FF Paragon Update-chapter 14 - Page 4

Here is a longish update... enjoy 😃 Please do mot forget to comment.

He was missing his busy days, his packed schedules, his back to back shootings and interviews, his attendants and even the little crowd that gathered around his house to wave at his car as he left for shooting every morning.

He needed adulation like he needed Oxygen. The admiration of the people, the adoration of little kids and screaming of girls every time they saw him on stage or screen, he was addicted to it. He expected it and they never failed him. He had worked hard for it and he was RK the Superstar.

Enough with this anonymity, he needed someone to preen over him and make him feel like demigod. He needed to exult over his achievements. He was RK the great, the heartthrob of millions.

He hung his jacket over his shoulders. He knew where he could expect all that and more.

000

The private car RK had hired took him to the crowded street of La Chapelle. He told the driver to park and got off. As soon as he entered the Quartier Indien he felt like he was home.

This was the mini India of Paris. The streets were lined with Indian stores selling everything from pirated DVDs to jewelry to groceries to the latest in Indian fashion. There were a large number of restaurants too catering to every craving of the Indian palate. The Indian Diaspora in France was mainly represented in these very streets.

RK knew someone was bound to recognize him here and give him the royal treatment he so yearned for tonight. He shoved his hands into his pockets, took a deep breath and walked into the first restaurant he saw.

RK walked in and asked for a table. As soon as the waiter recognized him, all hell broke loose.

All the guests crowded around him, people were shoving each other to stand next to him and take their photographs with him, some were calling their friends and telling them to come and see the star in person. Some people were tweeting and some were updating their status on social network sites. Everyone was asking questions at the same time, "When is your new movie coming out?", "Where are staying in Paris?", "Since when have you been here?"," How much longer are you going to be here?"

This was the frenzy he wanted, this was the adulation he deserved. He gave everyone a lopsided grin and said in the most humble voice he could muster

"Thank you so much for your love but I am here on a personal visit"

R. Kumaran was going through his bills in his office situated behind the restaurant kitchen. He had migrated to France ten years ago. He had spent five years in England prior to coming to Paris and making it his permanent home. He liked Paris with its strong Tamil presence, most of the immigrants were here since the 1970's and were thriving. In some places like the Indian section of town even some of the street signs were in Tamil. It He had worked hard to open a restaurant here in the heart of the Quartier Indien. It was a far cry from the poverty he had languished in back home.

When he heard from his waiter about the new arrival at his restaurant he could not believe his luck. A big superstar like RK had decided to grace his restaurant. He was sure this would bring a great deal of publicity to his business and that meant lots of patrons. This was going to change things, he could not wait to tell his wife about it when he reached home. Maybe he should call her, he thought, nah he did not have a second to spare.

R. Kumaran almost ran out of his office.

"Sir, My name is R. Kumaran, I'm the proprietor of this place" He said with some pride, "please come, we have the fines table for you in the far corner, no one will disturb you and I will bring the menu myself." The owner said signaling to the waiter to bring the drinks and trying to make his other guests calm down and return to their table.

RK found himself seated in the best table in the house. An assortment of drinks appeared in front of him and a vase with fresh iris was placed on the table. A new set of plates and cutlery were brought from the kitchen. The song playing on the flat screen TV was changed to play songs from his latest movies. RK smiled to himself, he loved the attention.

"So Mr. Kumaran Lets have some dinner, shall we? What is the specialty here at your restaurant?"

"Don't worry Sir, we have the best Indian food in Paris" Kumaran exaggerated, "You will love everything, you have to try our appetizers first." Kumaran made his way to the kitchen before asking his waiter to refill RK's glass.

Mouthwatering delicacies were placed in front of RK. He sampled the spinach and cheese, it was delicious. He took a bite of the naan, it was flaky, perfectly cooked with a light sprinkling of nuts on top. He took a spoonful of dal. If he were to reflect on the evening later at night, this was the moment he would recognize as the moment when everything turned sour.

He was instantly reminded of the dal that Madhu had made for him after he had returned from the hospital. He did not remember the taste of her dal, all he could remember was the taste of her fingers on his lips and the look in her eyes, the look of concern and love.

The atmosphere suddenly became stifling. The attention from the waiters and the other patrons was suffocating him, he wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. The food tasted like sawdust. He wanted the ordeal to be over with. He kept his false smile pasted on him throughout the meal and ate whatever he could. When he was done he insisted on paying the bill but Kumaran would hear none of it. RK thanked everyone around him, left a large tip for the waiters and left.

He wanted to be back in his hotel room, the despondent feeling coming back to haunt him again. This time he did not know how to distract himself.

000

I am not seeing enough comments guys...maybe you think its not good enough 😭 Do let me know

"Can we speak to Madhubala Malik please? the person said on the other end of the phone.

"She is at work right now, you can call her on her cell, I can give you the number…." Padmini tried to help.

"We have her cell number but she is not picking up. Can you give her a message?" said the person

"Of course, let me write it down" said Padmini grabbing a paper and pencil

Madhu was in the parlor. She was doing a young girl's facial and was almost done. She was in a good mood today, it was pay day. She wanted to buy a small gift for everyone at home. They had been a pillar of strength for her the last couple of months and she didn't know how to thank them.

She DID think about RK but the pain had dulled sometimes giving way to anger, anger directed at herself. She berated herself for being gullible and believing his lies. It was still hard to believe that he was acting the loving husband all the while they were together.

She went back applying the cream on the girl's face. This is my life, I am going to live it the best way I can, she thought with conviction.

000

Madhu was excited, she had managed to buy perfumes for both Didu and Roma, a set of bangles for Ma and a waistcoat for Malik. She could not wait for them to open the presents. She was sure they would like it and then she would have to listen to the barrage of "Why did you?", "You didn't have to", "Don't waste money like this" etc

She saw Didu sitting on the stairs waiting for her. Trishna ran towards her, took Madhubala's hand and almost dragged her to their room.

Madhu was nervous but Trishna turned around and hugged her. "Madhu!!!!" she screamed "The people from Verma Productions called, you have made it to the final selection"

"What do you mean?" Madhu asked bewildered

"Glycerine, you have to go to Verma studio again tomorrow for another audition. That means they liked the first screen test and want to give you one more try. So this time we will practice some dialogues to make sure you don't mess it up. You will get the part of the main lead, you'll see. Okay but before that let's see what you should wear" gushed Trishna rushing to the closet to take out something suitable for her sister.

000

It was 2 am, Madhu couldn't sleep. She quietly tiptoed out of the room and went and stood on the balcony. She looked up at the moon, it was beautiful, not yet full but in a few days away it would be in all its glory. She was standing on the very spot when she had called RK on the phone and asked him to look at the moon.

"You look at the moon and I'll look at the moon, then it will feel like you are close to me"

How he must have laughed at her, hearing her mouth such clichs, words that he had heard a thousand times in his movies, perhaps spoken them too. Words spoken by a girl he despised, he must have thought her a sentimental fool and she was a fool. She wiped away the tear that had gathered at the corner of her eyes. She was not going to cry, it was time for her to move on.

000

In a different part of the world, RK was laying in bed flipping the channels on the TV. It was early evening and he had just ordered room service. Since his trip to Quartier Indien he had not wanted to step out of his room, except early in the morning when he took long walks on the riverfront.

He went and stood near the window. The moon was peering through the sheer draperies.

"You look at the moon and I'll look at the moon, then it will feel like you are close to me"

He had looked at the moon that night as Madhu had told him to and he did feel close to her. Why did he do that? He asked himself the uncomfortable question, he didn't have to, she was not there to see his 'acting'.

His thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock on the door. That's my Cassoulet, he thought. He dismissed all other thoughts from his head.

000