FF: Breakthrough -PART 21 - NEW THREAD PG 141 - Page 2

Chapter One - Stunt Double

"I promise I'll pay you your rent in a couple days."

"It's been two months! TWO MONTHS. I keep letting you go because you're like a son, but for how long?"

"Mr. Malhotra…please, just give me a few days, I'm headed for a job interview today."

"How many times have I told you to call me Uncle? And alright then, I'm giving you ten days. Ten days and I better have the rent on my desk."

"Thank you! Thank you M…Uncle!"

"Good luck with the interview son."

"I'll nail it just for you!"

I picked up my workbag and quickly ran out the door. I stood on the side of the road whilst trying to catch a taxi. A few went by but eventually I caught one.

"Where would you like to go?"

"Malik Studio please!"

The taxi driver sped up and got me to the studio with ten minutes to spare before my interview. I paid the taxi driver and then stepped out of the taxi. I looked towards the sign, which read Malik Studio in huge red letters. I couldn't believe that I was finally taking a step towards fulfilling my dreams of becoming an actor. It all seemed surreal. I walked towards the studio but was stopped by security before entering.

"Sorry, you're not allowed in."

"But I'm here for an interview."

"Interview? With whom?"

"Mr. Chopra."

"Very well, I'll have to check your bag though."

I handed him my bag and he rummaged through it carefully. I had no idea that the security was so…secure. After a minute of searching through my bag, he handed it back and gestured towards the door. I slowly entered the studio for the first time. In no time, I found myself surrounded by a bunch of unfamiliar faces that all seemed to be in a rush. There were lights, cameras, different background displays, props, and so much more around me. I felt pleased to know I had finally entered the world I had dreamt of being in. All that was left for me to do was to nail the interview as I had told Mr. Malhotra I would do.

I continued to walk forwards and towards a seat that read Chopra on the back. Before I could reach the seat, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see her. Her hair was styled in tight ringlets around her face and her golden brown eyes shined against her purple eye shadow. I took in her face for a moment; I couldn't believe she was really standing in front of me.

"You're…you're…M…"

"Yeah, yeah, now get me some water new boy."

Her tone of voice caught me off guard. After seeing her serene, gentle self in movies, I wasn't expecting such a side to her.

"Water?"

"Don't you know what water is? That clear liquid that people drink when they're thirsty? Yeah? Well have it sent to my vanity van."

"Wait, but I'm not a sp…"

Before I could finish speaking, she had already walked away. I wasn't bothered by her order, I was too glad to have met the film industry's best actress. She was more beautiful in person. Though I thought otherwise about her personality, I decided to follow her order. I began to walk towards where the water was when suddenly an older man came to a stop in front of me. Mr. Chopra. He held out his hand in front of me.

"You must be here for an interview…I'm who you're looking for, Mr. Chopra."

"Mr. Chopra! It's a pleasure to meet you!"

I shook his hand eagerly.

"Forget an interview, you're hired. You start today."

My mouth gaped open at his words. He just chuckled and patted me on the back.

"Let me introduce you to who you'll be playing the stunt double for."

"Thank you sir!"

He walked towards a man with a similar build as mine.

"Rohit?"

The man turned to face Mr. Chopra and I. Rohit Kapoor. One of the best actors in the film industry stood before me.

"This is…wait, what's your name?"

"RK."

"Right, this is RK, he'll be playing your stunt double. I'll leave you two to get to know each other since you'll be working together a lot."

"Thanks again sir."

Mr. Chopra patted me on the back again and then headed back to his seat.

"Stunt double eh?"

"Yeah, just started today."

"And your name's RK? Or is it short for something?"

"I just go by RK."

"What a coincidence. My stunt double has the same initials as me."

"I'm nothing compared to you sir!"

"Sir? Did you just call me sir? How old are you?"

"Huh? I'm 26."

"Exactly, I'm 27, we're about the same age. Just call me Rohit."

"Rohit, got it!"

"Well, I've got to get on set for the next scene but nice meeting ya, I'll see you around set."

"For sure!"

Rohit walked past me and I turned to see him heading onto set. Where's the heroine? I wondered to myself. That's also when I realized I had forgotten the water. Just as I turned towards the water, I heard her ear-piercing voice.

"WHERE'S MY WATER?!"

Shit, you're in for it now RK…I thought to myself.

I tried to keep my face hidden and so I turned my back towards her.

"THIS IS MY DADDY'S STUDIO. AND IF I DON'T GET WHAT I WANT, THEN…"

"Ma'am! Here's water!"

I didn't bother turning around but I figured that someone had given her what she was looking for.

"Find me that new spot! I want to have a word with him!"

"New spot? I didn't hire any new spot today."

"But Mr. Chopra, I saw him!"

"I only hired a stuntman today. No one else."

"But…"

"Forget it. You got your water, now hurry up and get on set. You're all we're waiting for right now."

"Fine."

Her personality did not match her look one bit. How could someone so beautiful have a personality so ugly?

When things quieted down behind me, I decided it was safe for me to turn around. I turned and looked towards the set where they were taking their places.

"Lights, camera…"

"Scene 4, take 1."

A man slapped the clapperboard in front of the camera.

"ACTION!"

I watched as Rohit caressed the side of her face. She seemed so fragile…so perfect…and then her eyes landed on me.

"THAT'S HIM!"

Her loud voice managed to startle me out of the trance she had me in. It took me a moment before I realized all eyes were on me.

"CUT!"

Mr. Chopra turned and looked in my direction as I dropped the glass of water that I didn't even remember holding. He looked at me for a second and then turned his direction back towards his angry actress.

"You're mistaken. That's the new stuntman."

"What?"

"You must've thought he was a spot, but he's not."

"I still want him fired! Can't even get me some water…"

I couldn't afford being fired. It was the last chance I had at making money for my apartment. So I walked towards her.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry. I really need this job. If you fire me, I'll go homeless."

"I don't care."

"Please! I'll do anything."

"Fine. Tell me your name."

"My name?"

"Don't make me ask again."

"RK. My name's RK…"

"Perfect. Mr. Chopra, I'd like for you to fire R…"

She stopped mid-sentence and stared at me with pained eyes. At least, they seemed pained to me. I wasn't always the best at reading eyes, so I figured I was just imagining things.

"Never mind Mr. Chopra. Hey, you…don't let it happen again."

At first I thought I was hearing things as well, but when I saw her staring in my direction awaiting a response, I knew I had just heard everything correctly.

"I won't! Thank you!"

"Yeah, what ever, now get off the set."

I nodded my head and retreated off the sets as she kept her eyes on me. I wondered what had managed to change her mind but then figured it didn't matter because I had officially been hired! I had just entered the film industry.

I swore to myself that someday I'd make it from stuntman to actor even if it were the last thing I did.