AN : as I said...next part would be sooner than u wd expect😉
Part 7
Over the next few days ,everyone on the sets was shocked to see the transition from. Sworn enemies and apparent dislike to being friend and laughing together all the time...what a change it was...nobody know how that happened...
The duo would be inseparable ...while everyone was happy because of a positive atmosphere on sets...there was a pang of pain felt by few of the co-actors who were really closed to meera before ..she had found a new best friend...and become so indulged in this new friendship that she unknowingly sort of become distant to every one else...
Meera herself did not know wat was happening to her...she just know that she loved dharm sir's company both on screen and after the shots off screen...It was as if she was nt herself...when she was with him...she would laugh and laugh on the most mundane and regular of the things that he would say...
She herself didn't why...it was NOT that dharam suddenly had become this very good natured/ good humoured person Infact he was his same usual arrogant/ smirking self...but meera had changed... on the things that he said to her... she would have earlier taken offense bt now she would stick her tongue out to him...or pat him on shoulder and reply a witty remark...In short she was not afraid of him now...and she knew...his comments meant no Malice just healthy teasing
Dharam on the other hand was in a more vulnerable state...He was feeling a mixture of different emotions simultaneously...He really enjoyed and craved for another human beings' company after so many years...and that was Meera...he loved the the way he could make her laugh like crazy...with his stupid...monologue remarks about anyone and everyone on set...that he would make without any hint of humor in his voice or smile on his face...
He loved as to how...only he nd he has the right to go and whisper something in her ear about a how a particular scene was or how a particular actor is doing that scene...or mimicking the director...and she would go hay wire on his comments...giggling like 5th grader ...she would praise his sense of humor...which Dharam thot didn't really exist but would still be pleased From meera's praises...
He enjoyed the little pout she would made every time and little drama of being annoyed with him that she would do...every time ...when he would ruin her shot...by pulling her leg...or saying some witty comment about her acting skill and then as usual she would start laughing as usual in the middle of the shot...she would then control her laugh , shot a fake murderous glare at dharam...compose herself and do the shot again...it was almost their routine now
...But his favorite antic of meera was that often laughing uncontrollably she would place her head on his shoulder...and petite hands on his strong forearms...and he would take a moment or two...here...to find solitude in his shitty life...to smell her strawberry shampoo or just lightly feel the softness of her hair...
and that's where the other sides of emotions came...every moment he spent enjoying her company or her affection and praises...he felt a pang of guilt ...as if he was cheating not only his family but also Meera...and then the sadness of the harsh reality would follow..but the worst of all was Fear...fear of loosing these brief moments of happiness in his life...fear of loosing his personal Anti-depressant ...Meera... ...and then every day he would argue and debate with himself...that he was not doing any thing wrong...he wasn't crossing a line ...it was just a good friendship and that he also had the right to be happy...And The whole drill would continue like a vicious cycle...
He thought almost everyday to mention about his family and wife...but neither she asked nor he willed...he also promised himself to keep and maintain distance like good co-workers...but could bring the courage to keep her at distance...when every mornig...she would show her sunshine smile...and would greet him good morning as if he was the most important person on the Set...bringing him home made delicious gifts
...However everyone else did not undersatand this affection of meera for Dharam and crave for his company...Because to everyone else he was the same old Isolated and Black-humored D.S ...who would not talk to any one but meera...bt in few weeks their shock was over, as everyone became used to or say accepted the fact that the two of them would be in seperable...They would have their Tea break's together...practice their lines together...where in dhram would help her with improvisation...and gujrati accent...they would lunch together ,...isolated from the rest...they would either go to Cafe...or meera would being something for him home made
On professional front things were looking up too...they were currently showing the internship track which would involve some cute nok -jhok scenes and some accidental romance scene...which was just adored by the public...Their Jodi and the concept was different and refreshing...and was becoming a sudden RAGE...Be it supporters or Anti-supporters...their Jodi and the serial became the Talk of the township...and the NAME...Meera just adored the name people gave to their on screen Jodi "DHEERA"...
Meera arrived on set in as usual a happy mood...parking her car...she looked around in the parking space for dusty old Logan...she couldn't find any
Meera(thinking to herself) : wow...Lagta hai aaj mai D se pehle aa gayi...aur wo late hogaye...yess...ab mai unhe pura din D ko pareshan kar sakti hu iss baat par...
Meera : Good morning director sir...So vaise aaj ka kya schedule hai... D..i mean Dharam toh ab taka aye nahi hai
Haider : bhai aaj toh tumhare D oops Dharam sir ka week off hai...wo nahi aayenge
Meera (felt colour draing from her face) : but you said schedule bohot tight hai...and sabko convenience rahe isliye no mid weeks off ...the only off will be on Sunday??
Haider : ya I know...but ab Schedule Thoda relax hai...we are almost complete on our 2nd schedule isliye ab se mid week off is allowed...vaise bhi I thought it would be better...if we give people off as per their convenience and shoot on Sundays too ...that way we can shoot ...7 days a week...and reduce the shoot time too?? ...and ..as for actors who have an off on a particular Day...we can always shoot other scenes...u know... in any order then edit them chronologically right...?? so Isiliye lets not shoot any ...WO kya kehti ho tum..."dheera" today...tumhare family wale scenes shoot kar lete hai
Meera(in a very feeble voice) : ya ok...whatever...tell me when shot is ready
For the first time in months...she was having this feeling because for the first time it happened she was on sets without D...she already missed him
Meera went to the common Area where her other Co-star were sitting...practicing their dialogues all while Chatting...suddenly all clutter stopped as she entered...(another first in months)...generally she and D would go a Sechuled park in a far away corner...or to parking space...she used to be a social butterfly...but with Dharam...she also started loving the Recluse life...now all this seem too alien...
Meera(forcing herself to smile) : Hi ...everyone...kya baatein chal rahi
Vinay (one of co-star replied ) : Hi ...stranger...how are u...aaj hamari yaad kaise aa gayi?? ...oh aaj tumhare Best friend ka jo off hai...hai na??
Gaura ( the actress who played her on screen MIL) : Vinay ...don't be mean...aao na meera ...so glad to see u...bohot dino se tumse baat nahi ho payi...we were talking about Vinay's GF ...he has finally proposed to her for marriage...hai na great news!!
Meera: omg ...this so cool...is she avantika ...ur neighbour...the girl u told me , u had a crush on...and now suddenly I know ...u proposed her for marriage...when did the in between steps happened??
Vinay: well for that ...u know u have to talk to ur other friends also...to know whats happening in their life!!
Meera felt bad...but she also know he was hurt...she gaura ji and Vinay used to be such close friends...it was only valid that they would feel her absence on set...
Meera: ya...you are right I am sorry...I shd...i mean...I
Gaura : offo...meera he is just pulling your leg...C'mon u don't need to be sorry for anything...infact all of us are so glad u and Dharam finally getting along...now..c'mon sit here with me
Meera sat there ...listening to all the chatting going on absentmindedly...it was as if she was physically present there...often nodding or smiling... but her mind and thoughts drifted far far away...she wondered what D would be doing...? Or was he even well...why else would he take a holiday?...she came out of her reverie when haider called for the Shot
Haider : okay everyone...shot is ready ...Meera urs and Gaura ji's is first...come fast...
After the shot was done...meera looked for a chance to find Haider alone...and she Found it after all
Meera: haider sir...wo mujhe aapse ek baat karni thi...wo mai soch rahi...ki I wont take any off in this week...i mean...i don't need it...this week...and for next Week ..keep my offs on Wednesday too...
Haider (Smirking on meera's failed efforts to be subtle) : ya okay...whatever you say...vaise next week Dharam sir ka off Wed nahi but Tues hai...he told me in advance
Meera(truly embarrassed) : ha..haan...toh app mujhe kyu baata rahe... I would take off on wed kyuki mujhe koi kaam hai
Meera left the premises early that day...she didn't feel like talking or having lunch...she just felt sick...boy...haider was of no use either she thought...instead .he taunted her and made her trully embarrased...she has to somehow , indirectly Coax dharam into having coordinated week offs she thought...she would talk to him late in evening she thought
To Be continued
Dharam's story of week off ...and how it goes without a little nuisance in the next part... ;)