| Fire and Whispers | IO - Page 4

AU!VidArth

Vidushi resisted the urge to throw the phone as the line went dead on the other end. She was so livid; she could barely keep herself from shaking. Her hand tightened around her phone, her knuckles going white. She held on with all her might, trying to compose herself. If she broke this one, she knew she'd have to wait another two weeks until payday before she could get herself a new one. And given her current financial state, it just wasn't worth the two seconds of joy it would give her.

Mac placed a tentative comforting hand over her shoulder. He knew what was at stake for her, and for the channel. Sadly, they weren't the same things but lucky for him, both their plans began with the same person. The man they were here to interview. In the heat of the moment, Vidushi had forgotten this but he hadn't. They had a small window of time, a very small one if she wanted to achieve both the goals. He knew she could, she just needed to be reminded of it every now and then.

Even though the launch event was the usual affair, with pre-vetted questions and pre-moderated press, Vidushi was on high alert. Her eyes were trained on the silent man who sat centre stage, conspicuously quiet for an affair that was after all partly in his honour, or much honour as a supermodel turned promising film star warranted.

The questions were painfully mundane, strictly following the press brief. She looked around and spotted the familiar faces in the crowd. Same old crowd, same old questions, same old answers. She bit her tongue and fidgeted in her seat to stop the questions that were screaming to be voiced, trying hard to contain them.

Maybe it was the ruffling of her papers, maybe it was the intensity with which she had been staring at him or maybe it was just a moment of chance - the kind that strikes one as one of deep consequence only after it has passed - maybe it was all of it combined, maybe it was neither but it was right then, in that banal moment that his eyes met hers, and stayed.

She froze, the questions in her mind coming to a screeching halt but not before he had already caught them in her eyes. She watched as he tensed up, his eyes darkened and the muscle in his jaw hardened. She felt her mouth go dry. He knew, he knew, he knew.

She physically felt the moment he took his eyes off her, slumping with the force of feelings rushing back into her body. Dread, trepidation and elation mingling into a heady mix. She came alive them, buzzing and vibrating. He had completely shut down, still right where he was but suddenly appearing to be miles and miles away.

Mac rushed towards her as reporters ran after the departing group, shooting questions. He found her sitting right where he'd last seen her during the press conference. She was losing time, what was she thinking? This was her moment. He shook her out of her thoughts, the urgency of the moment dawning on him.

She looked up with a grin. "He knows Mac! I told you he did!" She could barely hold back her excitement.

Mac's eyes lit up. "Then go after him! What are you doing here? This is your big break!"

She looked at the far end of the hall now, where the reporters were fighting to get through, struggling for one exclusive byte, anything to guarantee their jobs for one more month.

Mac pulled her up to her feet and pushed her towards the front of the room. "He's not with them. I saw him go behind the stage."

She jumped up and hugged him, words wouldn't be enough this time. "Here," he said shoving a can of Red Bull in her hand, "Go do what you need to!"

He watched her run towards the stage, her notepad forgotten on her seat.

--

He needed to leave. Right. Now. But the damn press was everywhere.

He knew he shouldn't have come. There was no need for him to be there. They could have easily done everything they did just fine without him. But they had left him no choice. He hated keeping up appearances, he really did. And now it was even more important than it had ever been before. Sometimes, the best place to hide was right in the public eye. He knew that, but that didn't mean he liked it.

--

She sees him the minute she opens the door behind the stage. For a man trying hard to lose himself in the crowd, he was pretty good at always sticking out. And where was his security anyway? Was it safe for him to be roaming around in a building full of blood-thirsty reporters and rabid fan girls? Well serves him right, if she corners him. He brought it on to himself and she's earned this after all.

--

He hears her before he sees her. She's trying to be quiet, he'd give her that but after the years he's had, his senses have a tendency to pick up things, his body already tense and ready to attack, even before his mind catches on. He turned around, hands fisted by his side before she's had a chance to come any closer. She stops abruptly, eyes widened and he has to fight off a smirk. This isn't the time, the place nor the right company, if her reporter badge is anything to go by. He schools his features into his patent bored, irritable look, one that's gotten him much further than his street smarts ever could.

"Parth... Parth Kashyup?" She addresses him tentatively and he lifts an eyebrow in acknowledgement. It's her, the girl from the press conference. He needs to leave now.

"Yes and no!"

"No?" She looks at him baffled and he fights the urge to smile. She's so easy, her expressions a dead giveaway. No wonder she needed to track him down. Bet she was a horrible reporter, couldn't even master a poker face. Was probably here so she could keep her job a little longer. Well too bad, he wasn't in the mood for charity tonight.

"No more questions, Miss..." She holds up her badge and moves to take a step forward. "Whatever! The press conference is over and now if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be." He turns around, dismissing her completely. Serves her right for chasing him down.

She's before him in a flash, blocking his way. "Just a minute, please? I promise it will only take a minute!" She says in a rush, urgently.

He looks at his watch and then back up at her. "It's already been three since you walked in. Too late Miss...," This time he closes the distance between them, towering over her and lifts up her badge, intentionally slow, from where it hangs around her neck, carefully to not touch, never touch. "...Vidushi Kumar" He bends his head and whispers her name into her hair. She smells of cinnamon and coffee. He pulls back instantly.

She looks dazed. Good, he thinks. Just like the others. He's almost past her when he feels his sleeve pulled back. She's more persistent than he gave her credit for. Without turning, he shoves his hand, trying to get rid of her hold on his jacket. It gives.

This time as he takes another step he openly grins, which quickly turns into a grimace as he feels something cold soaking his shirt. He looks up to see her, body shaking, eyes blazing and hands crushing the half empty can.

"Now that I have your attention Mr. Kashyap. I'd like to ask a few questions about your early modeling days and your almost sudden rise to fame."

She's smirks at him then, eyes twinkling and he feels the earth tremor beneath his feet.

--