So, I had like a million ideas for stories up until three days ago, and now that I have sat down to write, I am absolutely blank. Anyway, here is a feeble attempt at something. I am hoping I get time to write more and that the quality improves with time. 😆
OS An Interview with Rajeev Masand
I am not sure why it has to be Rajeev Masand, but I can't think of one another person fit enough to be in place of him, so we go with him. Here, we have an interview with Ritwik Noon by the man himself.
The leads in our story have been married for a short while now, and are now well adapted to their new lifestyle.
Rajeev in his typical suave, smoothened voice, began, "I heartily welcome Ritwik Noon on my show today. How is it going, Ritwik?", he asked.
Ritwik Noon in his dapper, black jacket and a black dress shirt coupled with black trousers looked attractive enough to kill. There is always something about an all-black look to impress a woman, however, our man here felt neither the need nor the desire for that anymore. With his usual, charming, jovial demeanour, he gave his interviewer a heads up.
Masand did not fail to acknowledge his appearance, and commented, "I would be unfair to my entire audience if I don't tell you how well you have taken to Manish Malhotra's new collection. Very impressive.", finished Masand with a show of his hands. Not having learned humility, Ritwik Noon laughed handsomely, mighty pleased at the comment.
"So, before I get to anything else, I must ask you. How is Aamchi Mumbai treating you?" Masand started. "How difficult has it been for an all-out Delhi-bred man like you to adapt to Mumbai? The culture, the dynamics, the people, the general air, if I may put it, everything about Mumbai, from what I have heard stands apart from Delhi?".
Ritwik replied with a casual air, surmising what to say for just a few seconds, "Well, I had more than just the city to get used to." He said, both of them laughing knowingly. "So, yeah, multitudes of things happening simultaneously, and adjusting to the city was never really distinctive." He said thoughtfully, gesticulating with his hands.
"However, I must add, half a year, and things have become easier. When it concerns me, nothing ever really settles, does it? That would make me boring. But yeah, they have become better. The city, well, I love Mumbai now. I haven't stopped loving Delhi, but it is Mumbai, for the time being." That was our very own, haughty Ritwik Noon, ladies and gentlemen.
Masand nodded, eagerly In agreement and continued, "Since you have brought up the topic about settling down, ignoring your negation of it..." With an unnecessarily generous show of hands and a pause to his high-pitched tone, that was highly characteristic of him and his profession, he elaborated amused, "Let us talk about your marriage to Palak." He finished with a flourish, to which Ritwik seemed the least bit flustered, he knew this was coming, and man, was he not used to it now!
"I doubt I can avoid that." He said with what was half a smile.
"Yes, so we start from the beginning. Your marriage to Palak was, how would I put it? Sudden for want of a better word? And, obviously, you are a known figure, Ritwik; Both in business and the entertainment circles. And your marriage was earlier decided with someone, and somehow, it turned out to be Palak, in the end. A lot of rumours have been floating around and have not yet abated. A lot of comments, judgments, opinions, media trials. Let us talk about that?" The deliberate use of people's first names was a ubiquitous strategy used by interviewers to take the said person in public confidence as is deemed fit. The audience, both the interviewer and the interviewee are all aware of this, yet this show goes on. Ritwik did not disagree even once and seemed in thought.
"So, what is the actual story, Ritwik? Firstly, let us address this. Do you admit that the great Ritwik Noon has finally fallen in love?" This time, Rajeev did not fail to laugh out loud and Ritwik joined him.
"Yes, most definitely, Rajeev. Absolutely, irrevocably and madly in love with my wife." The light-hearted mood remained as it was, however, even a layman could discern the sincerity that the flamboyant businessman held in his tone. He was indeed a man deep in love.
"Nobody would have ever thought of this day. You have always been very vocal about being commitment-phobic, of your distaste of the institution of the marriage. And, suddenly this. What caused this miraculous turn of events? I think we need to be apprised of that."
"Ahm, I guess, I don't deny having been against commitment, or marriages, or any of that sort. However, I guess, sometimes it is all about finding that one person, that one person who is absolutely and perfect that everything else just vanishes into oblivion." Rajeev nodded in understanding.
"Tell me something more about your wife, Palak. She seems the complete opposite of you, at least when it comes to public image. You have always been a known public persona, however, she is quite the contrary?"
"She is a very private person, and her profession does not really demand any public attention. And, she is not really a fan of publicity and media. And, she stays away from it."
"Tell us some more about your story and your journey with Palak before you guys got officially hitched'? What is it about her, that your apparent girlfriends didn't have?
"There is nothing apparent about it", Ritwik said, funnily. "And, neither am I ashamed of the past that I have. I have had lots of girlfriends and I am the person that the public thinks I am, in public. However, that does not mean, I am a heartless philanderer that is generally perceived."
"There isn't anything about Palak, that sets her apart or makes her extraordinary or anything of that sort. That is, by far, really melodramatic. However, what makes us click well together is that we click well together. We started off on the wrong foot, and that is quite typical, I guess, very Bollywood-like, went to be the worst of enemies to the best of friends to life partners now. And, the journey has been a huge roller coaster. She is amazing the way she is, understands me the best, and of course, loves me like mad." Ritwik concluded elaboratively.
"One thing about Palak that tells you, she is the one for you, every day you see her?"
"Ahm, she is like my Mom. A lot like my Mom. And I guess every guy sees that in a girl inadvertently and the same can be said about daughters and fathers. My mother is a Super Mom, and Palak takes after her in that aspect. The maturity, the calmness, the ability to handle any adversity, the ability to gauge me, is something Palak imitates my Mom in. And, I guess, that is how I knew at some point, that she was the one for me. And, there has never been any going back since then." Ritwik added, there wasn't any sentiment in what he said, but the tactless way he said it, made his admissions frank and honest.
Rajeev had got the cue to continue, "That is amazing. I am still reeling over the shock that you would speak this way. I still remember the last time you were here, a couple of years ago, and how your views were, and how your views are today."
"I guess, you have got more than six months to get over it. You cannot still say that." Ritwik said, jovially.
"Quite true, coming to the family. There was and still a lot of strain, that is assumed, between your family and you, and it is a general assumption that it is because of your decision to marry your wife."
Ritwik, being the frank one, didn't even attempt to make it up, "My family has always meant the world to me, and still does. However, yes, there is some blood lost between us that would get resolved, hopefully as time passes." His honesty blew even Rajeev Masand over.
"How is your new life treating you? Now, that you are on your own. But it is only in the last one month, have you decided to start over with a new business proposition? What were you up to the past few months? I mean, of course, your social media account says it all, I still want to hear it from the horse's mouth."
"Well, about the venture, I don't think I am at liberty to divulge right now. However, I am more of a homemaker now, and the venture would always be secondary. My home and family are my first priority."
"Wow! Ritwik Noon and homemaker in the same line. I am sure everyone, including myself, is eager to know more about that."
"Well, we moved to Mumbai, mainly because Palak's job was here, and since everything was new. We had to deal with everything then, the city, the household, and a lot of teething issues. So, one of us had to take that step forward and it was me, by default. As, I had no job or business to handle then, and she had work. So, I decided to take matters into my hands. And, also because I am a better cook than Palak. It isn't as if I have been idle. I have had my share of fun. I did interviews and shows, and there was a culinary episode as well, and of course, a couple of occasional modeling assignments."
"Modeling? How serious are you about it?"
"At this stage of my life, I am not really serious about any of this. I did modeling for a friend and for fun since I had time on my hands. The shows were again, on a personal request and I enjoyed them thoroughly. I could collaborate with my wife then, and it was just showcasing our married lives. That was super fun and insane!"
"Describe your life in one word."
"Impossibly indescribable."
Here, we digress a little and focus on a slightly different tangent. Our interviewee here, as typical he is, should have probably said, Palak', and that might have impressed you, the readers more, however, that would have been too typical of even the great Ritwik Noon. Although, it is probably with utmost conviction that I say this, that Palak plausibly means his life to him, let us leave that unsaid for the sake of maintaining a tad bit of normalcy in our story. Now, let us get back on track.
"That was two words", Rajeev said, with mock accusation.
Ritwik just shrugged, "That proves my point."
"Before we close, would we ever get to personally meet your very beautiful wife?"
"Only time would tell but as of now, she is probably rehearsing some excellent pickup lines for everything I have said live on your show." Both men laughed enthusiastically.
"Thank you for being with us today, I am in awe of you for your frankness that you are known for. Yet, the very charming Ritwik Noon won us over today, with your well-known honesty."
"I think the allure just comes with me", Ritwik said, with seeming vanity and the lights dim as they said their farewells.
The End
That was my first OS, and I realized halfway through, that since it does not have Palak in it, and it is not a PaRit OS, most of you might be disinterested. However, the paltry consolation is, it is about Palak and Ritwik, even if it does not include her. Also, I used to do this on KRPKAB Forum, not sure if it would work here. So, I used to leave one idea for my next OS in the one I write, for the readers to guess. One purpose is to keep you guys guessing, second is to give me some ideas that I may not have thought of. Here, I guess, I have left a lot of openings for more stories. Let us see where this goes. 😳
- Naj
P.S. Edited. I realised that the double inverted commas were missing, and I know I would get irritated reading dialogues without those. 😆
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