IT HAD TO BE YOU
Chapter 1:
Mayank got out of his house and groaned on seeing his car's tyres half-drowned in the water that had accumulated on the roads,thanks to da lovely monsoons.
Great!!!Now I'll have to take that wretched local,if i want to make it in time for my shoot...Mayank thought hopelessly,as he glanced at his watch,n broke into a sprint towards da station dat was around 1 km away from his house.
He hated the rains.He had hated them ever since he came to Mumbai 5 yrs ago to try his luck as an actor in Bollywood.Though that project was still under its way,during the process he had managed to bag a supporting role in one of the leading soaps on air at the moment and he couldnt have asked for more,after all its just been 5 yrs.He still had a long way to go,but he couldnt help but be pleased ven da ppl on da sidewalk waved at him and called him Alekh,which was his character's name on the show.He had definitely managed to make himself known and was very happy about this achievement as he smiled back at them and waved back at them with the air of a seasoned actor.Gloating with this self-confidence booster,he rushed towards the station.
The local was on time,as usual.But he noticed that it was much less crowded than usual. Maybe people are afraid they'll drown in the local or something he thought,amused at the thought.
As he searched the compartment for a seat,he noticed a beautiful girl who sat alone towards the end,reading a newspaper.She looked...out of place.Why in the world would somebody dressed in such an expensive looking suit be riding the local??he wondered,but realised he was travelling in it too. Maybe the same reason as me.
He walked towards the seat next to hers,sat down and then,in his slickest voice,said "Hi I'm Mayank Sharma".Like it was meant to be the World for her..As if he was the President or something.
She glanced up and he noticed she had the blackest of eyes he had ever seen.She just smiled politely and went back to reading whatever the hell she had been reading.
Mayank was appalled.He had just spent the past few minutes with people ogling at him and here he was,sitting next to someone who had no interest in him whatsoever.Not even the fact that he was actually good-looking and not just by any normal standards.The Gr8 mag had called him "the next big hottie" of the industry.So,you can only guess how his ego reacted to this.
Anyway,while he was contemplating all possible reasons for the same including the fact that she had long-sightedness and that she may not be rich enough to own a TV set and hence not recognise him,he saw her turn around and look at him.And mind you,she didnt just look,she stared,wide-eyed,her mouth hanging open.If he were someone else he would have actually found it rude but he just felt a sense of triumph at finally getting the desired reaction.
So as he was just about to start flirting some more, she blurted out "No Way!!!". He didnt know if it was a comment or a compliment,but he was thankful that atleast she had said something and smiled at her but a moment later he regretted it.
She continued in the same breath "Oh!!So u're dat same pathetic actor,whose article came out 3 yrs ago in Dainik Jagran??"
Shocked is like a teeny-tiny part of what he was feeling that moment.He had totally forgotten about that article in which some chick named Nupur Bhushan had gone on and on about all his shortcomings as a performer and she had gone ahead and commented on his looks too.That had made him really mad.But it seemed so long ago as if it had happened on a different planet altogether.Granted he was doing a really loser of a role at that point of time but now he had one full-fledged show to his credit.Thats how an actor grows.And he had expected and desperately hoped that all his fans had forgotten about it too.Apparently not this one,coz she had even used that language!!
Not knowing what to say next he just said wat came to his mind dat very instant,"How do u remember dat??I thought ppl must hv read da better parts bout me by now!!!",sounding both angry and irritated at the same time.
The girl looked at him and gave a big,sly smile.Then she extended her hand forward and said,looking amused. "Hi,Im Nupur Bhushan"
Mayank's jaw dropped.His face underwent a series of expressions.Anger to shock and then back to anger.Only God knew how much and for how long he had cursed this woman after the article came out and he has even forgotten the count of the no. of times he had sweared that if he ever met her in person he would ask her to get lost and do something worthwhile rather than picking on potential such as his.And now that he was finally in front of her and could say anything he wanted,his voice had betrayed him.He didnt know what to say to the woman who had almost made him quit coz of her expert comments on his 'forced' dialogue delivery and 'tacky' dressing sense.Nothing!!!Because it really had been a long time ago and he really had been a pathetic actor then.
He didnt take her hand but sighed and said sarcastically "So who are you picking on these days,now that I've sort of grown up??"
She smiled as she withdrew her hand and said "Looks like someone still holds a grudge against me for the truth I wrote years ago.."
He gave her a killer look and she immediately covered it "Its not true now though...I saw your latest serial and I think u r doing a great job"
It seemed she was trying to reassure him but it was the sincerity that showed on her face which calmed him down a bit.After all,it was the first praise coming from his harshest critic so far.
So he smiled and said "I think Im fine now...I mean ur article did teach me not to look constipated when I'm supposed to look mad."
Nupur burst out laughing.The sound was so nice,just like the tinkling of soft bells.He joined in with her,lest she thought of him as a retard.
"So really,who's the new target??" He asked again,playfully this time.
"Sania Mirza,Roger Federer and the likes" she replied,sounding smug.
Mayank looked confused for a second so she went on to explain.
"Im writing for the sports section now for The Times."
Boy,was he impressed at that.From insignificant television actors in a hindi daily to Famous Sports personalities in The Times!!!That was WOW.
"So that means you must have had a passion for sports too,besides demeaning people like me??" he asked innocently.
"Would you stop that??I wasnt demeaning you...That was my job.." she all but yelled.
"Ok baba..sorry..no more comments..so which sport interested you the most?"
She looked thrilled at the change of topic.."I love Tennis!!!I used to play at the National level till college..I used to dream I would one day beat Serena Williams and so many others like her..." She said it with so much love and passion that it showed in her eyes.She had the most expressive eyes he had ever seen and right now they seemed to be dancing with enthusiasm.He was entranced as he looked at her.All of a sudden,her eyes saddened n a shadow fell across her face.She was very clearly upset about something and he was surprised at how much it hurt him to see the dead look in her eyes.
"But I couldnt..."
"Why,Nupur??" He asked her,unable to contain his curiosity.
She just looked away and didnt answer his question.
He was out of his mind with worry.It was hard to place why he felt so strongly about this but he couldnt help it.Hesitantly,he placed his hand on hers and as she turned to face him he said "I know its none of my business,but i'd really like to help u coz watever it is,its really bothering u"
She looked into his eyes and saw the truth and sincerity in them.
She pointed downwards and said "Because of this" and he looked down and for the first time he noticed the crutch resting against compartment side.He was confused for a moment and then the truth dawned on him.
"I met with an accident one year after I passed out of college and my left leg had to be..." she broke off,unable to continue.
"Amputated" he finished for her.She gave a slight nod and turned away from him,expecting him to freak out and get away from her which was what most people resorted to,because they found it too awkward to talk to her after that...Like she was not a normal girl,but a freak...She expected him to be no different.Because of her qualifications and match records,she had managed to bag this job..But she still couldnt help but be resentful when people treated her differently.Maybe that resentment had passed on him when she had written that article 3 yrs ago..
But he kept sitting there in his seat like nothing had happened and what he said next was totally unexpected.
"So how many others like me did u butcher??" he said,smiling evilly,trying his best to lighten the mood.
She was so grateful to him at that point.He was acting totally normal as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.She smiled at him.
"It was just a start-up job.I had to do something till the time i was better prepared and experienced for my current job."
Mayank smiled at her and she noticed his dimples,no, adorable dimples.
"Though I should have totally mentioned that you have these really adorable dimples and the cutest smile." She stopped,just realising wht she had said and started blushing really hard.
Mayank,too,was a lil taken aback.That had come totally out of the blue.But he loved how the red colour crept on her cheeks and spread all over them.It made her look even more beautiful.
"So its safe to say that I dont resemble the 'gargoyles' any more??"
he asked,with a wicked smile.
(For the readers: Gargoyles are these really ugly-looking stone statues built on top of buildings which, according to a myth, come alive after dark to protect the residents!!)
Nupur blushed even harder. This is fun!! Mayank thought.
"I-I didnt really mean to be that mean...I didnt know u would memorise it this-this way." She stammered.
"Of course i had to....how would i know otherwise where i was going wrong??"he replied,tartly."And its really fine...Criticism is very imp for an actor to grow...n urs was my first honest criticism" he said again wid dat awesome smile.Nupur's heart fluttered.She was so grateful to him that he had steered the conversation to such normal topics...away from her condition..
So she took the clue and teased him,"So hw come da superstar is here??in this lowly mode of transportation??"
He started laughing. "dont say that...this has been my second home durin my initial days ven i had to run around all over mumbai for auditions."
He had this sudden urge to be a nice person in front of her so that she would like him as a person which was weird coz he usually dint care bout his image and wat others thought of him.
And then he made this huge mistake of asking her the same question which was way too inappropriate considering the fact that she couldnt drive in her state.She decided to let it go coz it was a very genuine mistake and it could have happened with anyone.
Her stop arrived and she began to get up and that was when Mayank made the biggest mistake anyone could ever make....HE TRIED TO HELP HER!!!! Nupur was really hurt.She had actually thought he was a sensitive and understanding person but then this??That was almost like a slap on her face,only it felt worse.He only pitied her and that is why he had sat through it all n was actually waiting to run deep inside...Nupur thought bitterly and said to him coldly,"I can go on my own...I dont need ur help nor ur pity..if u havent realised yet, i had been alone until u showed up n reminded me of...."
She couldnt continue so she turned around and left.
Mayank stood there,a blank look on his face.He still couldnt figure out what he had done wrong but he knew dat he couldnt let her go...Not after how he felt when he was with her...It had to mean something!!! and he was not going to stand there and let it all go away with this misunderstanding.
He jumped out of the local,which had already started moving and fell on the platform.People gathered around him but he shouted at the top of his voice "Nupur" and got up n ran in her direction.
She had not been far away when she heard her name.She turned around to see him running towards her amidst the crowd..Her heart soared at his sight but she remembered his pitiful gesture and her eyes filled with tears.
He had reached her now and he could see tears shining in her eyes.He reached out and wiped the one that had rolled onto her cheek.His heart broke on seeing her cry.
"Dont cry...Please" his voice was thick with emotion and Nupur saw that his own eyes were filling with tears..Wow!!great!!now he's even crying for me!! she thought,sarcastically and turned around to leave,when a hand caught his wrist firmly.
She turned around but Mayank had taken a step forward so she looked right into his eyes.
"Nupur",his voice was shaking "I know u think that im here because I probably pity u and nothing more..."
She started to say something but he placed a finger on her lips.
"Let me say it,please.I dont know what this feeling is and i dont care whether u feel about me this way or not,but the truth is that when Im with u,I want to be a better person...Even before,though unknowingly,u changed me into someone so much better...I know this sounds crazy coz we just met...but.."
"This connection is something else" Nupur completed for him...She was smiling now n the tears in here eyes were for da joy she felt...He smiled back.
"Yes it is...it definitely is...and it deserves atleast one chance,dont u think so??" Mayank asked,his voice full of hope.
Nupur giggled...This had to be the weirdest gf-bf proposal ever...she thought...
"Yes,Mayank,it definitely does" she said,in a clear voice.She had never felt happier and the pure joy on Mayank's face said the same....
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Edited by aparajita.s - 15 years ago
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