't help but say no.
"Guys chillax-..Panchi you please don't worry hun, I'll make sure that your studies aren't affected while doing the show and Shabbo, you too don't worry, though you are the first lead, but your entry will be alilte later you can smoothly go on with your movie shoot"
Shabir and Panchi sat back thinking over their plans and the new offer. 'maybe she is right, I've been multi-tasking all my life, I think I can do this' Shabir thought.
'Studies and work, work and studies, hmm'I think I'll be able to do this, besides, I want to help out dad, how long will he keep running the home? also, it's a show Ekta has offered that too as a lead, I'm sure this is gonna be a great turn in my carrer" Panchi thought smiling.
"Okay mam, I'm ready" Panchi spoke first. Shabir smiled at her and then said.
"I'm ready too"
"Kewl, then get ready to leave to Delhi next month for the promotion" Ekta said standing up and before either of them could say anything, she rushed out.
"Is she always like that? Running?" Panchi asked as soon as she saw her dash out. Shabir laughed at her question and told her that she is a workaholic and she is always like that.
They both went into the lift and switched the 'G' button. Remaining silent till the lift halted to the ground, Shabir asked. "Are you excited?"
Panchi turned to him with the sudden question. "Yeah! Very" she answered.
"Great" Shabir grinned broadly. "So, I'll see you Delhi then" he said as they both stepped out of the building.
"Sure" Panchi replied back. Shabir hopped on his bike and kick starting it, he drove off waving her bye.
Panchi waved back before calling a cab which instantly came into a halt. She got in and drove off to her home her mind already planning on how she would be managing both after their trip to Delhi.
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
