PART SIX
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It was almost 10pm when Shinde, Asst. Director of StarBharat reached home. Since he started directing episodes of StarBharat, his once friendly neighbors were avoiding him like Asha Bhosle avoiding Himesh's concert.
Shinde had noticed that off late his friends frequently forced topic of mental instability in conversation and casually dropped hints that they had contact details of few experts in the field.
Starbharat had turned Shinde's life topsy turvy.
Shinde switched on the light in the hallway. No one came to greet him. He noticed that pillow,blanket and pajama were neatly arranged on sofa which meant he was once again barred from inner premises. His bedroom door was locked from inside and he could faintly hear garbled noise of the TV. Shinde banged the main door shut deliberately, half expecting in vain, for wife and daughter to come out.
Resigned, Shinde went to the kitchen and found that his meal, consisting of eggplant rice and eggplant curry, was carefully covered in a purple plate. Shinde's wife knew that Shinde detested eggplant.
His wife had punished him one more time for mocking Bheema's food habits. It was a befitting revenge from his wife, reminiscient of Rekha from Khoon Bhari Maang.
"Saurav is enjoying food in StarBharat while I am starving to death. Draupadi is about to marry happily to five while my only marriage is about to be dragged in the court of law. Drupad is blessed with doting children while my own daughter feels ashamed of me for being a director of StarBharat and introduces me to her friends as a mere acquaintenance. What an irony!! My happy life cindered to Lakshagraha's ashes." Hungry Shinde stared at the food infront, unable to eat.
Shinde longingly remembered his happy married life prior to StarBharat. He was blessed with a disrespectful,short-tempered, pigheaded teenage daughter with ghastly academic record and insulting,bossy, nagging wife who lashed stinging tantrums mercilessly and governed finances vigilantly. In short a typical happy family.
Things changed when he undertook StarBharat project. His father-in-law's name was also Bheem. This lanky, harmless, mild man of eternal pessimistic and depressing outlook was a dear hero to Shinde's wife. Hence, her love for character of Bheema and her subsequent indignation for showing him in poor light. Shinde's family had stopped talking to him.
Shinde's boss, Ashok, hell bent on making a great comedian out of Bheema had Shinde approach Johny Lever for the role initially. The offer seemed to offend the comedian. Mr Lever's few strategically placed blows reduced Shinde to a limping Ashtavakra. When Shinde's wife came to know about it, she provided few tweaks to make him Shatavakra.
"I am doing all this to feed you all. Its not my fault." Shinde lamely reasoned with his wife citing Valya-the bandit,but deep within, he reluctantly admitted to have committed a sin far greater than Valya.
Shinde was bored to depict Bheema's food comedy. Now everyone on the sets were also used to the following unfunny, routine scene.
Bheema sees a plate of laddoos and gives very subtle hints of being hungry by rolling eyes, smacking lips loudly, drubbing the tummy with a hyena like laughter. The perspicacious Arjun will be the first to spot this minute behavioural change in his elder brother and smile condescendingly, followed by Eureka moment by rest who will exchange surreptitious, mocking glances. A comic background score from FIR episode will play all the while.
To maintain novelty of the scene,laddoos were purchased from different shops each time.
CVs had decided that while Arjun was to woo viewers with his bravery and archery skills in Kurukshetra war, Bheema's role was to elicit laughter by carrying a giant quiver filled with laddoos, helping himself in the midst of the battle.
Karna, Bheeshma would then frustrate Bheema by shooting down laddoo in his hand and Yudhisthira, Nakul would smile affectionately.
"I am asked to direct those so called funny Kurukshetra scenes. How can I explain this to my wife ?. Kurukshetra war is sure to bring about my own death."
Shinde slipped into Pajamas and lay down on the sofa.
" I have to go to the sets early in the morning to receive delivery of all sweets for Draupadi Swayamvar. A busy day ahead for me and Bheema."
Edited by Cotswolds - 11 years ago
Kumkum Bhagya
Tu Dhadkan Main Dil
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
