MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS
Chapter 4
I reached home in a daze. Once again Piyali's thoughts haunted me. I was remembering our second meeting now which led to many more meetings.
Flashback
"Why do I always see a camera in your hand Mr.?"
"Because I am a photographer my lady!"
"Photographer! Interesting! So you must be surrounded by many sexy ladies all the time! Then how come I always see you all alone stranded on deserted roads! Or are you deliberately trying to stalk me Mr.?"
"No! I am a wild life photographer and that's what brings me on these deserted roads close to the forest!"
"Wild Life! You mean those four legged animals? What's the charm in that? No wonder you don't even have a car! Who is interested in four legged wild beasts when they can feast their legs on two legged wild beauties!"She asked bruising my fragile ego.
"Well I can't really afford to shoot the two legged wild beauties yet my dear lady, and so I have to settle for the four-legged ones as they aren't that demanding." I replied a little hurtfully but she hardly noticed.
"I thought you were more ambitious than that, but I guess looks could be deceptive."She started walking away after shirking her shoulders and that hurt. I felt as if it was a good bye and though it shouldn't have mattered much as she was yet a stranger to me, but some part of me wasn't ready for goodbye yet. I wanted to know her more. I should have felt angry at her shallowness and feel indifferent towards her departure, but a part of me didn't want her to go. That stupid part of me gained dominance over my rational part and before I knew, I was trying to stop her for no apparent reason,
"It's not that I am not ambitious but to be honest, as much as I would love to go for it, the fact is that I really don't have any money to pay for a model" I replied sadly feeling angry with myself for disclosing my weakness to her. What would she think of me? I don't know why but I just didn't want to come across as a weakling in front of her. Maybe I wanted to impress her. Well who wouldn't? She was really extremely gorgeous and sensuous, the kind of woman who is every man's desire. I was no different. Suddenly a thought crept into my mind and before I knew it, I had actually given voice to my thoughts,
"Would you like to model for me young lady? I may not have enough money right now, but with you as my muse, I am bound to make it big in this line as no one would have ever seen such a gorgeous model. Together we can really rule this industry..."
"I know I am gorgeous honey, but Modelling for you? I don't even know you properly. We have only met twice today and that too accidentally. I don't even know your name."
"I am Abhay Raichand. So now that you know my name, will you work with me?"
"I can't. I prefer my private life. I don't have any intention of becoming a public figure and be hounded by cameras wherever I go."
"It wouldn't have to come to that. There are ways to keep media away. You can only shoot for me and otherwise lead a quiet private life."
"I find it hard to believe. If anyone finds my contact details, my privacy will be gone."
"Then we will keep your details hidden. Please trust me on that. Won't you like to see this admirer of yours climb the ladder of success my lady?"
"Trust on a stranger, how can I? Well I may chose to help you, but on one condition, my identity will remain a secret from the whole world, including yourself till I want. That is, I won't be revealing anything about myself, not even my name to anybody, not even you! Since you are obviously a novice in this line, I will tell you the place and time to come for shooting myself, and no one other than you should come. You may use my pictures any way you want, but you will never ask me any questions nor will tell anyone about me at all. If that's agreeable to you, then I may think over your proposal."
I was dumbfounded with so many terms and conditions, but as they say that beggars can't be choosers, so was the case with me. Even my wild life photos had failed to impress anyone. This gorgeous lady was my last hope towards realizing my dream of becoming a photographer before I am forced to return to my father's dull business life. I silently nodded my agreement and she left saying she will seek me out when she has made up her mind.
Flashback Ends
I returned to present sweating hard. How I regret making that proposal. All these years I had wondered what made me ask her to be my muse or try to impress with so much efforts. Was it all my doing or was it all her doing and I was just a puppet in her hands? I don't think I will ever get answers to that, but I know I won't be a puppet in her hands ever again. If Piya is indeed Piyali, then she would be seeing a different Abhay now. If she is playing along, then I am determined to expose her out this time. But what should I do... Yes!! I should ask Piya to be the model for my next show. Piyali was an absolute pro when it came to modelling and posing but Piya had given me an impression of having two left feet when it came to even standing straight. Piya would take a lot of time to get trained if she is indeed not Piyali but if she is Piyali, then let's see how long she can carry on with this facade. It would be impossible for Piyali to keep pretending to be a novice all the time. She is bound to slip sometime or the other if she is indeed Piyali and I would be ready to catch her during her slip. Game on Piyali...!
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