Chapter Two - Homeless
"And that's a wrap for today! PACK UP!"
I realized I hadn't done a single thing all day on set besides sit and watch the leads filming.
I rushed over to Mr. Chopra.
"Sir! I didn't do anything today though. I was wondering if I get pa…"
"Don't worry RK. You get paid daily for just being here, whether or not you do any stunts. You're a part of the team now."
A part of the team. The words rang through my ears and it felt like angels were singing. I smiled and shook his hand one last time before leaving.
"Thank you so much sir."
"Anything to keep people off the streets."
He shot me a smile even though I felt kind of hurt by his use of words. I didn't show him though because I knew he only meant well and no pain. I turned and walked towards my bag where I saw her standing. She seemed to be waiting for something…or rather, someone. I just hoped it wasn't me. I walked towards the table on which my bag lay and was about to pick it up when she spoke.
"I was wondering what your full name is?"
For the first time all day, her voice sounded just as serene as it did in her films.
"I just go by RK."
"Kay but what's your full name?"
I wondered if she was giving me the interview I hadn't had earlier. I decided to give myself a common filmy type name, hoping it'd increase my future chances at a film.
"Raj uhm Kumar!"
"Raj Uhm Kumar?"
"No, without the uhm."
"What's the uhm for then?"
"Nothing, I'm getting late."
She seemed upset for some odd reason but I let it go. I couldn't read her anymore; it seemed almost impossible. I turned back towards my bag and zipped it up. I picked it up and walked away as she kept her eyes on me again. It felt odd to have such a big actress eyeing me like that…but I kept my head up high and walked out of the studio.
This time I managed to catch the first taxi which was going by the studio. I sat in and asked him to take me back to my apartment. I was becoming impatient and couldn't wait to tell Mr. Malhotra about my new job.
I quickly paid the taxi driver when we reached my destination and then stepped out of the taxi. I took in a deep breath and felt good about myself for the first time in years. I walked forwards towards the apartment in which my room was. The instant I stepped through the doors, I was greeted by Mr. Malhotra who held a luggage.
"Mr. Malhotra, are you going somewhere?"
"Nope…but you are."
He threw the luggage at my feet as I stared at him shocked.
"What do you mean Mr. Malhotra? I got the job!"
"TWO MONTHS. Did you really think I'd give you another chance?"
"But I got the job..."
"You and your job can go to hell. I'm down over $1000 because of you."
"I promise, I'll pay you in…"
"You make false promises all the time. How many times can I believe you?"
"But Uncle…"
"Oh, so you never call me that, but when I'm kicking you out, you remember to call me that? I'm not your uncle. Now get out!"
I stared down at my luggage and then back up towards Mr. Malhotra. His angered expression showed that I had no chance in convincing him to let me stay. I picked up my luggage and turned around to face the door. I didn't bother looking back in his direction but I definitely wanted to get my last word in before leaving.
"A few years from now, when you see my image on a billboard…you'll think back to this day and you'll regret it."
Leaving it at that, I walked out the doors and back onto the streets that I had originally come from.
I walked around hopelessly with no destination in mind. I had minimal money, that too which had been borrowed from Mr. Malhotra. I looked at the money and realized it was only enough for me to catch a taxi once…or maybe twice max. That's when I decided to walk to Malik Studio. I figured since I'd be working there and I didn't have enough money to get myself there everyday, I might as well live outside the studio. I walked slowly but still managed to reach the studio gates in only thirty minutes.
I noticed a bench outside the studio gates and decided to sit on it. It was ten at night and I knew there was no way I'd be sleeping someplace warm that night, so I laid down on the bench. It was cold and hard…but I had no choice. I had forgotten what it felt like to sleep on a bench; it had been a year since I had. I pushed my luggage under the bench out of view and then closed my eyes to get some sleep. It seemed as only five minutes had passed when I noticed the flashing of lights behind my closed eyelids. I slowly opened them whilst squinting and then waited for my eyes to adjust before I opened them completely. A big white car stood parked in front of me with its flashers on. I saw the driver side door open and a female figure stepped out. It was hard to see in the dark who it was, but she began to walk in my direction. I noticed a few curls and then she came to stand in front of her car's light. It was the actress. I sat up and she came to sit next to me without saying a word. I felt kind of awkward and uncomfortable to have such a big star sitting beside me silently, but then she spoke.
"What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing ma'am."
She remained silent but then looked away and straight ahead into the dark night.
"I come here at night when I have a lot on my mind."
"What's on your mind?"
After I asked her that question she seemed to jolt out of her trance and she looked back in my direction with teary eyes.
"Are you okay?!"
She wiped away the tears that had formed in her eyes before they could fall.
"I'm fine. What are you doing here?"
"I lost my apartment ma'am."
"Hey, you, stop calling me ma'am for god's sake."
"What else should I call you? Wait, why do you call me 'you' and not RK?"
"Call me Madhu."
She ignored my second question but before I could even realize that, her first answer caused a heart crushing pain. Madhu?
"Sorry, I think I heard you wrong…did you say Madhu? I thought your name was Mona Malik?"
"Hah…Mona…"
She laughed sarcastically and then looked away again.
"My manager gave me that name."
I remembered back to her yelling out about how her father owned Malik Studio…
Did that mean…?
"My name's Madhubala Malik."
Midhi? I felt another blow to my heart. It began to feel heavy and I felt myself freeze up at her words.
"Supposedly my name wasn't good enough for this modern film industry."
I remained silent as she went on. I only had one question on my mind. A question which was causing a flow of many different emotions to run through me.
She looked back in my direction and I noticed her eyes widen slightly.
"Oh my god, what am I doing? Opening up to a homeless man?! If word gets out…you'll pay."
She couldn't be my Midhi. My Midhi was kind and lovable…unlike this Madhubala. Even after I tried to convince myself otherwise, I couldn't manage to get any words out of my mouth.
"You, are you going to sleep here all night?"
The fact that she only called me you really managed to bother me.
"I have a name Madhu!"
"I don't like it. So either you change it or I'll give you a name myself."
"Why don't you like it?"
"It bothers me okay?"
"Raj bothers you?"
"Not Raj…R…"
"RK?"
"Yeah that."
A saddened expression seemed to cross her face as she looked towards her hands in her lap.
"Why don't you like RK…?"
She looked back in my direction and then stood up instantly.
"Why am I opening up to you?! It's your fault! This is where I come when I have things on my mind. You're in my thinking spot! Leave!"
"What? I have no where else to go."
"Ugh…don't you have money or something?"
"Yeah…like twenty dollars."
"You're kidding…"
"I wish."
"What about your parents? Don't they give you money?"
"I'm an orphan."
"Oh I'm sorry."
"No problem, you didn't know…"
She stared at me for a moment and then began pacing back and forth in front of me. A moment later, she stopped and shot up her hand as though a light bulb had turned on in her mind.
"Idea!"
"Idea?"
"Yes! You can live with us! Besides, it wouldn't be the first time my parents took in an orphan. We have a girl, Trishna, her parents died in a car crash and my parents have brought her up as their own. She's really annoying."
"No it's fine. I'm okay here."
"Too bad. I'm not okay with you here. If you come live with us, I'll get my thinking spot back and you'll get a home. Now I'm not going to let you say no…and please don't make me kidnap a homeless man."
I stared up at her as she eyed me with a determined look. I sighed, stood up, and grabbed my luggage.
"So your parents run an orphanage?"
"I wonder the same thing sometimes."
"You really think they'll take in a 26 year old man?"
"I know they'll take you in."
"How are you so sure?"
"I just am. Trust me."
Anupamaa
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