PART-8
He still remembered that day when just before dusk he was waiting for Kalpi, wanting to tell her that he was as much surprised by his changed feelings and reactions to her, as was she by his behavior. He'd wanted to tell her that he did not want to disrespect her in any way. That though both of them still did not share a cordial bond, could she at least try to forgive him this one time; and give their changing relation another chance. "I'll only say Sorry to her otherwise and come back, if she still isn't in a mood to listen to me" he had thought. He had looked for her everywhere, but she hadn't come till now. "Strange she usually reaches early and starts doing her rehearsal by this time every day".Remembering that one place was still left and maybe if she is late he can find Kalpi there definitely, he went to look for her there, to Kalpana's changing and make-up room.
But Kalpi was not to be found there too, instead he saw Bhairavi'-the Studio Manager & Nisha'-girl who played Kalpi's younger sister in the play there. Since it was their play's last show, special arrangements for new costumes were being done and Bhairavi was checking if everything was ready in time for the leads. She had already checked and kept Raghav's costumes; and was now checking on Kalpi's costumes, adding the new ones there. Apparently Nisha was requesting Bhairavi to accompany her and check on her costumes "Kalpana hasn't arrived yet; you can check with her later on, in her presence". "No-no Kalpana is the lead, I need to keep everything ready for leads first, and her scenes shall come first. I am almost done here, so next I'll go to your room only".
"Excuse me; have you both seen Kalpana yet?" Raghav asked, jolting the two girls out of their conversation.
"No Raghav, she has not arrived yet. But she has never been late before. I guess she must be on her way" Bhairavi told him, with her back to his side again.
"Okay, thanks" he had almost turned, when he noticed something, transfixing him on the spot.
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"Time to make amends for those mistakes and make you pay for them" he said, as Morning Sun's fresh rays on his eyes too failed to clear the cloud of memories on his heart. All night he realized he had spent in remembering Kalpana's touch, their last memories together; the day which he always wished he could erase from his life. "But then, maybe I'd not have become so successful in my films career, Thank You Kalpi. It is my turn to help you now" he told her photo which he had clicked the day before.
There on the other side Kalpi too had not slept the entire night and today she was scheduled to meet Raghav again. Some photo shoots with Raghav and then details of character were to be explained to her she was told. She told herself that the only choice now available to her was to face him and work with him; she mustered courage to get ready for the day.
Reaching the designated location in the studio Kalpi looked warily around, not wanting to encounter Raghav right now. "Kalpana...I was waiting for you. Come, come...hurry up" Mr. Roy the Director noticed her and called her out.
Kalpi: "Good morning Sir. How are you?"
Mr.Roy: "Good morning. I am just great now that you have arrived. The photo shoot session is to start in ten minutes. You better hurry up, Raghav is all ready and the photographer too. We have hired the best in business". And some ten-fifteen minutes later Kalpi found herself facing Raghav again, he had been smirking since the moment he saw her. His hand shake was as usual, more to tease her than a friendly one.
They were to take different kinds of photos, some to arouse an interest among viewers, some just to show case the leads and some in a romantic pose. Those few minutes were pure torture for Kalpi and pure bliss for Raghav. He had been able to control most of their poses, especially the romantic ones, which to the third eye were normal and the two shared an amazing comfort level. But Kalpi knew he kept her too close to him deliberately, which had her cursing him in her mind all the while. In the last pose Raghav's one hand was on her waist, holding her close to him; and both were to look into each other's eyes intently, she did look back in his eyes, to give him a silent challenge that he won't have it easy with her. As soon as the shoot was over and other people scattered she confronted him directly "What was that?"
Raghav: "What sweetheart? We both were merely doing our job, isn't it?"
Kalpi: "We both know very well it was not just a part of job. You kept me closer to you deliberately, which was not even needed".
Raghav: "Why? You didn't like it I suppose? We are leads here, the closer the better!"
Kalpi: "This was not the answer to my question".
Raghav: "Yes, you are right. My intent always was to make this journey as enjoyable for you as possible sweetheart".
Kalpi: "Raghav, I won't let you have this so easy. I..."
Raghav: "Shhh..." he said pulling her close to him by her arms and putting his hand on her mouth "Well, I let you win again. You were always right and you are right now too. I don't think you can accept anything other than this Kalpi? You want to prove yourself right always", "So yes, I am confirming your doubts and also warning you beforehand, this was not the first time I was close to you; and this shall certainly not be the last; and as you must have known by now I do fulfill my promises". Saying so he let go if her, but Kalpi couldn't help but give what she considered a befitting reply to him.
Kalpi: "For the first time you are correct about me Raghav, that I am always right. Unlike you, who loves to be the wrong side always, like you were eight years ago when you had planned my wardrobe malfunction' and conspired my ouster from our play group" she finished and left to go through rest of the plans of the day, leaving an astounded Raghav behind.
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Mr. Shubhanshu Roy, the Director had given her the details of the character and then handed her the outline story of the show; plus her dialogues to help her enact the role in a better way when the shoot starts. She was sitting in a lone corner, but could not focus on the sheets of papers in her hands. Her mind constantly went back to the final nail in her and Raghav's relation, his mischievous plans against her. She remembered that day eight years ago, when after reaching theatre she was getting ready and Nisha had come running to her. "Kalpi...I am so glad I found you in time. I have to share something important with you".
Kalpi: "What is it Nisha? And why are you so worried, disheveled? Is everything okay?"
Nisha: "Everything is alright with me Kalpi. But...but Raghav..."
Kalpi: "Raghav...what happened to him?"
Nisha: "He is fine. But he had come to your changing room today, looking for you. Then he noticed your new dresses, and started enquiring about the scene in which those dresses were to worn respectively. I and Bhairavi Ma'am were here then. As soon as Bhairavi Ma'am's work here got over, she'd agreed to come with me".
Kalpi: "Then what?"
Nisha: "Then I and Bhairavi ma'am were on our way to my room when I saw Raghav sneaking into your room again. I found something fishy so I told Bhairavi to go ahead and I'll follow her soon", "When I peeped into your room, I saw Raghav was breaking hook of one of your dresses. This is the one". She showed the said dress to Kalpi. Kalpi read the tagged chit on that dress which said last scene'; looking at that halter neck gown Kalpi saw one of the hooks in that dress was actually broken and the other hook was also loosely attached.
"Raghav did this?" Kalpi asked Nisha, tears had started to form in her eyes, and she could not believe still that Raghav was responsible for it. "He cannot stoop so low" she muttered.
"But he did so Kalpi, I saw it with my own eyes; and this is not all. As I was coming here I saw him talking to our Director; I wonder if it has anything to do with that rumour that one of the members of our group shall be shown the door owing to financial crunch. I am afraid Raghav will take advantage of this situation against you".
This was too much for Kalpi, she decided to talk about it to Raghav then and there. "I am going to talk to him" she said. But Nisha stopped her "It's no use Kalpana. No one is here to listen to us. As for this dress, I'll do something about it and ask my Mom to arrange a new dress for you as early as possible".
"No, I have to talk to him about it. I still cannot believe it that he did all this. He can't stoop so low" and without caring about anything she'd gone in search of Raghav; hearing his voice coming from Director's room she had stopped to listen to their conversation.
"That girl should be thrown out as early as possible. As for finances and remuneration, I don't care about it. You know very well Mom shall never say No to finance all the expenses of this group. Don't forget it was I and Gauri mom's recommendation on which Kalpana was hired; and it is me who is telling you to do this". This much was enough for Kalpi to believe in Nisha's words. She was shocked, unable to believe that Raghav could take revenge of her words & rejection like this. Quietly she had slipped back to her room and went on to the stage after ten minutes as the show had started.
During the whole scenes she had not let her inner turmoil affect the play. In the midst of the play when she and Raghav both were not required on stage, she got another shock when she found Raghav standing inside her room. This time she was seeing him with his own eyes, holding one of the dresses.
"Spoiling one more dress Raghav?" she asked him. Startled he looked back at her "Kalpi I..."
"Don't make excuses. I know everything" he looked at her for a few minutes and said "Look I don't have the time to argue with you right now. I have to go and get ready for my last scene. We'll talk later about it" and he had left her alone, with unanswered questions. She had gone on to check the dress which he was holding and found it was a long light pink gown with straps. It was a new dress, apparently bought by Nisha for her. She had checked it thoroughly and found it was perfectly all right "Maybe I spoilt his plans" she had thought. "Let this last show be over Raghav, and then I'll respond to the public humiliation you had planned for me".
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction using characters from the show "Ek Mutthi Aasmaan" on "Zee TV". The characters are owned by creators and owners of the show.
PART-9
