Kaanch

Okay, so I decided to give the teaser a go and see if I could catch any curious fish in the pond. This is like a sample of what I am working on, and though it does not have much resemblance from the show, it has still been inspired from it and as you will see below, then I have included the fashion world in this fiction, too. It might not turn out to be the most brilliant fiction that you have ever read, but the thing is that I'd like to try and see if I have anything to give here when it comes to writing. But also because I love Amar and Vivan, and it just appealed to me to be writing about them, but using my own character-sketches and story-line. I won't be posting the first chapter until I am sure that it's okay with people that I am writing this way, so if it turns out that it is not allowed, then I'll just delete whatever I have written so far and mods can close this thread.

Now, what exactly is my fiction about? Good question. I am still developing the idea, but so far this is what I have figured out. The whole fiction is about love and loss, about finding the place where you belong, about secrets that are harshly revealed, and about a war between two highly prestigious fashion magazines in the very midst of Mumbai. Two huge companies competing to own the highest spot, and thereby be the all best fashion magazine in India. Because though they are rivals and despise each other, they do agree on one thing: You do not make fashion. Fashion makes you.

EPISODE ONE

I Will Not Forget You

The man smiled at her, a warm and promising smile. She could smell lilies, and when she glanced around, she was in a beautiful garden. He stretched his arms out toward her, still smiling. 'Come.' Before she could run to him, an ear-wrecking sound made her cover her ears. The man's face contorted with pain. She stared at him struck with horror, and as he dropped onto his knees, he asked her to run.

Suresh House

Chand woke up with a start, her heart racing near the base of her throat. She couldn't stop seeing the man's pain-struck face over and over in her head. She had had this nightmare a billion times before, but it woke her up and made her blood pump faster every single time. The sun shone through her window, down at her face. It warmed, it relaxed her. She checked the clock, and just as she realized that she was late, a horn tooted outside, making her jump out of bed and into the bathroom.

'Eh, Chand, rukh rukh,' Maa stopped her as she flew through the living room, aiming for the door. 'Nashta toh-' Chand went back and touched her mother's feet.

'Maa, I'm late. Nirav is outside-'

'He's been waiting for five minutes. He can wait two minutes more, while you eat.'

'No, Maa. I'm going to be late for class. I'll eat a big lunch, I promise,' she reached up to touch two fingers to her throat in an oath.

'Sure you are,' Maa shook her head. 'I'll ask Nirav to confirm that.'

'Love you,' Chand kissed her mother on the cheek and darted out the door.

Malhotra Mansion

'Have you seen Aditya?' Dev asked, rapidly doing his tie. Mala handed him his jacket as he finished.

'No,' she answered cautiously. He met her eyes in the mirror.

'But you know where he is?'

Mala sighed. 'Not in the office,' she threw up her hands as Dev shut his eyes, letting out a deep and troubled sigh. 'Dev, please don't be so hard on him. He needs time to sort things out. He'll be back.'

'Time,' Dev muttered, buttoning his jacket. 'I could use some of that, too, Mala. But you see I have a business to run, and if I don't get out there in ten minutes, people are going to be really pissed and we're going to lose deals. Provogue was Father's dream. You'd think that if anything mattered to him now, it would be this company.'

'Dreams change, Dev,' Buah said from the doorway. She was carrying Pooja-ki-thaali, but the cunning expression remained in her eyes. 'Aditya has dreams of his own now. You should understand better than anyone how it is to have dreams that do not go well with the family's expectations, right?'

'Good morning, Buah,' Mala said in a strained voice. Dev turned to his wife, ignoring Buah's comment.

'I'm leaving for work. If you see Aditya-'

'I'll talk to him,' Mala nodded, she straightened his tie and smiled. 'Don't worry.'

College in Mumbai

Nirav rolled his eyes. 'You're desperate for a well-paid job, right?' Chand opened her mouth to protest, but he interrupted her. 'The tuition isn't gonna pay itself. You won't lend money from me, and now you're being choosy when I got you this appointment at Provogue-magazine. This is it, Chand, this is your chance.'

'Provogue-magazine,' she repeated in an upset whisper and leaned closer. 'Have you completely lost your mind? I might as well not show up for the stupid interview, Nirav, because there's no way a company like Provogue is going to hire me.' She went quiet as the professor passed them and continued toward his desk up front.

'Why not?' Nirav questioned.

'Because,' she snapped in frustration, and lowered her voice to a barely audible hiss. 'Firstly, I'm a school-girl studying Medicine, not photography. And secondly, I don't have any experience. None at all.'

This time, Nirav raised his eyebrows in disbelief. 'Come on, Chand. You're one of the best photographers I've ever met, and I party with the big P's.' When she sighed as if giving up arguing with him, he leaned toward her with a consoling smile. 'Listen, the Malhotras are like family to me. I've been a part of Provogue's world for a long time, and I know it. I know a great photographer when I see one. You're that one, Chand. Look, the Malhotras believe in me. And I believe in you.' He found her gaze and shot her a wide grin, stretching from ear to ear, and she sighed again.

'Fine,' she muttered. 'I'll show up for the interview.'

'Just think of this as a way of paying your tuition without owing me anything.'

'Getting a job is my only way of paying tuition, and if I do get this job, then I'll owe you anyway,' she pushed him away, playfully. For a minute, they both sat quietly and listened to the professor's monotone voice. Nirav watched her from the corner of his eye. He didn't look at her, when he whispered.

'Hey.'

'Hm?' she replied.

'This is still your dream, right?' he asked. 'To be a doctor.'

Chand blinked, she was used to telling this lie. 'Of course. Why do you ask again?'

'It's just-' he shrugged. 'You're awesome at photography. If things work out with the magazine and all, why not drop the studies and pursue that instead?'

Because Maa has put all her faith in me becoming a doctor, she thought. 'Nirav, this is what I want to be; a doctor. You know that. Photography is just a hobby.'

Nirav pursed his lips. 'Like Trishna and her man-hunting?'

'Yeah-' Chand started and then interrupted herself, pushing him again, a little harder than before. He tried to contain his laughter, but the distinct choking noises made it quite clear that it was really hard. Faces turned toward them in class. The professor lifted an eyebrow at Nirav.

'Mr. Virani, if you are done paying attention to my class, then please feel free to go.'

Somewhere in Mumbai

Aditya lit his cigarette and heaved, the smoke filled his lungs. He leaned back against the car-door and stared ahead at the coast-line. The ocean glittered beneath the hot sun. It was peaceful out here. Bhaiyya would be pissed about this, about him, once again, not showing up at Provogue, doing his job with the constantly cackling models. He couldn't care right now. Didn't want to care, anyway. The problem was that he did care. He cared about his brother, and knew that it was hard for him, too, to continue the business as if nothing had happened, to take care of everything.

Why couldn't he for once be there, and do what was expected of him? Just like Dev, his big brother, always did? Why did he have to break the rules? Neglect his duties? In school, he'd been the rebel, the spoiled Malhotra-kid, who'd always gone his own ways, done whatever he wanted to without caring about anything – and he'd gotten away with it every single time. He still got away with everything.

He didn't want the bloody company. He didn't want anything in his life that reminded him of their father. Why was Bhaiyya holding on to that stupid business? They both hated it. They'd both hated the man who'd created it.

A muscle ticked in Aditya's jaw, and he threw the cigarette down and stomped on it. Bloody hell, he thought and yanked the car-door up. He got in and raced back down the road, heading for work.

EPISODE TWO

Suresh House

'Where are you going?' Trishna crossed her arms, frowning at Chand as she unlocked the door. 'Maa asked you to make dinner before she's home, remember?' Correction; Maa had asked Trishna to make dinner before she was home, but since her sweet and adorable sister had just gotten back from a manicure session – making dinner was out of the question. She might break a nail.

'I'll make it in time.' Chand opened the door, but Trishna grabbed her arm. Of course careful not to harm the pretty new nails.

'Hey, but where are you going?' she repeated curiously. Chand frowned, pressing her lips hard together. She couldn't tell Trishna the truth. 'Chand, come on,' Trishna said and moved closer. 'You can tell me. Oh my God, are you seeing someone?' her entire face brightened up at the possibility of her quiet, reserved sister finally rebelling. 'Oh, you have to tell me now. Who is he? Is it someone I know? It's not a girl, is it-'

'God, Didi,' Chand snapped, interrupting her sister's train of thought. 'No. No it's not a boy and it's certainly not a girl. I'm going for a job interview.' Trishna sighed, and rolled her eyes.

'Bored already,' she turned on her high heels, strolling back to her room. 'Whatever. Don't be late. If Maa asks, I'm not gonna lie to her about where you are.'

'I love you, too,' Chand replied, shutting the door on her way out.

Provogue Company Building

It knocked on his door. 'Hold on,' Dev answered and returned to the phone call. 'I'll call you later, and then we can talk about the shooting. I've to go now. Alright, take care.' He hung up and turned toward the door. 'Come in, Kanti.' The beautiful long-legged woman, and secretary of Aditya, stepped inside Dev's office. 'Sir, there's this girl here to see you about the vacant assistant spot. Should I-?'

'Yes, Kanti. Please send her in.' Dev answered with a short nod. He sat down behind his desk and waited. The girl entering a moment later wasn't tall and long-legged like Kanti, nor was she strikingly beautiful. But she was simple in appearance, sweet and, well, she looked slightly lost, or was she merely nervous? 'Hello,' Dev smiled a warm and calming smile. 'Please sit down. I'm Dev Malhotra. You're Chandana Suresh, am I correct?' The girl shook his outstretched hand and seated herself opposite his desk.

'Yes, I am.' She had big brown eyes, full of hope, and dreams.

'You're here for the vacant assistant spot, I assume.' Dev decided that he liked her, almost instantly. She struck him as simple and sweet.

'Yes, sir,' she nodded. 'I know that I've no experience, but I'm a very quick learner, and I work hard.' Dev watched her, silently, for a brief moment.

'You're currently studying Medicine?' he questioned.

'Yes, sir.'

'It must be an expensive education.'

'It is. But to be honest, sir, that's not the only reason that I want this job.'

'No?'

'No, sir. I love photography.'

'Yes, I've seen some of your personal work.' He nodded toward a file lying in front of him on his desk. Chand frowned. 'Your friend, Nirav, who also happens to be a close friend of my family, he submitted some samples of your work yesterday.' For a second he thought that something dark passed through her eyes, which made him realize that she might not be as sweet as she seemed when angry. He smiled. 'I am glad that he did. These photographs are incredible. They need a little polishing, which, of course, is something that you'll learn here, working with professional photographers and also assisting at the photo-shoots. You'll be taught how to improve your skills, and when the right time comes, you'll be given an assignment of your own. And-'

The girl stared at him. 'Sir,' she said, hesitatingly. 'Does that mean-? Am I-?'

'Hired?' Dev pursed his lips. 'Yes, I believe so.'

'Thank you so much, sir. You've no idea how much this means to me.' Her face lit up as she stood and shook his hand again, this time with much more confidence.

'You're welcome. You'll start tomorrow. Your classes end at three, correct?'

'Yes, sir.'

'You'll be here at four sharp, and I'll introduce you to the man you'll be working for and with. He's my younger brother,' and I just hope he'll show up at work tomorrow, Dev thought as he followed the girl to the door.

Malhotra House

Mala entered the kitchen. 'Buah,' she frowned at the woman standing near the stove, cooking what seemed like vegetables. 'Buah, you don't need to cook dinner. We have servants to do that.' She had never seen Buah in the kitchen before.

'I know that we have servants, Mala,' Buah turned around. 'But I decided to make his favorite dish to cheer him up.'

'For Dev?' Mala started to smile, but instantly stopped as Buah scowled at her.

'No. Not for your husband. For Aditya. He's having a hard time, poor kid,' she sighed and shook her head in distaste. 'I don't understand why your husband pushes him so hard. Let him follow his dreams, I say.'

'Buah, my husband has a name.'

'Just because Dev's dreams were crushed by-'

'Buah, enough,' Mala exclaimed, breathing deep. Buah stared at her for a minute, and then stepped closer, taking Mala's hand in a motherly gesture.

'I apologize, Mala. I didn't mean to bring old bitter memories back up. But,' she made her voice rather insisting, yet cautious. 'You have to admit that Dev is punishing you and Aditya for dreams that he let die. Now you tell me, is that fair to you?' she shook her head again, watching Mala's distant expression. 'You've worked hard to keep this family from falling apart during- well, I needn't say. I'd have thought that Dev would be grateful and spend more time at home with you, but he seems to have put on the face of his father around here lately. Pushing Aditya, snapping at you. I'm saying this only because it worries me to see you getting hurt, Mala. I am like a mother to you.'

Mala breathed in deep, touching Buah's hand, which was still holding hers. She didn't speak, but turned to leave the kitchen. She didn't need to speak. Buah had seen the impact of her words on Mala's face. She'd merely confirmed Mala's own thoughts.

There was nothing wrong about that.

Suresh House

'Maa, Nirav got me a job,' Chand said, poking at her peas, and nervously waiting for her mother's reaction. Indira looked up from her own food, and frowned.

'A job?'

'Yes. I thought that I could help you pay the rent and such,' Chand continued, looking up at her mother. 'It's nothing permanent. Just a small-time job beside the studies. It pays well.'

Indira smiled a little. 'That's good. But how did you-?'

'Well, like I said, Nirav got me an appointment and the boss liked me right away, so he said that I could start by tomorrow.' Chand moistened her lips. Please don't ask about where I'm going to work, she thought and almost begged. 'Is that okay with you?'

'Sure,' her mother nodded. 'Just be careful. Where-'

'I'll be careful, don't worry. But don't you think it's time Didi finds herself a job, too? She's not even studying.' That was all she needed to say to turn the entire conversation and attention to Trishna, scowling next to her.

'Hell, no,' she snapped.

'Trishna, don't swear,' Maa reprimanded. 'Chand's right. You should think about your future as well. You can't sit home forever.'

'Then have me married to a handsome, rich man, Maa.' Trishna shrugged. As both Maa and Trishna started discussing, Chand finished her dinner, trying to ignore the strange butterflies in her stomach. First day at work tomorrow.