THE CELEBRITY - PART 105
An original story by Archana Vinod
10th of February, Night
Roli trudges up the stairs to her bedroom on the first floor. Though she looks lost, her mind is buzzing with all what had happened over the past few days. The cute gifts, the heart-melting love notes, his proposal outside her house...
As she plops down onto her bed, she feels sorry for what she did this morning. "I shouldn't have thrown that teddy out like that," she mutters to herself, "Siddhantji must have felt bad. After all, he gave it to me with so much of love..."
The unbearable feeling of regret begins to pile onto her. She tosses and turns in bed. "I shouldn't have done like that," she whispers with a heavy heart, gets out of bed and goes to the window for a breath of fresh air. To her surprise, she finds something right beneath her window on the lawn - the pink teddy bear.
I thought I threw it out of the gate this morning, she wonders, perplexed. Quickly, she goes downstairs, out of the front door and towards the teddy. She picks it up and looks around. When did he keep this here? Is he around by any chance? She scans the dark streets and surroundings. No... he's not around. She holds back the teddy and takes a good look at it. As she does, her eyes glow visibly. A smile spreads across her face. Unable to hold herself back anymore, she hugs the teddy with all the love she can muster.
"I love you - I love you - I love you!"
Roli pulls off, startled. It's coming from the teddy. "I love you - I love you - I love you!"
Hmm... she smiles. The teddy's eyes blink red as it goes on like a broken record... "I love you - I love you - I love you!"
"I love you too," she whispers and hugs the teddy again, "I love you too Siddhantji..."
11th of February, Promise Day - Morning
Siddhant seems lost as he kicks a used plastic cup out of his way. He looks downright depressed as he walks along the footpath with his hands stuffed down his pockets. He's not alone - Anuj tags along.
"Come on bro," says Anuj in an attempt to cheer him up, "just chill. Don't give up yet."
Siddhant simply sighs.
"Let's think of what to do today," he urges.
"No yaar," sighs Siddhant, "just leave it. She's mad as heck. Let her take her own time."
Anuj begins to talk but they are pounced on by a gang of youngsters and a TV channel reporter.
The reporter, a bubbly young lady in her 20's sticks close to the celebrities as a camera man captures the scene. "Well, look who we have here," she explodes, "it's the one and only angry young man, Siddhant Bharadwaj with the hot and sizzling director of Afsaana, Anuj Suri!"
Anuj is bowled over to get addressed as "hot and sizzling". He blushes like crazy as he clears his throat and adjusts his collar.
"So tell me Siddhant," she goes on, "what brings you here?"
Siddhant is lost! "Ermmm... Well"I..."
MEANWHILE, AT ROLI'S HOUSE
Jamanlal and Meena sit around in the living room glued to the TV. Roli walks past but stops as she notices a familiar face on the screen - Siddhant!!!
He's surrounded by a gang of youngsters and a reporter. Without realizing it, Siddhant's very face makes Roli blush to a deep shade of red. Her heart begins to go THUP-WHUP! THUP-WHUP! THUP-WHUP! Hey Matarani, why do I feel like this, she wonders as her face burns hot, why is that I've never felt like this before?
Meena glances over at Roli. However, Roli is hypnotized' by Siddhant. She can't help but watch!
BACK TO SIDDHANT AND THE GROUP
"It's the fifth day of Valentine's week," beams the reporter, "Promise Day! What would you like to say to your fans?"
Siddhant seems thoughtful. All what he can think about is Roli. All whom he wants to talk about is Roli! "All what I want to say is, when you love someone, love her like there's no tomorrow. Make her smile, make her happy and make her feel special. Tell her how much you love her. Show her... Don't take her for granted. You never know, someone else might be dying to take your place."
The youngsters break into applause. The reporter bares all of her sparkling teeth. "And... is there a promise you'd like to make? A special message for that special someone?"
The youngsters applaud again as Siddhant looks visibly embarrassed.
"Yeah," he smiles, "I have a special message for the one and only love of my life. Roli..."
Back at Roli's house, Meena takes quick glances at her daughter. Roli, on the other hand, blushes like crazy! He has a message for me!!?? And that too on TV? There are thousands of other people watching this now! Hey Matarani!
BACK TO THE GROUP
"Who's Roli?" asks the reporter.
"She..." Siddhant seems thoughtful, "is heaven. The fresh morning dew on the grass... the cool morning breeze... the beginning and the end... She's my life. My wife..."
"Aw so cute," blushes the reporter, "Roli, you've got such a romantic husband!"
"And Roli," he continues as he looks into the camera, "if you're watching... and I do wish you are... I just want to let you know that I'm in love with you more and more each day and I need you. I want to wake up on your side every morning, sleep beside you every night. I want you to tease me like you always do. I want to pull your leg and play pranks on you too. I know that I've hurt you a lot and taken you for granted. I know that I've let you down. And I know that I don't deserve to be forgiven, but still... if possible, please do forgive me." He holds his ears like a sorry little toddler. "I'm sorry yaar."
The crowd goes "Awww".
BACK AT ROLI'S HOUSE
Jamanlal is still glued to the TV. He looks stunned. Meena smiles and glances over at her daughter.
Roli on the other hand is red, hot and sweaty in the face. Her eyes dart and flutter. Her knees go weak. She trembles all over!!
BACK TO THE GROUP
"Roliii," beams the reporter, "after seeing such a cute apology how can you still stay mad at him? You HAVE to forgive him!!!"
The youngsters applaud again! Siddhant smiles weakly. "And I promise you Roli," he continues, "I promise to make you smile always. And this time, I mean it."
"Here's to another unbreakable promise day," the reporter hands a red heart shaped hydrogen balloon to Siddhant who hoists it into the air.
They applaud as the balloon drifts far away into the blue sky.
BACK AT ROLI'S HOUSE
Roli bolts up her room and shuts herself up. She is breathless and shaking all over!
The unfathomable distance over the past few days has Roli realizing how much she loves Siddhant... how much she misses him... how much she longs to be near him...
She sits down on the bed and browses the internet on her phone "Valentine's week".
He has been surprising me each day based on this?
7th February - Rose Day
8th - Propose
9th - Chocolate
10th - Teddy
11th - Promise
12th - Hug Day
Her eyes go wide... her heart thumps in her chest. Is this what's next? A hug? But how? Where? When?
13th - Kiss Day
She's sweating now. Somewhere inside her, she can feel their barely formed baby twitch. She smiles as she caresses her child. "Haan beta," she blushes, "your papa's such a tease..."
How is he going to hug me? Kiss me? To her amazement, she looks forward to it. She waits for him... to be in his arms once again.
... TO BE CONTINUED
