ViCha OS **TOGETHER FOREVER**

Chhavi's POV:

I looked around and saw the usual bustling set with people running around trying to set up the shot and give their best to the job. A familiar face moved past me, I gave her a faint smile. I always felt that our technicians, light men, sound guys, art directors, script writers - they are the most hardworking people on the set. Taking one step forward, I looked at the night sky adorned with beautiful stars. Today's shoot was Tara's birthday celebration near the pool. I still missed those old days, the old set up; old cast members, old moments; though I was trying hard to get habituated with this new arrangement but till now it couldn't feed me that same happiness as before. The whole set up was looking beautiful, mystical, and magical. I sometimes wondered from where Saba got these amazing ideas, each better than the last one, that breathed life into the love story and made it heavenly, magical and ethereal. Yes! I know that we share a cold relation; I know that she doesn't like me much and I can assume the reason behind it. But still I couldn't deny that she had a gift.

Initially everything was normal, but then suddenly every equation got changed. Though about Saba I didn't care, but what bothered me was his sudden change of behaviour. Yes, from the day that Pracheen rumour came, he changed so abruptly. The sheer thought of him came like an acute shaft and it ran through my heart causing a grave anguish. I took a deep breath and tried to change my bunch of thoughts and my eyes blinked, seeing Sodhiji, our director; who was sitting in a corner residing all his concentration on the script which he was holding.

I had already read the script, but it only gave me a subtle nervousness and some memories of happier days, which got bunched in a lump and like a smothered embrace surrounded me. But no doubt, the scene was beautiful; Saba had woven her magic once again. It is Tara's birthday celebration with her MJ, who is her bodyguard now and had a memory loss. The helplessness of Tara, her craving for love and the indifferent behaviour of MJ made the whole scene even more perfect, more passionate. The inevitable attraction of his heart was compelling him to tear all the inhibitions. The first time when I read the script I got a sudden jerk as it seemed so real to me, and I didn't think my fragile heart could handle it this time. My character is helpless and so am I, the bridge between these two selves submerged in a grotesque way and I could sense that my heart had become so heavy that I would only get free if I was able to throw it out from my chest. It was not my fault that I was feeling that way.

There had been a time when we came so close and then suddenly everything had been destroyed in the blink of an eye leaving only solitude and tears. Since the day the rumours came, I tried to talk to him, did every single thing which I could do to make him believe that Pracheen is not my boyfriend and he never was--- but my all efforts went in vain. His cold behaviour towards me only shattered my heart in the most brutal way and he left me feeling heartbroken and dejected.

As Sodhiji waved at me frantically, I realized with a start that I had been staring at him for the past ten minutes; going over Tara's mental state of being and the conjoined emotions of mine with it which was churning inside my heart, I had forgotten everything around me. Sometimes I felt that I knew 'Tara' so well that I could feel every emotion of hers as if she was my real being. I know her inside out.

I waved back at him and smiled guiltily while walking towards him. I sat on the chair adjacent to his and said in an easy voice.

"What has got you so worked up? You look like you are reading a tax agreement between India and America and trying to discern its pros and cons!" I tried to grin, tried to be normal.

"I was just going over the scene, it is beautifully written and I know you and Viraf would take it to another level, but... what happened between you both about that rumour and then the media, and Viraf too is so silent since that day...I just hope that it comes out well." Sodhiji said, giving me a tender chill and I again felt that sharp throe at the mention of his name but quickly wiped my face of any expression and said in an encouraging voice.

"Of course it will, don't worry." I patted his hand warmly and smiled.

As I said those words, I felt a presence beside me and immediately Sodhiji looked past me to wave his hand.

"Hey Viraf, come sit." He called a spot boy to bring an extra chair.

After he sat down, Sodhiji handed a copy of the script to him and he took it quietly without looking at me. He swiftly flipped through the pages and said in a steady voice.

"What time do we start?"

"About half an hour from now, you and Chhavi can go over it in the meanwhile and then we will take it from there..." Sodhiji said in a matter-of-fact tone and moved away to set up the camera and the lights when I heard a quiet voice from beside me.

"Should we start?"

I turned my face slowly towards him and met his eyes, which were as cold as ice as if hiding some suppressed pain, too precious to be revealed. Yet I felt I could drown in their depths and never want to come out. What was it about his eyes? I wondered for the umpteenth time. They seem to have some magnetic hold over my senses. Each time I looked into them, whether as Tara or as Chhavi, I never wanted to look away. I could see the entire universe and beyond in their depths and they seemed to make my heart beat faster of their own accord. It gave me uneasiness that some part of him could have that kind of control over me. Despite all my anger, agony and hopelessness I felt completely powerless when I gazed into his eyes.

"Chhavi? Should we start?"

I jumped at the sound of his voice, realizing that he had asked me something.

"Don't you need to learn your dialogues...?" I asked.

He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Now I am not so busy like you...You have to maintain your personal and professional relationships...I actually had them mail me the script so that..."

But before he could complete the sentence, I snatched the rest of his words and said, "Viraf, I don't have any idea how the rumour came..."

"It doesn't matter Chhavi, it doesn't matter anymore."

"Believe me, that is just a rumour...and about Pracheen..."

"It would be better if we concentrate on this scene right now."

My hands twitched and I balled them into fists to control my oozing emotions while giving him a small nod.

Twenty minutes later:

I was standing beside the pool almost ready for the director to call action, but Sodhiji was having some arguments over the angle of the rain-machine, so I adored the beautifully decorated pool which stretched in front of me. Viraf was talking with Dhruv with a concentrated expression on his face. He then walked back towards me. Standing beside me, he said in a quiet voice.

"You know there was supposed to be a smooching scene! But they edited it out for you..."

I turned to look at him with a confused expression.

"What do you mean?" I asked in an irritated tone, jutting my chin out.

"Well they knew that like our consummation scene, this time also you would refuse to do that..."

I looked at him with a stunned expression, my eyes widening with surprise, because I hadn't thought it that way. The consummation scene was different by its own terms and for a newcomer like me it was a tough job to do a kissing scene onscreen.

A deep blush covered my cheeks as I recalled the consummation scene. I did not want to think about the feelings that had rushed through my veins and the shivers that had run down my spine as we had been so close to each other. I fought back the tingling sensations that I could feel now as I recalled the feel of his skin against mine as he had so lazily tilted a little and had kissed on my neck; and for a moment then I had a hard time separating the person from the character I was playing, and that was the first time when I felt something different for him.

I recalled the hundreds of romantic moments and intimate scenes we had done together and how our insurmountable attraction increased with each passing day. And before I could realize anything, I had already fallen in love with him. But sometimes it seems that as much as I tried to hold on to him, each time the universe conspired to take us apart. I continued looking into his eyes and felt a familiar electrical sensation zap me from within, enveloping the entire atmosphere around me. I wondered dejectedly whether he could feel that buzzing electricity? Or he just pretends that he doesn't care at all?