Part 15
The next day was the last scene of the movie. The scene was an emotional and romantic and they had to confess their feelings to each other. Today also knowing that they were to shoot together both of them weren't excited about it. They were feeling this contentment in their hearts that they would have to stay together the whole day but there was also the realisation that this could be the last day that they are together. That too when they are upset with each other.
RK entered the set to see Madhu sitting on her chair with her script and her make up people all around her. He stood at the entrance and watched her. Why was she doing this. They had been such good friends, at least that was what he thought. But then she had to act all pricey like she did with all those people around. He had thought that it was all that she wanted to be pampered but now he thought that the people were right about her. But then the previous day the way she looked at him, as if wanting to be with him wanting to be the hidden Madhu he had seen in her.
Madhu on the other hand couldnt understand these strange feeling cropping up in her mind because of RK. She couldnt put ends together. Why was she feeling this pull towards RK.. Why she wanted RK to be only with her.. Why seeing Dipali laughing at his jokes had made her mad at him, Why since the last few days was she addressing RK as 'her RK' in her thoughts..
She remembered the way she broke down in front of Neha and how she hadn't even took his name but she understood that Madhu was talking about RK. And RK does ask about her to Neha? Then why didnt he talk to her.. Why was he ignoring her.. She remembered how he had snatched his hand away from her grip the previous day and she felt a thorn prick her heart. And why this? Why this pain when thinking of it.
But for now she had to decide what she wants to do.. She couldnt understand that. Should she go to RK. But what if he ignores her again and pulls himself away from her just like he pulled his arm away. She remembered the pain she had felt at that time and she knew now that she wont be able to bear that again.
By this time RK was ready for the shoot. He would steal glances at Madhu every now and then as he wanted to savour all these moments which seemed to him as maybe the last day of shoot with her. Just then Dipali came from behind.
"May I have your 5 minutes Mr. Rishabh Busy Kundra." She asked smiling widely at him.
"Of course... How are you ?" he smiled widely as he realised her standing beside him.
"Amm... You were reading your script?" Dipali asked smiling naughtily as she had seen him staring at Madhu though the emptiness in his gaze made her confused.
"Yes I was just reading this..." he said looking into the script for the first time only to notice that he was holding the papers upside down. He was dumb struck at that and looked back at Dipali with a nervous smile.
Dipali was holding herself from bursting out into laughter.
" Okay fine... I understood... Now dont do that" he said pointing at her lips which were ready to burst open.
Dipali couldn't control herself anymore and burst out into laughter. Rishabh too broke into a big smile and shook his head at his sillyness as he turned the script.
Madhu shook out if her thoughts at the sound of laughter and looked around. At a distance was a sight that again crumpled her heart.
'Again this girl is standing with my RK. I thought her scenes are over.. would she ever leave him alone.. and why are these two so happy.. Is there something going on between them.. Are they both a couple?' she didnt know why but she felt crushed thinking of it.
"I had thought your scenes were over.. How come you are here? " Rishabh asked her curiously.
" Its the last scene of the movie.. I thought I should just see the shoot. I cant miss Madhu mam's performace in these emotional scenes. And who is not aware of the SIZZLING CHEMISTRY our lead pair create on and off screen" she said teasingly.
Rishabh felt happy and a current of joy raced through him hearing the last part. And he was now smiling.
Madhu was seeing them from her position. She saw RK smiling on some comment of Dipali. May be she was praising him but that wasnt what she could think of at that time. Because that smile and those dimples of RK were not letting her think of anything else. She was feeling angry seeing the two together but now she just admired RK and his looks.
The shot was ready now and both were called at the centre. They stood in front of each other, they were tying to evade an eye contact. Somehow whenever RK looked into her eyes, she would just turn her gaze. She was feeling as if his eyes were complaining and blaming her of her sudden retreat from him. The hall sounded with ACTION!!
Madhu now had to look into RK's eyes as the scene demanded it. They stared at each other and straight to the eyes. RK had a lot of questions in his eyes which needed answers while Madhu had a pain of loosing him. She wanted to grab hold of him and never let him go but how she should do that she didnt know. The longer they looked into each other the more they were loosing themselves.
"Okay..! Now Dialogue!" The director said in his usual raised voice from his place.
RK got conscious and realised that they were doing a scene. They both completed with the dialogues still looking each other in the eye as if they had a different story going on in their eyes.
"I Love You... " Madhu said with tears in her eyes.
RK felt the pain and intensity of it and raised his hand above to touch her right cheek. That was not in the script but the director thought RK just improvised it and it also looked good.
"You should say that often " RK had happy tears in his own eyes. They looked at each other for some more time and then hugged each other with all their intensity. Madhu was now almost crying while Rishabh comforted her as he patted her head lovingly.
The director was amazed at such a level of connection and chemistry between the two. They both had improvised a lot in the scene and neither had lost track. It was all natural. The camera revolved around them taking the final shot with Madhu and RK still in a tight embrace. Then the Director shouted CUT!!
And the trance in which the Madhu and RK had lost themselves was broken. They shook into the reality and saw the clamouring audience around them. They broke the embrace disheartened to look at each other again as if to check whether the other was just doing the job or was really giving away the feelings. They looked at each other with painful scrutinizing eyes but just then the director came running to them.
"Congratulations Man!!" He said as he hugged RK while RK kept his gaze still on Madhu.
He turned back to Madhu and hugged her. he looked at them smiling widely because of the completion of his film. Madhu returned him an empty smile while RK too smiled widely. Even he was happy for the movie.
RK turned to Madhu smiling and forwarded his hand. "Congratulations Madhu... At last this is done " he said smiling hoping for Madhu to respond properly this time.
Madhu smiled back and shook his hand. "Congratulations to you all the more... It was your first... "
"Thanks for helping me all through " he said instantly.
But Madhu felt a strange emptiness with that. She had been so rude to him since the last days even had tried to disturb him that day. Trying to ruin his scene but here he was thanking her. Madhu smiled back at him. She was feeling estranged. Though RK was with her still she felt so distant. And she knew she was the only reason for that. They were standing there when Dipali came to them.
"YOU BOTH WERE BRILLIANT!!" She said exasperated.
Madhu suddenly turned to her as she cursed her fate- 'where did she come from... i wish i could chase her out of the studio..' she thought as she faked a smile.
"I felt as if you were actually doing it.. I mean like you both were not acting.. It was ur real self... it was soo beautiful..." she said in wide eyed excitement.
"Thank You.. Madhu is obviously brilliant in acting.. she has done such scenes a lot of times.. " RK said seeing Madhu from the corner of his eyes trying to make out if she was just acting or she also felt what he had felt.
Madhu looked at him with a jerk and looked at him with complaining eyes. How can he say that? Was all that flashed in her mind. She felt angry and betrayed.
"Right...!! Mam you are amazing.." Dipali said addressing her.
Madhu looked at her and smiled.. " Thank you Dipali... And RK is right.. Its not new for me.." she said angrily and she glared RK before going away from there.
RK everted his gaze to look at the blank space. He had understood that he had hurt her by saying that. Her look and anger was screaming of it. He hated himself for that but what could he do. Madhu was being so stubborn about nothing. She was behaving so strange.
Madhu was walking to her vanity trying to feel happy for their film. But she couldn't feel that. She turned back once to see RK watching her. She couldn't smile at him.
Do, pal ruka, khwaabon ka kaarvaan
Aur phir, chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan
Aur phir, chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
RK was going towards his vanity for wrapping up his things but all he was being reminded of from the surroundings was his time with Madhu. He could see him and Madhu laughing and chatting near the giant fan, on the small bridge, under the umbrella... Madhu's laughter echoed in his ears. He wished he could say his feelings in front of her.
Tum the ke thi koyi ujli kiran
Tum the ya koyi kali muskaayi thi
Tum the ya tha sapnon ka tha saawan
Tum the ke khushiyon ki ghata chhaayi thi
Tum the ke tha koyi phool khila
Tum the ya mila tha mujhe naya jahaan
Do pal ruka khwaabon ka kaarvaan
Madhu was sitting in her vanity now and tears were rolling down her eyes continuously. However much she had been ignoring her RK but somehow she had this comfort in mind that she has to come back to this place where they both would be together. Though they didnt love each other but still living in that dream through this film was her only resort to be close to him. And now even this had ended.
Aur phir chal diye tum kahaan ham kahaan
Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
RK looked at the posters of this film. He picked one of the small poster and looked at it. Never had he thought in his wildest dream that he could be able to meet Madhubala but now him and her were on this paper printed together. Not only did he meet her, but he had got the chance to fall in love with her. He smiled through his pain thinking how his fate brought him here, and even though today should be the best day of his life, completion of his first film, yet he was sad. He was desolate.
Tum the ya khushboo hawaaon mein thi
Tum the ya rang saari dishaaon mein the
Tum the ya roshni raahon mein thi
Tum the ya geet goonje fizaaon mein the
Madhu remembered her time with RK as she stared at the mirror and the scenes as if started to play in front of her. Their first meeting, her first normal movie experience, her first unhesitating Golgappa, everything that she was able to do infront of RK which she could never think of even alone. The way he had brought beautiful change in her life. She wanted that change to stay forever.
Tum the mile ya mili thi manzilein
Tum the ke tha jaadoo bhara koyi sama
Do pal ruka, khwaabon ka kaarvaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
RK was roaming about trying to savour all those memories he had made with Madhu in that place as he saw all those places where they had spent their time together. Then he suddenly noticed that he was standing infront of Madhubala's Vanity door.
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Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
