Chapter One
A Bump on the Beach
"You think that this was an option for me! I had to do this! I am doing the exact same thing to you that your father did to my father years ago! He betrayed him! It caused his death and I am taking what rightfully belonged to him and to me!"
Walking off the set, RK nodded in agreement with his director and made his way to his personal chair. Spot boys and the assistant directors were yelling getting the last shot ready for the day. Dressed in a dark blue business suit for the scene, RK was looking over the script. "Bittoji!" RK screamed. After a few minutes with no sight of his manager, RK screamed again, "Bittoji!" Again no answer. He looked up and saw everyone scurrying around not paying much heed to him. It was not like Bittoji to not come when RK calls him. "BITTOJI!!" RK repeated again getting up.
"Chief! I am here" Bittoji came running followed by a few large and tall men dressed head to toe in black. RKs personal bodyguards.
"Chief, are you okay? Did everything go fine with the shot?" Bittoji asked as he motioned for one the guards to hand RK water.
"Everything was fine with the scene but not after the scene! Where were you?" RK said sitting back at the chair.
"Chief, well umm. See Chief its th-"
"Bittoji stop beating around the damn bush and spit it out!" RK said grabbing the script once again.
"I was meeting with the producer."
"And? You know I hate it when you leave things hanging. I am not some kid. Tell me what he said. Were you able to reach a new deal?" RK asked looking up.
"No Chief." Bittoji said looking down. RK jumped up from his seat and slammed the script to the ground. Taking off his jacket, RK screamed loudly," PACK UP!!"
The director looked up in disbelief, "What? But we still have the next shot before final pack up!"
"Too bad! Until your producers decide to finalize on a compromise, RK will not be giving any more shots. That was the deal! So no compromise means no deal which means what? PACK UP!" RK declared leaving the sets.
Inside RKs makeup van, RK finished changing back to his regular clothes as Bittoji was still trying to negotiate a deal out of the producers.
"Bittoji leave it. It's too late now. Work on it tomorrow." RK said while giving his hair one last check in the mirror. "All these people care about is money and now they are off the clock, they don't give a damn. So worry about tomorrow got it?"
"Chief I am sick and tired of dealing with these people. First it was the dates that got mixed up and now the budget. I am trying my best!"
A knock sounded on RKs door. "Come in.' RK said. One of his bodyguards entered the trailer, "Chief we have to get you out soon. Reporters are waiting outside for your statement."
"RK looked back at the mirror, his fists clenched, 'BITTOJI!" RK yelled out.
"Yes Chief?" Bittoji asked nodding for the guard to leave.
"Take care of the media. I am headed to the beach house. I already have all my stuff ready in my car so you can take the other car. I am staying out of town till the media finds a new victim to parade around as their new circus monkey!" RK said leaving the van.
Storming out of the studio, RK was stunned by the sudden flashes of cameras that went off simultaneously. Shielding is eyes, Bittoji ran in front of him followed closely by RKs bodyguards.
"Where the hell were you? I have hired you to watch out for me, to make sure these things don't happen!" RK gritted through his teeth at the guards.
"Chief, I take responsibility for their tardiness. There were more reporters in the back we were trying to keep away. "Bittoji said leading RK to the car as the hired guards started to pave a path from the sides trying to keep all cameras away from the superstar. RK had become huddled in the middle.
"I don't care. I don't want any excuses."
"Sir! RK Sir! Just one answer please." Reporters kept following RK.
"Just one question!"
"I don't want any excuses. There are more reporters than hire more guards. It's simple math Bittoji." RK replied giving a deadly stare as he tried to head to his car.
"RK! Was there a fallout, a big fight?"
"Will you be dropping out of the movie?"
"Will you be suing the production house or are they suing you?"
"Does this have something to do with your recent breakup?"
"Have you been given a warning sir?"
RK walked up ahead and reached his car, anger was clearly stricken on his face. His driver was waiting for him with the driver's seat door open. Another car pulled behind for Bittoji and RKs guards.
"Sir don't you think you owe the media and your fans an answer?" a reporter asked as RK stepped in his car.
"What! I owe you an answer? You are asking ME if I owe YOU an answer" RK asked getting out of the car. Bittoji caught up with him and quickly motioned for the bodyguards to pull away the reporters. Knowing his Chief, he knew this was not going to end well. RK slammed the door and stopped Bittoji, asking the reporter again, "What did you say? I owe you an answer?" RK screamed as more journalists and camera crews ran to the car. The reporter asking the question lowered his head.
"In what circumstances do I owe you an answer about my personal life? It's been nearly 2 weeks and all of I have been dealing with is you people day and night. At my home, at my sets, everywhere! Yes I am movie actor but that doesn't give you any right to constantly interfere and hound me with questions that have frankly nothing to do with you people. Do you run the production house in your spare time when you are not hunting down people with your baseless questions?" RK asked zeroing in on the reporter.
"So what if I decided to sue the production house? What if they have decided to sue me? Those questions are not to your concern and nor is any question about my breakup? I have already answered all these questions the last time you last blitz attacked me on my way to the sets. But since you media people obviously never listen to anyone except for yourselves, for one last time. NO COMMENTS!" RK barked at the lot. "No comments about the production house nor my personal business. The only person I believe I am answerable to is my family. And honestly you people seriously don't look a thing like my mother so obviously I am not going to give you any answers. So for the last time, leave me! If there is anything that needs to be said, you will know. Until then, if you people follow me home again today I will report all of you to the police. Got it?" RK said as signaled Bittoji. Putting on his shades RK stepped back into his car.
Reporters stayed behind but the camera crews followed the car a few yards before it speed off hoping to catch the last few glimpses off RK.
"Well there you have it ladies and gentlemen. Superstar RK himself said no comments or questions about anything to do with his personal life, but why? Is there something he is trying to hide? Neither the superstar nor his ex girlfriend, who will still be playing the female lead in Vishal Shekar's next movie, have disclosed what really happened between the two stars that lead to the end their year long relationship. Yet the country still wants and is very eager to know. As of now that is all. Signing off with camera man Pratik, this is Meghna, Today News."
Driving off as fast as he could, RK finally breathed a sigh of relief. A bad and somewhat public breakup, a bad mix up of dates and budget by the production house and RK had enough. It was just one bad day after another and instead of being able to deal with the mess his life was turning into, the media had turned his life into a circus as if there were no other news in the country to cover. RK speed up and turned on to a barren road. He couldn't stay in Mumbai as Bittoji was handling the negotiations. He trusted Bittoji. He was RKs best friend and being an only child, RK considered Bittoji as his brother. But he didn't want to be in town if he didn't have to. The media hasn't left him alone for weeks and he was sure that his little rant back at the studio did little to no good. Having no other prior commitments RK decided to take a break from being the "talk of the town" and made his away to his secret getaway. A two hour drive outside of Mumbai, RK owned a beachfront home that only his mom and Bittoji knew about, away from any prying eyes. It was the perfect detox place for him.
It was indeed a beautiful beach front property that resided in a small town. There were about a dozen or so homes in a line in front of the shore. Most of which were owned by retirees. The homes were gorgeous and quite large in size. RK had met a few of them when he would take his walks along the beach. There were nice folk who were well aware of RKs stardom but didn't make a big deal out of it. After the drive up, RK reached the house and a clear change was visible on his face. It was a 10,000 Sq ft. home fully equipped with a gourmet kitchen, 7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 3 fireplaces. There was a great big deck that over looked the sandy beach. After unpacking, the sun was ready to set and RK decided to watch the sunset on the beach. Dressed in just shorts and a T shirt, he left his phone and only carried his keys. Barefooted on the cool white sand, RK started to walk along the waves to see sun finally dip under the horizon. RK smiled and took a deep breath in, finally feeling that the entire world's eyes were no longer on him. He loved being a superstar but never understood why every minuscule move he made was being broadcasted as national headlines. Now he was back to being regular guy with no one after his life. He starts to walk when suddenly a bright green tennis ball lands a couple of yards in front of him.
"What the.." RK said turning around to see who may have thrown it only to be knocked straight to the ground by a heavy big black furry dog running towards him at massive full speed.
"Get off of me!" RK yelled as the dog started to lick his face, his tail wagging ferociously, slapping RKs face. "I said get off! OFF!!"
A young woman ran towards the two, 'I am so sorry! I am really sorry!" she apologized as she tried to pull the dog off of RK.
"It- Its alright. Can you please just get him OFF!"RK yelled as he tried to push away the canine's face away from his own. The dog couldn't be less bothered by the man pushing his face away or his owner trying to get him to move. The dog was well focused on trying to retrieve the tennis ball that was underneath RK now.
As the young woman reached and pulled out the ball and held it in front of her dog for him to see, prompting him to jump off RK immediately. Looking back at the handsome fallen guy, she couldn't help but notice a familiarity about him
"Ohh shit! That's RK!" She screamed in her head.
"Are you going to help me up?" RK asked sternly.
"I am sorry" she said as she helped him, "And again I am sorry about my dog. We got carried away and he gets a bit too hyper." She said bending down patting the dog on the side.
"Its' alright" RK said brushing himself off. He looked down and found himself staring at the most ravishing beauty, bright mischievous eyes, a mile playing off her lips. Her black ebony hair tied up in a ponytail. Clad in yoga pants and a bright baby blue top, all completely simple, yet completely breathtaking. The girl smiled back at him. "It's alright." RK said once again taking his hand out, "Rishabh" He said smiling at her. The girl shook his hand, "Hi. I am Madhu. Look again I am very sorry! Hope you are not hurt."
"No I am fine. You might want to check your dog though." RK said looking at the black dog.
"That thing must be about 200 pounds! Maybe more!" RK thought looking the dog once over.
"He is fine. Anyways it was nice meeting you."Madhu showing the dog the tennis ball again to grab his attention, Madhu chucked it back in the direction they came. The moment the ball released from her hands, the dog bolted. Looking back at RK, Madhu smiled and said, "Bye." Her ponytail bounced as she jogged away, leaving RK still at the same spot, a huge grin on his face.
