Big thanks to my beta Shri, for her contribution, and my commentators. I've gotten as far as I have with this fic, thanks to your encouragements! Thank you!
And now, onto the fic!
Chapter 20: A star is born
"So who is this new actress?" One of the extra's asked as makeup was being put on.
"No idea." Her makeup artist replied. "I just know that she was RK's pick and that the producer and the director are gaga over her."
"So she has talent? Isn't not because of…" Her voice lowered, a girlish giggle threatening to escape. "You know?"
"I don't know anything because the last time RK heard someone gossiping about his heroine that person lost their job and their place in the industry. I hear they are now a waiter at some decrepit restaurant and I don't want to be the next in line."
"You're right." The extra said regretfully. "No one sane would get on RK's bad side after all."
"I have heard." The makeup artist replied softly. "That she's absolutely stunning."
The extra's voice was wishful. "She'd have to be right? To get his attention."
XXX
"So you've read the script and are ready?" Her new PA's, Rashmini's, voice droned in her ear. Madhu stared at her reflection.
Who is this person staring back at me? She thought in a daze. Who is she?
"Ma'am?" Rashi's voice jarred her from her contemplation. Madhu looked at her PA's face and her panic must have shown because the woman smiled at her comfortingly.
"Don't worry Madhu Ma'am. The producer, director have been raving about your ability. If you have their approval who cares about the rest. You'll be fine."
My family is out there…waiting to see me with RK…there are people who live at the chawl…Bappa!
Madhu rushed to the restroom portion of her vanity, locking the door and trying to take deep breaths over the sink, trying to quell her panic. The enormity of her decision was suddenly rushing upon her and she was having trouble breathing.
Everyone will see me with him! Everyone will be able to tell-!
"Madhu Ma'am, Ma'am"
Ignoring her PA, Madhu tried to get herself under control and not burst into tears.
XXX
"What's wrong now?" RK asked irritated. Bittuji and Madhu's PA were standing in front of him, faces chagrined.
"Something is wrong with Madhu Ma'am." Rashmini said bluntly. "I told her that we were going to begin soon and she just…her face went pale and she locked herself up in the bathroom. I can't get her to come out. Should I call her family?"
So they can see her panic attack and pull her out of the film? Like hell.
"There is no need for such haste." RK said smoothly. "I'll deal with it."
"Yes Sir." Rashmini's eyebrow's rose as RK left his trailer and she shot a look at Bittuji who shrugged in response.
"This is not going to help with the rumors!" She muttered under her breath, making her way behind RK. Bittuji followed.
XXX
"Madhu." RK's voice filtered through the door as Madhu remained hunched over. She was wheezing, trying to breath, and his voice allowed some of the panic in her head to recede. Strange, considering the fact that he was the reason she was in this mess in the first place.
"Madhu open the door." His voice was earnest, and she lurched to the door, opening it and falling into his arms as she heaved.
"Shh." He crooned, backing her up to sit on the sink, placing his hands over her cheeks. "Breathe with me." RK whispered, laying his forehead over hers. His eyes bored in Madhu, and she unconsciously matched her breaths to his.
"That's it." RK whispered. "Just breathe with me, Madhu. Breathe."
For once all pretense was stripped between them. For those few moments they were just Madhu and RK. Madhu matched her breathing to his, eyes boring deep into his calming gaze.
It was enough. Stillness pervaded through Madhu's mind as she pushed the panic aside, and soon she was breathing normally, panic attack over.
"Are you ok?" RK asked quietly, mind churning over the possibilities. If this was something she had to deal with every time he would have to think of something new. The goal was to get Madhu close to him, not torture her.
"I am now." Her answer was just as soft. Her eye's gazed into his, and RK was enthralled by the gratitude in them. "Thank you." Madhu said.
He turned away. "You're welcome." RK cleared his throat, uncomfortable with how much emotion he had unwittingly let her see. "Let's hope this is first time jitters and not stage fright, Madhubala...Aahan. After all, you have a great future ahead."
Madhu's anger at RK's words, at his presumption, wiped away all her residual fears, just as he had intended. She raised her head high.
"Let's get this started, Mr. Rishab Kundra." Madhu fumed, pushing past him and making her way to the set. RK smirked, happy to see the return of his fierce sherni, and followed.
Rashmini and Bittuji stood to the side, observing the byplay.
"This is going to be a problem. No one is not going to believe the rumors." She said to the man. Bittuji nodded, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"We'll just have to quash them down as best we can."
"Make people fear us! So they never speak rubbish in my Miss. Malik's presence" Rashmini cackled, moving away. Bittuji started after her nonplussed.
What the heck is wrong with her?
XXX
"This scene is going to be all about the heroine." The director announced. Madhu grimaced and RK's eyes swung to her, concerned.
"You've memorized the script, right? The heroine is going to be in agony in this scene…her love for the hero, combined with her hate of what he has done, will send her into a frenzy of despair!" Excitement permeated the producer's voice.
"Chief is going to kick these two clowns out of the studio if they keep unnerving Miss. Malik like that." Bittuji muttered to Rashmini who rolled her eyes at his theatrics.
"Miss Malik- no pressure! Just act like you did last time!" The director gave the queasy Madhubala a thumbs up.
"Alright, let's get rolling!"
"Scene 65, Take 1"
"Action!"
Madhu closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Trying to contort her face into an approximation of agony, she wasn't surprised when the director yelled cut.
"No, Miss Malik! Pain, not cons…I mean, agony!" He corrected himself hastily as RK gave him a look.
"Again."
Madhu tried to bring up Rupa's pain, at the thought of what Rahul had done to her.
"No! Cut! A little more expression, Miss Malik! Again!"
"Cut! You need to move around more during this scene- don't be a silent sufferer- emote! Again!"
"You have to fall gracefully to your knees! Grace! Again!"
"No! Regulate the wind dimwit! It has to show her hair gracefully flowing, not gale force winds! Again!"
XXX
"Scene 65, Take 25." The spot dada intoned faithfully as he moved out of the way. Madhu was close to sobbing as the director barked instructions. RK stayed out of the way- he couldn't protect Madhu from every aspect of the industry, and a new heroine often made mistakes.
"Come on, Miss Malik! I know you can do this- show me Rupa's pain! Show me her anger!"
Madhu's eyes snapped open, pinning the hapless man with her glare. She swung to RK who raised an eyebrow in challenge.
Madhu closed her eyes, pulling on her memories of RK once again. Her anger, her desire, her disgust. Madhu's hands flew to her hair as she pulled out in, letting out a frustrated scream as she fell to the ground.
"Rahul!" She wept, "Rahul how could you do this to me?! How could you do this to me? Is this your love? To drive me to madness to make me yours? Oh, damn you!"
Gathering herself, Madhu stood, raising her eyes to where RK was. He stared back at her, face expressionless.
"But I am not a wilting flower, Rahul." She told him intently. "I'm not going to break. So go ahead. Try."
The same words she had said to RK so long ago…
"And Cut!" The director shouted. Madhu broke her gaze and turned to him, raising an eyebrow in question. The man stared back at her silently, before clapping. Soon the entire studio was applauding her performance, amazed at the charisma this newbie exhibited.
"Our new star ladies and gentlemen! A star to shine besides RK!"
Madhu's eyes went back to RK, who gave her a small nod and a smirk. Despite everything, she found herself smiling back shyly.
Bittuji and Rashmini sighed at the exchange.
"This is going to be a problem." She told him flatly.
"Yes. I know."
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
