Chapter 13

KB sat across the table where they had all assembled for the meeting. His lawyers, Mr. Mehta, and the lawyers for Sensation were all present. Everyone had been in a good mood given the successful shoot of the scenes in the first take after initial debacle.

“No one can beat you at that KB…” the director had chirped in. “… today’s performance was par excellence…”

But as he sat listening to legal jargon while the lawyers spoke and Shipra had joined on call, he saw a sullen-looking Kajal, sitting in a corner, staring at the floor. Her shoulders were drooped, and cheeks reddened. She had tried to patch up a bit using make-up, but the swollen eyes were a dead giveaway. She had been crying, and even now, occasionally, he saw her tear up and blink them away.

He had been a douche bag… he had royally used her. He wanted to kick himself. Of course, his punishment was due later today, but he wanted to uplift her mood at the moment. Just as he was wondering what he could do, someone came in. He recognized her as a studio staff, and even as the others kept the meeting going, she went directly to Kajal. What work did the studio staff have with Kajal?

Before he could think of it, Kajal nodded smiling and walked out with the woman. There was a slight bounce in her step as she left without even a look at them.

He had not been paying attention to anything so far, and he had conveyed his requirements to Mr. Mehta… all he needed to do was sign the documents once the conditions were resolved amicably. Then, giving an excuse to use the washroom, he walked out.

He saw Kajal walk towards the studio exit as he stealthily followed her. He saw they halted next to a an open vehicle… he knew whom it belonged to.

Rugved Choudhry got off the vehicle and walked towards Kajal. He spoke something, and Kajal was all smiles as she replied. Then, he removed his cap and signed an autograph as he gave it to Kajal. And Kajal was in a complete fangirl mode.

KB tightly fisted his palm. What the fuck was going on? How did that Rugved and Kajal know each other? What on earth was going on. Why was she fawning on the veteran actor? Without realizing he had walked towards them.

“Ok Kajal then you take care and whenever your brother wants to visit here he is welcome… Alright?” Rugved said but made no move to go back to his vehicle.

“May I know what’s going on here, Kajal? Being on my payroll, you are frolicking around… plan to change sides, do you?” He spoke starring daggers at Rugved.

“You watch that tongue of yours, KB… been wagging a lot off late….”  Rugved drawled as he straightened to his full height, almost matching his own as they stood facing each other.

“I am not talking to you, Rugved… she is my staff and supposed to be in an all-important meeting… instead, she has been only shirking responsibilities. She came in late and now wants to rush away… What is it, Kajal?” He didn’t even know what he was blabbering but he couldn’t seem to contain his annoyance. “…I see that you had other commitments.”

“That’s enough KB…Stop tormenting the poor girl… do you even know what she has gone through…? But then you are a superstar who doesn’t look beyond his selfish blinders, do you…? You are lucky to have a hard worker in your midst… who got back to work despite being in a freak accident on the sets today….”

What? Had kajal been in an accident? He looked at her accusingly. “And why didn’t you say anything, Kajal? Need sympathies from other quarters, do you?”

“KB watch it already… you are crossing the limits of decency like some jealous boyfriend.”

“Just buzz off Rugved you are the outsider here” he muttered walking close to the big man.

“for the last time KB, WATCH it. Don’t forget I have my eyes on you. One mistake and I will take you down….” Rugved spoke with a lethal voice just for his ears even as Kajal and the other studio staff looked on wondering what was going on.

Kajal inhaled deeply, and he could see she was trying to hold on to her control. But she turned towards Rugved. “Thank you, Rugved sir, for all your help today. I don’t know what would have happened otherwise.”

Finally, the giant of a man relaxed his stance and made a move to the driver’s seat even as a fuming KB looked on. Rugved shook his head and turned to kajal. “Keep in mind, Kajal, my job offer stands. Right now though, you may rush to the all-important meeting which KB himself has left to follow you out…” He chuckled and waved as he drove away.

The other orderlies and staff left and Kajal turned to walk back to the ad set.

“Wait Kajal I am not finished.” KB caught up with her.

She stopped and turned towards him folding her hands close to her chest. She glared at him, her beautiful eyes reflecting the agony in her heart, and he knew he was partly responsible for it.

“KB sir, I don’t understand what your problem is or what do you think I am. For me, you are nothing… just nothing… except a job that I need to survive. This is our last meet. Henceforth if Shipra ma’am pressurizes me to attend any of your meetings, I will resign, come what may…” She was panting and stomped away.

He felt someone had taken a hammer and broken his heart into a trillion pieces. What if she never turned up? Did he ruin everything with his behavior? He couldn’t control himself around her… even now; all he wanted was to drag her to his bed and sheath himself inside her softness…… he wanted her with a fervor he never wanted anyone else before. What was wrong with him? Why was he acting like a horny teenager?

Later that evening he was seated in his grandparents living room looking at the walls filled with his mother’s photographs and paintings. There were a couple of his childhood pictures with his mother but nothing more than that. Even those were retained because his mother looked stunning in those clicks.

No one ever cared for him… his mother had died early and his father… well lesser said the better. His nana-nani only had expectations from him, which he had screwed up before they cut ties. However, he did speak to his grandmother once a year on her birthday. Though stern, he knew that deep in her heart, she loved her daughter’s only living memory. He walked towards the French windows overlooking the large lawn…

When he had stayed here after moving in with them, this was his favorite place. He hardly went to other places in the house, mainly to avoid his domineering nanaji . Also later the place provided him the solitude he wanted after the accident.

His nanaji had worked hard to remove all traces of the accident from the media and never forgiven him for ruining his reputation and political relations. Gyan and Ruhaan’s parents hadn’t pursued the case as the high levels of alcohol and drugs in their bodies would taint the family image if the facts came out. That’s how fucked up their folks were.

He heard a screeching sound of metal on the floor and saw the maid push his naniji’s wheelchair towards the window. Naniji had aged beyond her years and her back was further hunched, making her look older and frailer than her 82 years. She gestured him to sit while the maid locked the wheelchair and walked away.

“Krishiv, I am glad you could come today.” The tremors in her voice were more evident than last time, and he felt guilty about not spending time with her.

“What is it nani…I mean ajji?” He corrected. She hated him using Punjabi terminologies and insisted on using Maharashtrian ones, given that his maternal home was a Marathi one. That was again a bone of contention. He was used to a bit of Punjabi culture, or rather no culture at all. Suddenly, at 17 his grandparents wanted him to ingrain the Marathi culture, which wasn’t possible for him… he didn’t want to do it either. He had been angry forever… his anger not directed at anyone in particular and it had taken him years to curtail his rage.

He barely lost control in the last few years, till that brown-eyed beauty came into his life recently.

“Krishiv…” His grandmother cleared her throat. “…I will not mince words. But its just that there is this question of inheritance and …”

“Ajji… I have said I don’t want a penny… I am doing reasonably well for myself, and I have mom’s trust fund, too, right? That’s enough to last me a lifetime…”

“Its about that trust fund that I wanted to talk to you.”

“What about it… just a few months more as per the clause put forth by nanaji… I mean ajoba…my thirtieth birthday…”

“There was something you didn’t know to date Krishiv, there was an all-important point in that clause.”

“What is it now ajji…?” he was getting irritated. His grandfather left no stone unturned to get him under his control. “…It was my mom’s trust, wasn’t it? Yet instead of handing it down to me eventually, ajoba put in clauses since he was the one who made the trust… I accept that… now what is it ajji? What else is there?”

“Krishiv… how important is that trust fund to you? Since you are already doing well?” she asked him

“Ajji, you know how badly I want to buy back that property in Madh island. That entire area I grew up in? I want to spend the rest of my life there, away from the showbiz, away from everything….” He rubbed his eyes as he continued. “…I have been buying a few plots, but for this one where dad’s house once stood, I can’t buy it even if I put everything on the line…it was auctioned away to a big shot guy and now the prices have inflated like crazy. I have to buy him out, then establish the fishery business…so this trust fund matters a lot.”

“In that case, you must listen to the clause Krishiv.”

“Fine ajji…” he sighed.

“Krishiv listen carefully. The clause is first you have to complete thirty years of age, and the second, you have to get married before your thirtieth birthday and remain married for a year before the trust money can be encashed.”

He stood up abruptly, disrupting the glasses placed on the center table and a few side pieces. “What the hell ajji…? Why wasn’t I aware of this one.”

“…Sorry, child, I got to know of it recently when I spoke to the lawyers. I want nothing more than you to be happy, whether you believe it or not. Even your grandfather placed the clause with your best interests in mind.”

“FUCK…” he looked away. “… its all nonsense ajji. its just ajoba’s way to not let me go… he had done that to mom… so she had run away with dad.”

“Enough Krishiv, you don’t know what you are saying…”

“So ajji… tell me how this is helping…? I have to get married…? No ways…” he declared. “…you know what ajji you can keep all that money or just give it away… I don’t care anymore… my dreams will take a lot more time to materialize… or maybe they will never. But I will never visit you, people, ever again…” he began to walk away.

“…Wait Krishiv… just listen to me.” His nani began to cough violently, and he halted and moved back to her, offering her a glass of water. He took in a few deep breaths and spoke, holding his hands in her tremor-filled wrinkled ones. “… please listen to me Krishiv… I have not told you but… your ajoba is in a coma. For the last six months…after a stroke.”

He felt someone had slapped him.

“…he may… may not recover at all… and though the business is safe in the hands of the strong team he had built up, so your Subodh mama wont get anything however he tries. But you know the political connections he has and he plays dirty. The trust will go away as unclaimed. I want what is your right… to come to you my child. Let’s think this over… it’s a matter of one year… just stay married for a year and then go your separate ways if you both don’t want to continue the marriage…

…but Subodh is watching, and he now knows about the clause. We have disowned him ages ago and he cant have the business so he now eyes the trust fund. He will try everything under the sky to destroy your credibility to get the trust control…

…eventually you will be the signatory in the business as well. What you do with the money is upto you. You can continue with the admin team or sell it off… its your decision. But the point is the board of directors will decide and they may go against you if this marriage fiasco becomes public… so do you understand child? If all goes well, you can fulfil your dream. It’s the business built by your ajoba from scratch, and he gave his life for it… would you like it to go into stranger hands just because you aren’t interested?”

“But Ajji…? Marriage? I don’t know anyone…” he was surprised he even said that.

“Don’t worry about all that… I have found the right girl for this. She is related to our estate manager. I just spoke to her folks, and they are willing to our conditions…”

“What conditions…?” He didn’t believe this was happening

“Conditions for… a year-long contract marriage”

©priyagole

Chapter 12

“Sorry Shipra ma’am… but I can’t… I mean, today is my last working day before my study break… I have a lot to hand over to the new guy from Admin. He is clueless about the work here…” Kajal tried to argue. She had reached here early morning to get the significant work done and escape her maami, who was to reach mid-morning.

Last evening still lay heavy on her mind, and her curiosity about unanswered questions rose by the minute. She couldn’t believe what her parents had done. Whether it was about her aai’s extra-marital affair or her father trying to frame a young guy or trying to end his life. Nothing made sense. It was as if she didn’t know her parents at all.

Amidst all the emotional potboiler was her fierce attraction towards the Casanova, the parents always advised good girls to stay away from. But, she felt caught in a web, and no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t stop the resurgence of those feelings. Finally, Shipra’s voice brought her back to the present.

“…I can’t help it either Kajal. It is crucial else, I wouldn’t have insisted. You know how KB is. So today you don’t have to do anything. Just put me on the call when you are with the lawyers. There will be lawyers from KB’s side as well as the product company’s legal team. But come what may, KB should finish the shoot today. If he doesn’t, not only will his credibility be questioned, but my professional reputation will be on the line as well…. My son will be discharged tomorrow, and only after that can I come to the office or the site. So handle this for me, OK…?”

Kajal couldn’t help but remember her first fiasco with the press where she only had to read the release… which she later got to know Shipra had intentionally planned to take the heat off KB. But KB had saved her hide.

But there was much water under the bridge in this short period, especially that rendezvous in the vanity van a couple of days ago. She reflexly touched her lips which felt his touch even today. She gasped and quickly looked away. She had forgotten she was in office. She inhaled deeply; she had to hold her fort today. She couldn’t crumble for the simple reason that she couldn’t be a self-obsessed casanova’s toy.

She had loads of responsibilities, the most pressing being finishing her graduation and looking for a secured job so she could get Krunal out of that place. She had to plan for his education. He wanted to study Architecture, and the fees were enormous to sail through eleventh and twelfth grade with a good class for preparing for the entrance exams. She wondered how she could manage it all… Would her future salary be enough to pay the rent and fund his education along with their living expenses?

It meant she had to stick to this job. Shipra had told her that there would be a slight rise in her enumeration once she got a degree. Even now, her salary was beyond regular job standards, and a raise would help her sail through. But that meant she had to work for long hours… Krunal had been throwing hints about staying in a hostel after his ninth-grade final exams. There was one close by where he had some of his classmates staying. But at the moment, it was tough, given the extra expenses in the house beyond her contribution. Moreover, she still didn’t have any savings for the rental home deposit…

She sighed as she gathered the all-important folder. Today also she had to prep up, and she chose an orange salwar kameez with a colorful dupatta. The only aspect she had loved about this job besides the money was wearing pretty clothes that she could otherwise not afford. Maybe KB wouldn’t even notice her… but why did she think about him. She just had to do her job and get back to the office. She just knew he was in some ad shoot, and she had to meet Mr. Mehta, who would arrange her meeting with the lawyers of both the parties. Then, she had to sit back and call Shipra, who would conduct it.

She hadn’t read the contract details, just that a company called Sensations had signed KB as their model for their three premier products over a span of nine months. It was paying him a bomb… something she couldn’t even think of making in the next few years. So then, what was the problem? Why did these celebrities think they could make people work around their whims and fancies?

She stepped out of the company car and walked into the beautiful studio. She saw a popular reality show being shot in one end of the studio and was thrilled to see the action. But, since she was early, she decided to look at them a little more. Krunal’s favorite TV actor Rugved Choudhry was hosting the show, and she hoped she could get a picture or an autograph for her brother. The bearded veteran action star was an enigma in himself, and watching him conduct the show and interact with the participants with natural poise; she was in awe.

Through Rhapsody, she had seen a few two-bit actors throw their weight around, but Rugved was a star in the true sense of the word.

A participant fell of the rope ladder she had climbed on a  makeshift pool, hurting her. Though the medicos present on the set tended to her, Kajal saw Rugved tend to the woman with the utmost care, and despite her pain, the woman smiled.

The man moved kajal. He was such a big name in the movie industry and an action hero though he was typecast, and these days he was busy with reality action shows and movies down south. Suddenly the group gathered again, and the shoot began with the next participant.

Right then, a rat scampered along and went over Kajal’s feet. She was startled and screamed, looking at the furry rodent dart away. But then, there was silence all over, and she looked up to see all eyes trained on her.

The director of the reality show bellowed. “Who on earth was that…? Cant, we get some work done here without disturbance?”

Kajal stood rooted to the spot. Oh God, would they complain about her? Oh No … not again. She couldn’t be a laughing stock today as well. So she retreated towards the dark corner behind, but unfortunately, there was scaffolding, and without warning, it gave away, and she fell into the other end of the makeshift puddle.

She stood up immediately covered with slush dripping all over, and oh goodness, the folder was dipped in the muck. She tried to take it, but it was stuck.

“Your priority should be to get out rather than looking for something….” A deep voice spoke behind her, and she turned to see an amused Rugved Choudhry standing in his handsomeness.  He gestured to a couple of set guys who helped her exit the puddle.

“ I… I … please, I need that folder….” She requested the guys.

“What’s so important in it… you should get yourself cleaned up first….” Rugved chuckled.

“…It’s the  con…” She halted mid-sentence, wondering how much she could reveal. “…It contains important documents… please….” Her eyes filled. She had lost track of time, and now she was late. Not to mention her mobile was soaked, and even if KB’s team called her, no one would be able to reach her

“Where are you from… you don’t seem to be from among the staff here…” the deep voice now set in the chills… she was feeling cold as the blower breeze hit her.

“…Rhap… Rhapsody… for KB sir…” she blurted.

There was a bit of murmuring, and from the corner of her eyes, she saw someone walk up to Rugved.

“If I am not mistaken, you are the same damsel in distress who ran out KB’s vanity van a few weeks ago, right?” the woman spoke and laughed in a shrill voice.

Oh God, she had thought the matter had died down, but it appeared everyone still remembered it. She had to get away but the folder…?

Someone placed a blanket on her, and she stopped shivering in the cold. She looked up to see Rugved smile with a kind look in his pretty eyes. Though the beard gave him a ferocious look, he seemed gentle.

“Let’s get back to work… look, miss, why don’t you clean up? I will see if the folder can be retrived….” He walked towards the shoot set with a warm smile and a nod, but not before instructing the boys to retrieve her folder. The crowd gathered also dispersed, and she hoped no one clicked pictures…

A little later, she emerged from the ladies changing unit, and there was a pair of undergarments and a pretty salwar kameez waiting for her. It was a bit oversized and hung on her frame, but at that moment, nothing mattered more than rushing to KB’s set. First, a female attendant helped her give touches to her face and a blower for her hair. Then, when she was a bit presentable, she wanted to thank Rugved for all his help. The folder was also retrieved and cleaned.

Fortunately, the documents weren’t damaged because of the superior leather folder exterior. But she was already late for the meeting with Mr. Mehta and hoped the shoot didn’t get hampered because of her clumsiness. She wrote a thank you note for Rugved Choudhry, left it with the attendant, and rushed to the studio where KB was shooting his ad.

The ad shoot was in progress from what it appeared. The door to the inner studio sanctum was shut, and she could see the shadows beneath the door… that meant lights were off, but why? There was some sound and music too, but she couldn’t make out anything. She didn’t have a mobile to connect with Mr Mehta, so she gently tried the door. To her surprise, it opened without noise.

She walked in and saw limited people around, and her eyes moved towards the director shooting at the center. Right before them, the studio was designed to form the most elegant bedroom she had ever laid her eyes on. The four-poster bed with the pristine white bedsheet, the floral arrangements on the nightstand, and the song from Ram Leela played softly… ‘And laga de re…’

The director gave the orders to stop the music and a model covered in a bedsheet walked in and sat on the bed. Her assistant then removed the bedsheet, and Kajal’s eyes popped out of their sockets watching the sensuous reed-thin woman in a two-piece bikini that left nothing to the imagination… lie on the bed. The door opened as soon as the music started and the director screamed  “ACTION.”

Before Kajal could recover from her heightened awareness, KB walked in his boxers…. goddamn boxers, and they both gyrated a bit to the song. When the mukhda ended, the music dimmed along with the lights, and they both lay on the bed. The woman stretched out on the bed like a feline cat, and KB looked away, rubbing his face… WHAT?

“CUT…” The director screamed, and the lights came on. The model’s assistant rushed to cover her modesty, or whatever remained, and Mr. Mehta walked towards KB with his robe. The model and KB went back to their respective makeup rooms on either side of the set.

The director was fuming. “What on earth is wrong with KB…? He was a pro at these shoots. I have directed him so many times before… then why is he freezing? So we are delayed by another hour now. Fortunately, the female model is a newbie so she is adjusting…” the director drawled on.

Kajal stood rooted to her spot in the dark, wondering what on earth just transpired. She decided to meet up with Mr. Mehta and at least let him know she was here. She walked carefully, trying not to trip… one fall today was enough. She moved towards KB’s makeup room.

She knocked, and a deep voice boomed. “COME IN…”

She opened the door carefully and stepped inside only to see KB standing all alone in his boxers. Wide-eyed, she turned around immediately.

“What is it Ms. Righteous? Did being late not count? Now that you are acting all coy… “ he spoke in an angry tone. Why was he angry with her? And where on earth was Mr. Mehta?

“I am sorry KB sir, I was here on time… I just…”

“…I don’t want any excuses… you Rhapsody guys do as you please for some cheap PR thrills… you have absolutely no sense of professionalism or boundaries and…”

She had enough already. She turned around and, not bothering if he was clothed or not, walked towards him.

“…Just… mind your language, KB sir, you are the one crossing boundaries here…” She said, not knowing in what direction her emotional storm took her.

“…you didn’t seem to mind the boundaries broken the other day…” he murmured as he took a step closer, his cologne strongly making its presence felt.

She turned to go, but he held her arm and pulled her towards him. Her folder dropped as she hit his hard wall of chest… bare chest. He embraced her from the back, and she couldn’t rescue herself from the bind.

“…Let… let me go KB, sir…” She muttered, panting.

But his hold only tightened. He bent and kissed her shoulder, now exposed because of her loose-fitting kurta having shifted. It was a soft peck, but her heartbeat sored, and she could feel him breathing rapidly too, his warm breath right behind her ear, as he held her lobe gently between his teeth. She was frozen and curled her toes in her new slippers. There was a sharp prodding in her lower back as he pulled her closer while he continued to suck her neck and then blow soft whisps of air… She was transported to another world where it was only him and her. She wasn’t a nobody, and he wasn’t a TV super star.

Right then, there was a knock on the door, and someone screamed about the shot being ready. He unlocked his arms, and she now felt the chill and the sudden absence of his warmth.

“Thanks, beautiful… I had trouble getting into the mood… you were a huge help. See you….” He covered himself with his robe and walked out, the banging of the door reverberating through her body as she slumped to the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks.

©priyagole

Chapter 11

“…CUT…” the director bellowed and took off his cap, banging it on the makeshift table on which his camera was precariously placed; his annoyance had skyrocketed. Then, turning around, he walked to a pensive Mr. Mehta.

“Mehta, what is going on… we have been in this godforsaken suite since morning, but your KB cant get one shot right. This was his forte. Bedroom scenes were his favorite… do you know how much I had to convince Alina’s team and then sign an iron-clad document to get her consent to shoot the intimate scene… this scene is the story’s turning point of the story and its already afternoon… We are taking a  break, and I was hoping you could talk to him. I can’t waste any more time trying only a single shot… Goddamn it…” the director huffed and walked away.

Mr. Mehta struggled his way to the other room designated for KB while the bedroom was reserved for Alina and her all-woman team.

“KB sir… the director is upset. The scene had to…”

“…It will be done, Mehta… just fix me a glass…” KB drawled. He knew he was at fault, but he couldn’t help it. Every time he bent close to kiss Alina, Kajal’s flushed face would swim before his eyes, and those lips swollen from his onslaught would cause him an erection of such a  magnitude that he had to move away from Alina to spare him the embarrassment. He rubbed his face.

He had done these scenes with so many actresses, so many times, but it was all an act… today; however, it didn’t feel like it, and he was in a mental mess… If Alina got an inkling of his puffed-up loins, she wouldn’t hesitate to crucify him in the media. He had, after all, refused her advances for months. She was a superstar… probably greater than him, and didn’t like to take a no for an answer. She was watching his every move literally and figuratively, and he didn’t want to serve her a chance on a platter. He knew she was pissed off but saw the gleam in her eyes as she thought of retribution.

“KB, sir, please gather yourself. What has happened? Is something troubling you? If the schedule gets canceled or postponed, not only would we have to share the extra costs, but you have another commitment tomorrow…”

KB rubbed his face yet again as the make-up artist came in for a touch-up. He sighed. He had in his contract put a clause that he wouldn’t be doing nude scenes… just the topless ones only. Well, he wasn’t concerned about vanity… he was worried his reality would lay bare for the world to see. Yet even with a half-opened shirt today, he was uneasy…

“Mehta…. Don’t worry, the shooting will be done with today. By the way, what’s the schedule for tomorrow?” He sighed. He had been in a fudge state for the last month… Mr. Mehta had arranged all his schedules along with his team, and he only had to sign the dotted lines. So he hadn’t been concerned and just gone through the day’s chores till Kajal had come along.

She had caused ripples in his still waters, and even when she wasn’t around, he could feel her presence, her shining salwar Kameez loosely fitting that shapely body within, the kohl-rimmed browns sparkling in passion or the tiny whiff of talc she would have used hours earlier. He was hard immediately, and he swore loud enough for the make-up guy to stop. Mr. Mehta also hesitated to answer him.

KB adjusted his seat to release the discomfort in his pants and instructed the make-up guy to continue.

Soon it was time for the shot, and his Aadarsh walked confidently towards the bed. Again, the number of people in the room had been reduced to the bare minimum given the intimacy. This time, however, instead of smirking Alina-Ketki he saw the bewitching Kajal staring back at him with passion-loaded eyes as the lids shut half-mast and she raised her neck further dipping her head into the pillow.

At that moment, he was not Aadarsh anymore but Krish, and he visualized Kajal’s slender neck plain except for the tiny Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as she swallowed anxiously… he kissed the lump even as her breathing raced and moved to her shapely jaw as he showered her with tiny kisses and finally the glossed lips already parted to welcome him…

“CUT…” the director blasted, jolting KB out of his reverie, and he scampered away from Alina. “…Bravo KB… I knew you had saved the best shot for the last… super… I can tell you this shot between Aadarsh and Ketki is bound to send temperatures sky-rocketing…”

“Ahem… KB … that was… um… something…” Alina muttered and chuckled as she moved away to her troupe.

There was the last scene left to shoot, after which it was a pack-up for the day.

The last scene involved Aadarsh pulling Ketki, standing with her back towards him, and preventing her from running away to her rumored boyfriend. But as he did, he was back to being KB again, and it was Kajal standing in her resplendent but straightforward salwar-Kameez from that day in his van and he did what he couldn’t do that day when Kajal had turned towards the wall. He pulled her towards his chest and buried his head into the crook of her neck.

But the feeble talc was replaced by some obscene perfume, and he moved back.

“…CUT…” the director screeched and stood clapping. “…KB this is perfect… a one take shot… you made up for the lousy morning. KB and Alina… bravo both of you… what chemistry…”

KB shook his head and moved to his room Mr. Mehta on his heels without bothering to acknowledge Alina or the other unit members like he usually did. He wasn’t in his element…

He sat on the plush chair as the makeup artist came over to clean his face.

“Mehta.. you didn’t tell me tomorrow’s schedule.” He drawled with his eyes shut.

“It’s an off-day from the shoot because of Alina’s solos tomorrow. So we had scheduled an ad shoot…”

What? When…? He had to do something about his hangovers. He was all fucked up…

“What ad-shoot is it Mehta…?” he asked, settling back into the soft chair.

“…KB sir… it’s the Sensations condom advertisement…”

That got his attention. “What the fuck Mehta…I had told you I wouldn’t do it…”

“KB sir… did you forget our meeting last month when your news about driving under the influence got viral…? Our legal team and Shipra ma’am had decided that you had to counter the image using the condom ad… a perfect Casanova. And you had agreed, sir. Sensations is a huge brand not to be messed with, and a lot is riding on the ad shoot tomorrow. Just compensating them with money won’t help… your reputation will be ruined since that press fiasco is still fresh in the public mind… that fight with Hetal’s ex…”

KB’s objection to going completely bare despite having a  fabulous body was the revelation of the self-inflicted scars…His back had them too, but they were now faint and concealers did a graet job. His make-up guy was paid well and signed an NDA to keep all he saw under wraps. But the condom ad meant he had to. So how would he conceal the fresh injuries on his thighs and not to mention the usual freeze before the camera like today morning…?

“Uh… KB, sir, don’t worry. I have seen to it that you won’t have to go all bare. It’s just being topless and moving the denim slightly below the … pelvis … I mean…”

“Fine, fine … I got it… but how many such schedules have they planned?”

“KB sir, this is the first of the three. There are two more… after three months each.”

“Well then, I want to review the contract tomorrow itself; after we finish the first ad shoot…contact the legal team and ask them to come tomorrow…and place a call to Shipra…”

“Sir…? Shipra ma’am…? But why…?”

“…Are you so naïve Mr. Mehta? You know how Shipra had constructed every byte to the media for two years now. She has had too much of a leeway. But this is getting too far…”

“… But sir… your entry into Bollywood…”

“…it will happen when it has to happen… I can’t do this nonsense anymore…”

As Mr. Mehta placed the call to Shipra, KB rubbed his face yet again. He didn’t know what had come over him. Nothing had affected him after the debacle a decade ago. But all of a sudden he was worried about his image…. For whom?  Except for malicious gossip no one was interested in him…

“Sir… Shipra ma’am on the line…”

“Hello Shipra, I want you to come over to the Sensations location tomorrow at 11 AM. My legal team will be there as well. So…”

“…Sorry KB, but I am in the hospital with my son… so I can’t make it, but what is this all about now?”

“Shipra I cannot tolerate this blatant projection of an image of this sort. I want to review the contract with Sensations… I want to draw the line at…”

“…KB”… she interrupted. “…Listen to me carefully. I don’t know what has come over you these days. But don’t forget Sensations is huge. The top film actors vie for the coveted position of being their top model, and I had to pull numerous strings to get you on board. You had signed the contract… and the pay is the best in the industry, not to mention it will pave your way to a Bollywood debut as a hero.”

“Shipra… please… I can’t do it… anymore… you should know that to do these ads, one needs to get into the groove into that element. My USP has always been, to blend in, and somehow… this time, I can’t just… please… I have to review the contract…”

Shipra paused for a while. “…Fine KB. There won’t be many modifications possible, but if you give your best shot tomorrow, then maybe I can arm-twist my way to get things in motion… I will send Kajal along with the documents for your review, and she shall explain the rest to you… I hope that’s fine now…”

He agreed. It was more than acceptable… if Kajal came, then probably he would prevail through the shoot.  

“KB sir…” Mr. Mehta spoke. “…there’s something else…”

“…What now, Mehta…?”

“…Uh… madam… your naniji has called you home tomorrow for an early dinner…”

“…you know I don’t like to visit Mr. Mehta. So why didn’t you give some excuse…?” His heart began to thud. His grandparents wanting to see him was never good news.

“…KB sir, she specifically wants to talk to you… something about your birthday coming up in a few months… and she has said your nanaji won’t be home…”

KB rubbed his face wondering if his features that brought in the moolah would be intact at the rate at which he had been at it all day.

So why did naniji want to meet him? All of a sudden, for the first time in five years…? He barely spoke with her and had stopped talking to his nanaji altogether years ago when he had defied their diktat and had chosen this profession. And what was this crap about his birthday. No one wished him in the last decade… it was a cursed day for everyone. Not that he ever celebrated the day except for once during the period when that woman had visited.

Nanaji had also never bothered keeping in touch, so what did naniji want now?

©priyagole

Chapter 9

Kajal rushed home and shut herself in her room. Krunal had been surprised to see her in a slightly disheveled state, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he went out to his friend’s home for some project work while she decided to wallow in the darkness of her room.

She hugged herself and cried, touching her lips intermittently where his touch still lingered… she could still feel his lingering cologne as if he surrounded her and her sobs only got louder. What had come over her?

In the last three years, Rahul and a few others had tried to befriend her a little more than usual. While others had given up knowing her financial constraints, Rahul had persisted. But she had never felt an iota of attraction or the tsunami of emotions for any of the guys she had come across in college or where she lived or in her office. Of course, she interacted with other good looking successful models whom Rhapsody represented once in a while, but she had been successful in keeping their advances away.

What was it about KB that drove her to him like a magnet to iron… no, she was a moth dangerously drawn to the fire that would turn her to ashes if she didn’t keep her distance. She wiped her face with a cloth and stared at the crimson evening sky from her window. Her life was also changing shades like the sky as she passed from one phase to another.

She sighed… the evening was wasted just like yesterday, and tomorrow maami would return with Poonam. She shook her head and walked to the kitchen, trying to get her bearings together. As she started at the pressure cooker waiting for the lentils to cook, she made a decision. She would tell Shipra to excuse her from anything pertaining KB. She had got the all-important signatures today, so Shipra would cut her some slack. Besides, she was going on a fortnight-long leave for her final exams in a few days, and Shipra had already sanctioned them. After that fiasco with the press last time, Shipra had also decided not to deduct her pay for the fortnight she would miss… everything happened for the best indeed, as her aai always said.

Speaking of aai… Kajal gasped. The folder… she had to read it, and now was the right time when she was all alone. Krunal would be dropped home late tonight, and she had confirmed it with his friend’s guardian.  She shut the gas burner and ran to her room closing the door, though she didn’t need to. But somehow, reading about the hidden secrets of her parents seemed awkward to her, and it was as if she wanted to hide away from the world as she dishonored their memories… But she had no choice. Those apparent secrets were like a sword hanging over her head and had ruined her life…

She took out the folder and carefully arranged the tattered sheets date-wise. Her eyes filled seeing her father’s meticulous handwriting when he had started writing… the first page was dated a little over eleven years ago. It was precisely a month before her mother disappeared. That piqued her curiosity as she read the Devanagari script.

‘I followed her to the hospital today… wondering why she needed to go there every day. Who was there? She isn’t in touch with her family except her brother and mine are in the village.  But then I saw her emerge in different clothes. She thought she could hide? I could find my Shobha anywhere, even if she were a needle in a haystack. And then she caught a cab and moved into the traffic….’

Kajal halted and tried to remember the period. Her mother did go away for long hours, but she always said she was trying to supplement her father’s income, and she would always cook and clean for them before leaving home. Kajal was always in school, and Krunal played in the neighbor’s house when she returned. Kajal had never bothered about any absurdity in the situation to date. She sighed and continued reading.

The following page was dated a week later.

‘What is Shobha hiding? Is she tired of us? I know she is overworked and had to give up her dreams for me… but what about the children? Does she not care about them? She seems very happy these days. Is it because of… him? Who is he? I saw her phone buzzing today morning. It was a private number, and when I answered it, the person disconnected. I checked her call details… she spoke for hours on the same number… who is it? I saw a few hidden folders too… and could manage to open one of them… it contained her picture on a seashore, and she looked shyly into the camera… who is it? I have requested her call details and location… though it pains me to doubt the love of my life, I am helpless… I know I haven’t been a great husband, but I am working hard to get that promotion to move to a better place… so that my Kajal and Krunal can have the life we have dreamt for them… Oh Shobhna, have you given up on our dreams already…?’

Kajal wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks. She had been so preoccupied with her little life; she hadn’t realized all this unfold. What was her aai doing? It was impossible to fathom her infidelity but was her baba wrong? She remembered a few screaming bouts behind closed doors when her parents thought she was asleep. She couldn’t make out anything then, but did they fight because of baba’s suspicions?

She read the next page written about another week later, but there were so many inkblots and marks on the paper as if her father had been drunk while writing.

‘I am doomed… my life makes no sense. I no longer trust anything. I saw her today… I followed her to that godforsaken factory… and I saw her with him. He deva… I couldn’t believe it, but Ganpat was with me… he was shocked to see her as well… I would have shot that man had Ganpat not held me back. That asshole gave her a peck on her cheek and hugged her before getting into his high-end car, and she waved to the vehicle as it moved along the graveled road. Where did I go wrong in my duties as a husband? I tried to give her everything I could… why the backstabbing? Ganpat says I should talk to her… but what do I ask her? I am distraught… First, this case I am working on, and now Shobha is cheating on me. I am so mad at the world now… If not for my little children, I would have gone ahead and shot that bastard… even if I had to spend the rest of my life in jail’.

Kajal sobbed silently. How could you do this to us aai…? Didn’t you love us?

She took the following paper it was dated a week after her mother had disappeared.

‘Life is a vacant mess. I can’t face my children. From the bottom of my heart, I hated Shobha for cheating on me, though she denied it all along. The Shobha I knew never lied, but I was way beyond trusting her. For all that happened, I never wished she would leave us forever. I feel responsible… I wish she had continued with her rendezvous and I had never known or not fought with her. I should have let her have her way… But the what-ifs shall always remain. I am sorry my children… your aai left because of me…

Kajal felt the life drain out of her body as she lay in the fetal position on the hard floor. She hadn’t switched on the lights. Vivid memories of her father arriving home drunk sprang before her eyes. Her father punished himself and his children too.

Why aai-baba…? Why did you do whatever it was… didn’t you think of us?

The following page had only one line written.

‘Finally, the bastard got what he deserved… God is great. He set everything right. Why don’t you now come back to me, Shobha?’

She read the last few pages, all probably written in her father’s drunken stupor where he only reminisced the life gone by and missed his wife… the handwriting was next to illegible, and the pages were soiled… However, the last paper was better and was dated a couple of days before her baba’s accident.

‘I finally can get my revenge… I found out about the bastard’s progeny. Like father like son. It’s time he reaps what his father sowed… I hope Ganpat gets what I asked of him. He has been suspicious of me off-late… but this is one last favor I ask of him… I will then resign from the force and take up farming… go back to the village with my children. They deserve better than that godforsaken life with my brother-in-law and his family.

What on earth was all this? Kajal’s head reeled, given the emotional roller coaster she had faced today. She gathered the papers and kept them back in the cupboard in their hiding place. She decided to talk to Ganpat kaka as soon as possible. What did her father possibly do? What revenge was he talking about, and from whom?

In her quest for answers, she didn’t know she would be faced with more questions… It looked like a Pandora’s box was about to open.

She only hoped the secrets wouldn’t consume her brother and her…

©priyagole

Chapter 8

“Muhurat Ishq kameena shot four take 12,” the spot boy screamed and clapped.

“ACTION” the director yelled from his high chair as Kajal watched in awe at the proceedings. She had never been to a live shoot despite accompanying Shipra for meetings with the celebrity’s lawyers where the directors and producers would also be there to decide on PR strategies pre and post-release of the trailer or the first few episodes in the series.

Kajal saw the heroine Alina Marfatia who was beauty personified, standing in a figure-hugging gown that accentuated her curves. Kajal could only gulp as the lead lady walked along the makeshift lane. Alina’s character Ketki is madly in love with KB’s Aadarsh. However, he is poor, and she eventually leaves him for another man who abuses her regularly. Ketki suffers and puts up a brave front at her workplace because she doesn’t want Aadarsh, who had landed a lucrative job, to pity her.

In that scene, Ketki was supposed to be abused at a party, and Aadarsh was to follow her and comfort her, following which their explosive reunion was to materialize in a hotel room depicting Aadarsh’s bedroom.

But every time Aadarsh walked behind her in the ‘alley’, he couldn’t hug Ketki…and there would be a re-take.

Kajal wondered why an actor of KB’s caliber wasn’t able to complete the simple scene. Given his array of work, this was a cakewalk. She kept seeing the dial of her wristwatch click away, her anxiety mounting every minute. Krunal was at home, and she had insisted he be home instead of the library today so she could spend time with him. And then she also wanted to read that folder.

At the director’s cue to the actor, she looked up and saw KB stare into her eyes even as he moved to hug Alina.

“CUT…” the director yelled as expected, and Kajal was startled. The director stood up in a huff and walked towards the lead actors. Even as he spoke with them, the director’s animated body language in congruence with his annoyance, KB wasn’t paying heed. Instead, he was looking at her, a smirk pasted on his face as if challenging her patience. Surprisingly instead of anger, she felt her heart thudding out of her chest.

She looked away. This was ridiculous… KB was the industry’s bad boy, and she didn’t have the time or energy to focus on anything except her upcoming exams and career…

The director declared a half an hour break, after which they were to resume. KB rushed to his vanity van, Mr. Mehta close on his heels.

Kajal’s frustration levels were high, and she could take it no more. After ten minutes or so, she saw a fuming Mr. Mehta walk out of the van. Irritated, she walked to the vehicle and knocked. Finding no answer, she used the codes from earlier, and the lock clicked open. The interior was dark… what on earth was wrong with the guy. He loved messing up everyone’s lives. She sighed.

“KB, sir are you there…? May I come in, please…?”

There was no answer. Clutching her folder to her chest, balancing it with her handbag, Kajal climbed into the van and shuffled her way into the dark insides.

She touched the wall trying to reach the switches from the location she remembered from earlier. Suddenly someone held her hand and pulled her towards the wall. She dropped her things in fright even as a scream froze in her throat. She didn’t have to know whom it was given the cologne that swarmed through her senses to the point of dizziness.

He plastered her to the vanity van wall, the same that held his posters. He had left her hand, but she could feel his silhouette close… very close, and her breathing fastened.

She heard a piece of shrill music… where had she heard it earlier? He opened his lighter, and in the light of the bluish orange flame, she saw his smoldering eyes boring into hers. The tsunami in those orbs was ready to consume her totally if she wasn’t careful.

She blinked back tears. “K…KB sir…what are you doing?” Then she moved her eyes a little lower, and …oh God… he was topless.

She had seen him like that in his photo-ops, but at that moment, he held a raw appeal. How could she be so shameless? Didn’t she have any self-respect?  She looked away.

“What on earth are you doing in here when I am changing clothes…eh…?” he spoke, barely a whisper.

“…I…sorry… I… Please sign this, and I shall leave… please, I have to go soon….” She found herself pleading.

Hearing no response, she looked back at him. It was as if there was a staring contest.

“…What if I don’t sign it…?” he spoke in a voice that sent shivers down her spine. He moved closer, those browns burning with lighter flame reflecting its fire.

“…But … why…?” She asked tried to find her voice amidst her pounding heart. She could now feel his breath on her face as he placed a hand on the wall above her head, bowing his head as he towered above her.

“Just because I desire so…” He whispered, engulfing her overloaded senses with his cologne… was it vanilla? Whatever it was, it was drool-worthy…

Just push him away and make a run for the door… her inner practical voice screamed. But she stood rooted to the spot, unable to take her eyes away from his charismatic orbs. He was so close and breathing heavily that not only could she feel his warm wheeze but also, she also saw that tiny mole near his left nostril that only enhanced his charm.

She had seen one of his old TV series where he had performed a similar scene, and he had then kissed the woman, which of course was blurred as the scene ended.

But this wasn’t a drama. This was reality… would he kiss her? Would the Casanova… the man on whom women fawned over everywhere he went, kiss her… a nobody? A plain-Jane? Her heart was now almost leaping out of her chest.

He bent further, closing the few inches between them, and almost touched her lips. Her heart stopped. It was a feathery peck, and he moved apart a bit, looking into her eyes as if asking her permission. It also meant she had another chance to end it before it went ahead. But that was her rational mind speaking from some corner, and at the moment, all her rationalism had gone for a toss.

She licked her drying lips, and it was as if the cue he wanted. He slammed her soft mouth, his tongue raging out of its verge as it pried her petals open. She gasped at the feel, and he got the needed invitation as he plundered her mouth. His warm tongue wandered around her wet contour, sucking and nipping at her lower lip. She didn’t know when her arms moved up his bare torso and held his solid shoulders for dear life even as he continued the oral rampage.

The lighter was long forgotten, and the interiors had long plunged into darkness. She had squeezed shut her eyes as her senses were lambasted. Her toes curled as she felt something take root in her abdomen… feelings she never knew existed.

One hand remained on the wall while his other held her at the hip, pulling her close to him. She felt something prod at her belly even as her supple chest touched his hard one.

She gasped and pulled away from the kiss, her hands still on his shoulders, as she struggled to breathe given the emotional onslaught. He placed his forehead on hers as he panted, his hand still holding her while he pushed his body further towards her.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

“KB sir, are you there…?” Mr. Mehta’s voice sprang into the van’s quietness. “…the shot is ready, and the director wants to get it done soon….”

Kajal felt someone had thrown ice water on her even as she jolted to reality. What on earth was she thinking?  She inhaled a swift one and turned around her back to him. He let go, swearing expletives she had never heard before.

The lights in the van came on, but she couldn’t turn to look at him, embarrassment caressing her soul every passing minute. She had acted so unprofessionally. Did she jeopardize the deal for her company? Of course, but to her utmost bewilderment, she was more concerned about his opinion of her. Would he think she was an easy woman? She shuddered as she heard the van door open and shut with a bang.

She turned around to see he wasn’t there. Did he leave just like that? It was then that her eyes fell on her folder. He had picked it up sometime during her procrastination.

She saw he had signed the required places. Relief set in along with a sense of disappointment, and she couldn’t understand why…

She bent over the papers touching her tingling lips. Tears filled her eyes and rolled out, falling on the shut folder, and she had to keep it aside. She couldn’t like this… not at all… she had no right to get out of character as she had just done. She crumpled her kurta at the chest as it threatened to constrict.

Why was this feeling of attraction so painful? After all, he was just a womanizer, and she was easy prey today… he would probably find someone to go all the way by evening. Just yesterday, she had read an article online that spoke about his ‘a woman every night’ rule. He hated repeat telecasts, it said. Even his rumored girlfriend Hetal didn’t seem to mind so long as he came back to her once in a while!

What was she even thinking? She inhaled profoundly, making a firm decision. She will talk to Shipra tomorrow. She would help out in any way except handling this account directly. She was never going to meet KB again.

But then why did her heart just splinter into a thousand pieces?

©priyagole

Chapter 7

Kajal stood outside Shipra’s cabin holding the pile of folders about KB. It had been over a week post the viral video fiasco. Fortunately, Shipra had arranged to pull it down. The other pics were quite grainy and only a couple of sites had mentioned her name in passing. But since she was a nobody, no one cared. She thanked Bappa for His blessings. He had saved her from utmost embarrassment.

Irrespective of the type of person KB was, he had saved her ass and she was grateful. Fortunately, her cousins weren’t into this kind of internet news not that they would have recognized her. She was dressed in loaned clothes and had donned war-paint which was a far cry from her usual self. During the week, Shipra had insisted she read through the files to date so she could be ‘updated’.

There was a hush-hush rumor in office that Shipra had been responsible for all that transpired and KB had no role in the same. But from what she read in these files; KB had a nauseating personality. Bar brawls and fist-fights were common for the hero. He apparently had strong financial backing and had made a fortune from his five-year stint in the glamour world. At 29 he was the most searched celebrity online.

Then there were the innumerable arm candies, his clandestine affairs. Especially the one with veteran model and actress Anushka Pandey. Older to him by a good 7 years, the pair was always booed and jeered but they had gone strong for a whole year. Kajal had seen the pictures from the paper cuttings. There was no mention online though. She smirked wondering the kind of influence these guys had to keep news from going or not going viral. But something had happened four years ago and the couple had abruptly broken up.

She had asked around discreetly and Vijay had told her that KB was apparently an abusive boyfriend and that Anushka was often seen with bruises whenever she emerged out of his penthouse. She had once gone on record post their break-up accusing him of using her for her contacts and also physically assaulting her… but had soon withdrawn it all and there was no report or article available anymore.

Kajal sighed as she thought about her brother. He had given her a look that she had understood. He had seen the viral pictures and recognized her. Krunal wasn’t a kid anymore and she didn’t bother to clarify. She tried putting up a happy face so he would get his answers and be rest assured.

Shipra called her in and she walked in balancing the pile and her new stilettoes, Shipra insisted she wear.

“Look Kajal, now that you have read everything you know whom we are dealing with. You may not agree with everything you have read but trust me he is our biggest account and I can’t afford to antagonize him. Though I will be handling most of his stuff, there will be times when you will have to go in my place. I can’t trust anyone else. None of what happens should go to the media without the joint consent of his team’s spokesperson and I… am I clear?” Kajal nodded as she continued. “… and the most important thing… Do not… I repeat… DO NOT do anything on your own without asking me… got it?”

Kajal nodded yet again. She checked the time for the umpteenth time. Maami was away at the village for a prospective alliance for Poonam and wasn’t expected for a couple of days. Maama had gone with his friends for a pilgrimage and her older cousin brother Prathan dada was away on some outing with his friends. So, it was just Kunal and her for at least a couple of days and she wanted to use the solitude to talk to Krunal.

Also, she wanted to read that folder Ganpat kaka had given.  It was already touching 9 PM and it was next to impossible for her to reach before 11PM tonight. Tomorrow there was an event she had to go to from office. KB’s new show’s Muhurat was supposed to be huge fanfare and Shipra and his team had planned some events, like contests and give aways.

KB’s new show ‘Ishq kameena’ was a love story of a gangster and a doctor. The audience was eagerly awaiting the chemistry between him and the leading lady Alina Marfatia. The photoshoots were done yesterday and the pics were to be released tomorrow at the Muhurat.

As Shipra walked out to take a call, Kajal’s roving eyes fell on her laptop screen. Her heart skipped a beat as a rugged KB stared back at her. Her gut feeling told her, there was more to KB than what was projected in the media. She couldn’t explain the attraction towards the man who was not just out of her league but also too out of character for her. The moments in the vanity van where he had come close to her, swam before her eyes.

She shook her head. Those troubled eyes on a perfectly crafted face had bored into her heart every night. And she only hoped she could sleep tonight given the excitement she had in anticipation of seeing him tomorrow. She only had to accompany Shipra so she was relieved. She couldn’t have paid attention when KB was around.

She exhaled a forced breath and shook her head…trying to drive away unrealistic thoughts.

The next day she was at work before time to groom up as per Shipra’s standards. Right then Shipra called. Her son was admitted to the hospital with appendicitis and she wouldn’t be attending the event.

Kajal’s legs trembled at the memory of the last press event. Today it was an outdoor location and Shipra assured her she had to only get a couple of papers signed by KB that too through his PA, Mr. Mehta. Kajal was relieved and decided to do her job well. She could go home directly from the site which meant more time to read that impending folder.

She was dressed in a simple cotton salwar kameez with a designer yoke that cost more than her salary. Her eyes had been troubling her off late and she had been forced to wear her glasses. She picked up her folder and went through the schedule as she waited for the car. There was going to be a Ganesh puja with the traditional breaking of the coconut and invocation of the elephant Lord. Following that there was going to be a filming of the Muhurat shot.

She knew she had to get the signatures before KB went for the shoot else, she would be massively delayed. On her way to the location, she discussed the plans with Shipra over the phone. Feeling confident she strutted to the location. There was a huge pandal and there were barely any people at the early hour. The staff was running around preparing the floral decorations and Kajal smiled at the hustle-bustle. She loved festivities of any kind since it filled the atmosphere with frolic.

She looked around the open ground outside the pandal and saw the massive Vanity van parked at the corner. It only meant KB was already there. Was it her lucky day? Would KB sign the documents? Then she could just leave after the puja.

She dialed Mr. Mehta who told her KB was yet to arrive and to drop the documents in the vanity van. He would get KB to sign them. Excitement surging through her body she rushed to the van… she could pull this off without a glitch.

She opened the van using the code given by Mr. Mehta and stepped inside. She walked towards the makeup unit and placed the folder. As she was about to move away, she saw her reflection in the huge mirror. And her eyes fell on the assorted posters behind. She turned around and walked towards the posters. All form his hit serials and ad films… those she had seen umpteen times but one photo caught her attention. It was in the corner. Dressed in a black shirt with a haphazard collar, he had a beard unlike the last time she had seen him… but what made the picture distinct was the stormy look in his eyes….

It was as if the eyes were staring at a distance beyond the camera and the brewing turmoil in them reflecting his soul… she gasped clutching her heart. No… she shouldn’t be analyzing the man.

“Like what you see…?” a soft voice purred behind her and she startled, dropping her handbag. She swiftly turned to see KB barely a foot away staring at her with his lopsided grin. Good gracious he was in a striped vest and she could see his well-toned body and the huge biceps bulging with the veins pronounced. He bent and picked her bag giving it back to her.

“…seems you like dropping stuff in my Vanity… so what’s it this time? What is the accusation?” he sat on the chair crossing his hands on the table and smiled.

Her heart did a somersault as she saw him smile genuinely for the first time…it was different from the smirk in his pictures. She pointed towards the folder.

“Um… Please sign them… I shall get going…”

“…you won’t be staying for the Muhurat shot then?” he asked not making any move towards the folder.

She sighed and quickly moving to the make up unit, picked the folder and placed it on the table before him.

“Please sign here and another two pages later, exact same location…” she pointed to the opened folder but as she looked at him she saw he was glaring at her. “…um… sign… I can then leave…” she said softly looking away.

“…and what if I don’t…?”

She looked up as if she was slapped. “…Wha…what?”

“I said, what if I don’t sign… then will you stay?” he leaned back on the chair lazily looking at her.

She fidgeted with the ends of her dupatta not knowing how to react.

“What happened…? cat bit your tongue miss righteous firebrand?”

“Look KB sir, I am sorry for the way I spoke the other day… it wasn’t intended… please sign this…”

“…if you really are sorry and want to make amends then stay for the Muhurat shot. I shall sign the papers after the shot…Do you know what’s in the papers?”

“Yes… it’s the contract renewal for the next year…”

“…Exactly… so if you want Rhapsody to retain my account then stay for the Muhurat…” He winked at her and stood up lazily walking out of the Vanity van.

Kajal only stared at his retreating back and then the shut door. What the fuck just happened?

©priyagole

#BDSM alert

Chapter 6

“What the hell were you thinking Shipra?” Krish roared into the phone.

“KB, it’s just damage control… nothing else. We didn’t know that last event would bring in negative publicity. Nonetheless its all settled now…”

“Shipra, don’t think I don’t know what you were trying to do. ‘press release’ in front of the press… really? Since when did press releases come directly from you all without my approval? You thought you could keep me in the dark? You just threw that young woman before those hounds on purpose, didn’t you?  You knew they would just tear her apart?”

“KB calm down. You didn’t have to go to be her savior and mess things up….”

“…I messed up, what an audacity Shipra. First of all, you have crossed all ethical and professional boundaries not to mention the fate of that woman is now in doldrums. I gave you a free reign so far and that was my error in judgement. I have also been an accomplice in all that you have done so far, so I am not involving my lawyer this time…” he was furious.

“…Please KB, you have trusted my judgement for last couple of years and see where it has brought you… just trust me once again this time. That woman… Kajal, she is a new employee and the world will soon forget about her. But right now, the attention has shifted from you to her. We had to do something given that new TV series of yours which is going to launch soon with the famous Alina Marfatia… You should start prepping for that don’t you think…leave all this nitty gritty to me…”

“…That’s enough Shipra… Henceforth no decisions on press releases or any such publicity stunts are to take place without my consent. Am I clear?” he used his lethal tone and no response from the other end meant Shipra had agreed.

He disconnected the call and held his head in his hands. He hoped the news didn’t backfire on that young woman. She seemed naïve and clueless. Her accusing eyes still bored into his heart. He cancelled his ad shoot for the evening and rushed home. He had called Hetal on his way and she was more than willing to join him given the fiasco last night. He knew there was only one way to get respite from the turmoil in his heart.

Hetal was waiting for him as his car entered the driveway of his housing complex. He owned the complete top floor penthouse. Relieving the driver, he took the elevator as Hetal joined him in the closed area, her strong vanilla perfume which usually turned him on was causing him to gag. She tried to get close to him rubbing her sides to his. In the couple of times that they had got intimate she had begun the foreplay in the similar manner and he hadn’t had any problem. Intercourse was just an act for him minus emotions and he didn’t even feel the relief of getting it done with.

But today for some reason the scent was only putting him off.

Ever since Kajal had left the vanity van he had been upset and anxious. His mind had been troubled like the rough seas hitting the shores frequently. He had got this kind of turmoil after years. He had thought he had control over emotions but it didn’t seem like it. Today his control hung by a thin thread threatening to snap any moment emanating his subdued rage.

As soon as they entered his apartment, he stopped suddenly and Hetal almost crashed into him.

“Just go back.” He spoke softly.

“What…?” Hetal looked startled as if she had been slapped.

“…I said, go home… I need to be alone.” His restlessness was getting the better of him. It would be wrong to lash out at Hetal. She wasn’t at fault here.

“What the fuck KB? I gave up my plans to be with you today. I had…”

“…Go back to whatever plans were there. Just…OUT…” he pointed towards the door.

Hetal stomped out in a huff and he quickly gulped down a bottle of cold water.

He plonked on the living room couch and sighed. The visions of the car crash came surging in and he began to hyperventilate. He curved into a fetal position and tried the maneuvers taught to him by the psychologist. Gradually he began to feel better at least he was able to breathe. He straightened on the couch and a stray tear escaped the confines of his eye.

He couldn’t take it anymore. All of a sudden, he stood up and rushed into his enclave… The innermost room in the first level of his penthouse was off limits for everyone including the old caretaker chacha who was extremely discreet. He had got a few women here but they knew what they were doing. They were from the elite club he used to visit… so there were no questions asked.

But today as he unlocked the outer heavy door and dragged it towards him, he still felt the restlessness struggling to come all out. He entered the room and shut himself taking in the scent of the leather and rexin and even metal. He switched on the assortment of lights and looked around at his creation…

The huge room was colored in brown and red shades and had a double poster bed in the center. It was upholstered with a fitted red leather coverlet and topped with a red leather bolster and at the moment it called him into its fold. He looked at the pair of horizontal rods hanging over the bed, their origins well concealed beyond the false ceiling which were a new addition and he was yet to try them out. He moved towards the wall admiring his collection of assorted whips neatly arranged in ascending order of their sizes. Each had talons of different materials hanging at their ends for better effect. By the time he touched the last in the row he was painfully hard.

He continued his navigation and moved towards the wall with attached floor length wardrobe. He drew apart the door and saw the different leather bands with cuffs. He turned towards the specially ordered chesterfield couch. That was what he needed today.

He undressed completely and sat bare on the grey inclined couch. There were a few steel chains suspended from the ceiling ending with a leather circular cuff. He strapped his thighs in them and pressed the remote button. The two chains moved away from each other pulling his things away as well. When they were painfully apart, he pressed another button controlling the cuff pressure and increased it to three times its current one. The cuffs dug into his thighs and he clenched his teeth as pain engulfed his senses making him forget everything.

Nothing mattered at the moment. The accident, his crappy past, his hide and seek with media… nothing. The pain increased further as the tiny metal beads lining the outer edge of the cuffs pierced further into his delicate inner thighs and he felt the soft trickle of wetness on the floor. That was the point he had to stop. He pressed the remote-control button yet again and was soon relived of the confines.

Minutes later after bandaging his wounds he lay on the bed staring at the ceiling with cut mirrors that showed him his fragmented image. Well, that’s how his life was splintered.

Out of nowhere the beautiful eyes on the round innocent face cruised before his eyes, just like the way they shone under the spotlight and he was hard again… God no… of all the women in the world it cant be her. No… but the more he tried to get rid of the image the more it invaded his minds eye.

Giving up, he shuffled to the attached bathroom and started the cold shower. It took about fifteen minutes for him to douse his arousal…

As he walked out side to his bedroom to spend another agonizing night, he remembered Kajal yet again. This time there wasn’t any carnal attraction but it was as if her face had some sort of a calming effect on him. He felt at ease.

Thank God for little mercies. He had no right to enjoy anything sexual… the release had to be painful or nothing at all… He had made a pact with himself for years. The special chamber was perfectly designed to punish him to the extent he chose, as the elite club he visited didn’t let him punish himself.

Was he a deviant-delinquent? Maybe so…

He didn’t deserve any physical gratification when he was the one who concomitantly killed his friends. He dug his head into his pillow even as his thighs throbbed. He cried his heart out stopping only when he saw those beautiful brownish orbs smiling at him… as sleep claimed him.

©priyagole

Chapter 5

Krishiv Batra aka Krish Batra aka KB picked up a fallen paper and read the press release, that was supposed to be. Through the peripheral vision he saw another paper, probably the young lady’s gate pass. He picked that up as well and read the name.

Kajal M. Shinde… her pretty innocent eyes had made his heart flutter a little, when he had seen her under the spotlight for the first time. The nervousness in them palpable, they attracted him to them like never before. But no… he couldn’t make the same mistake his father did years ago when he fell for the wrong woman. That ruined him for good.

His nana would then get another chance of saying ‘like father-like son’. Not that Krish cared.

He never cared when his father who had a roving eye brought in a different woman every night to their Bungalow in Madh Island. His mother had passed away when he was barely 8years old. His father had never settled for any woman after that or probably even before that. Initially he would be tempted when his father’s flavor of the month or the week would speak with him or shower him a little kindness and he would already dream of a complete family. But that would soon be shattered when the woman would change and soon, he had given up expecting stability.

However, that last woman had been so kind to him, even cooked for him whenever she visited and even tended to him once when he had the fever. That was the most anyone had ever done for him. Though he was sixteen at the time he felt like a little kid before her and for once he wished she would become his mother. He remembered expressing it to her and she had looked at him with sad eyes. She hadn’t replied anything but had brought him lots of goodies and home-made eatables post that day.

He didn’t recall anything she spoke because she rarely did but her beautiful face was etched in his memory. He didn’t even know her name… He remembered only talking to her, telling her about his passions, his dreams, his crushes in school… and for once in his life someone gave him a patient ear. Another factor was she came for a long time, at least for 8 months and one fine day she suddenly disappeared.

His father rarely had time for him, given the vast business expanses or at least that was what he had thought until that fateful day 11 years ago when everything had come crashing down. It was just a week after that lady had stopped coming to their home and he had already been devastated. As usual he had not asked his father about her because he knew he wouldn’t get a straight answer.

He was away with his friends in his usual hangout of the Portuguese fort corner which only they were privy to. His clandestine associations with booze and drugs went unnoticed by his absentee father and he knew his limits well…to never get caught. There was nothing a swim in the rough seas couldn’t remedy and he was a pro. Ever since that wonderful lady had gone, he swam to drown his heartbreak… everyone left him. There were times he wished the rough waves swallowed him…

That evening 11 years ago, a week short of his seventeenth birthday, he had come home to a swarm of policemen and other men in black suits whom he later got to know were ED officials. His father had killed himself in his library where he spent most of his time at home. The man had shot himself, leaving no note behind. He wasn’t allowed to see the body for the last time though he had wailed… He had tried to figure out what went so wrong that his old man had to resort to drastic measures…Yet another element in his life gone forever.

That evening changed his life forever. He realized he had been living a façade and his father wasn’t the man he though he was. His womanizing ways were just the tip of the iceberg.

The property and businesses were seized and before he became the subject of hatred among locals or a hot topic for the media, his industrialist nana got him to Mumbai and he was forced to start all over again. His nana-naani never liked their only daughter’s choice of life partner and their opinion now stood vindicated.

Krish was forced to attend a college of their choice and though he wanted to study arts he was forced to go in for commerce, his nana not wanting to loosen his reins on his only remaining blood relative.

He had been through a whirlwind of emotional rollercoasters and had been the perennial rebel. He didn’t have much of an option but he missed Madh island and his buddies terribly. The sea called out to him whenever he felt lonely. His nani however tried her best to shower him with love and care but unfortunately it came a little too late in his life. Though he loved and respected her he couldn’t get close. He was touted to take over the business empire after his nana but he wasn’t interested.  

He had been waiting to turn 18 and use his trust fund set aside by his nana when he had been a baby. He wanted to buy back his bungalow at Madh island and start a fisheries business with his childhood friends. That was something they had all dreamt together.

He had made two good friends here, Gyan and Ruhaan who happened to be children of his nana’s political friends and loved weed just like him. But unlike him they didn’t know the limits and often he bailed them out. They had taught him a lot as well… especially Gyan was the one who had insisted and made him lose his virginity and boy… it had been an amazing experience. The lady was a hooker and had been amused although hesitant to handle a kid but a wad of notes had done the trick.

Then there was no looking back where the trio frequented night pubs and spent the night in one of Ruhaan’s father’s empty flat away from prying eyes bedding any woman they could find. Group study was never more fun.

Finally, the day arrived for which he had waited for a year… His eighteenth birthday and Gyan and Ruhaan who had already crossed the threshold to adulthood, wanted to celebrate in style. Gyan had procured something strong that night he had said from a new dealer and in the club that night as they partied away from the cautious eyes of his nana-nani, he had snorted a tiny bit of the new product on the block. It wasn’t as strong as he was used to but he was fine because he knew he had to face his nana tomorrow morning to discuss his trust fund. He didn’t want a hangover.

He had been dancing just fine with that chick in that figure-hugging shimmering red dress… he took a break to have a drink for he was parched, the rich malt calling him. He had taken only a few sips and resumed dancing but within few minutes the world had spun. He never reacted to booze or drugs in this manner before and that night he barely had consumed anything.

But he was suddenly delirious and even saw Gyan and Ruhaan laughing and crying out loud as they sung along with the music. The strobe lights blinded him and all he could see was the shimmering gown getting closer.

Gyan then declared spending the night in the club rooms itself and they had found a couple of girls for themselves and he had the shimmery. However, he had that all important meet with nana the next day and had to leave for home.

He had insisted they call a driver given their states but Gyan would never let anyone else touch his father’s brand-new Audi that was yet to be registered. A foreboding sensation had prickled his neck as he had wanted to refrain from traveling in the Audi but his voice was clogged in his throat….

Krish rubbed his face as the memories of the ghastly accident from a decade ago surfaced and he began to sweat. He had been through series of therapists and medications following the ill-fated tragedy and his nani had rallied behind him. Though he had physically been unscathed, mentally he was a mess for the last decade. He couldn’t believe Gyan, Ruhaan and that girl whose name he didn’t even know, had died such horrific deaths and he had escaped without a scratch. The guilt ate at him even today.

The memories at best stayed as nightmares that haunted his sleep often and because of his work and special activities, he had managed to keep them at bay. No one knew about his past…

But today the woman had pushed him to the brink. He had never lost his cool with a woman, never raised a finger on them… unless it was in the confines of his special chamber and that was a different ball game altogether. With the number of women fawning over him he was spoilt for choice. But everything till date, even his longest affair with Anushka Pandey though physically gratifying, had been listless in the emotions department…

Even Hetal, who had resigned to his lifestyle wasn’t able to tug at his heartstrings but something about this woman did. Kajal was the first woman to talk back to him and not agree with everything he said. He had acted like a jerk. Whatever had happened wasn’t her fault and for that matter not his as well…

No one knew the true Krishiv. He was an absolute oxymoron to his on-screen persona. Not even his nana-nani knew him truly. To them he was the revolting wayward grandson gone astray years ago. His nana had now set up a team of administrators for the businesses and the board of directors had taken it for granted that Krishiv wouldn’t be taking over the reins.

He had not been bothered. He had been successful in this industry but there was no free lunch. To survive here, they had to play a game card and Shipra had been a pro at designing it. All had been well so far but last night it had all gone wrong… it was his birthday night… again not the date which the world was made to believe but his real birthday which was hidden from everyone… even Shipra. He hadn’t been himself and had misbehaved with Hetal’s ex-boyfriend who had crashed their date. The guy had gone overboard and Krish had lost his cool. But he hadn’t done anything that was mentioned in the viral news articles. That was all Shipra’s doing.

He had objected this time and insisted on a press release and Shipra had sent a novice…

Mr. Mehta showed him the viral news segments and he swore… he was used to the crap dolled out in this industry but he was now worried about the young woman who had been on tenterhooks…

He hoped and prayed she stayed sane…

©priyagole

Chapter 4

She would be fired for sure… Kajal’s anxiety had soared through the roof. She saw as the shutter bulbs went wild clicking the hunk away. And why on earth was he annoyed with her? What did she do?

Of course, she was tongue tied. She was supposed to be doing the damage control, using her presence of mind but she had frozen. She retreated further into the dark corner of the dais.

She watched in awe as KB relished the attention showered on him. He posed and answered questions deftly and soon had them all eating out of his palm. It appeared that they had forgotten the purpose of their being here in the first place.

“So ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming here when you could have just clarified facts over phone. But then KB is a gracious host. Kindly enjoy the refreshments served before you leave… thank you!!” KB waved and swayed as he posed further to the roar from his audience and began to walk towards wherever he emerged from. He just halted and whispered something to his PA and he rushed towards Kajal.

“Listen, KB sir wants to see you in his vanity immediately.” The PA rushed and told her with a smirk as if he was enjoying the show.

“What for? Its all done, right? I have to talk to my boss…” Kajal struggled to hold her composure.

“…Everything else can wait. But KB sir can’t. See him already.” Saying he walked off.

Kajal inhaled profoundly and walked outside towards the biggest vanity van she had ever laid her eyes on. She knocked at the door but hearing no response, she opened it and climbed inside. It was pitch dark as of she had stepped into oblivion.

“Er…excuse me… KB sir? Hello…? Is anyone there…?” She was about to turn back when the lights flashed on and she had to shield herself.

She slowly opened her eyes hugging her folder to her chest and saw KB sprawled on his couch, his long legs stretched out on the center table before him. He sipped a drink and glared at her. His male hairdresser soon joined him, who began to prim him up, and the make-up artist who started to work his art. The PA also emerged out of nowhere and Kajal felt suffocated at the heavy dose of testosterone in the room as if KB had arranged it to intimidate her.

“Who the hell are you?” he asked, his voice soft but lethal.

“Ka…Kajal from Ra…Ra…Rhapsody…” She stuttered again.

“Where on earth is Shipra…?”

“Um… Shipra ma’am is handling other issues as we talk…”

“So does that mean Rhapsody can send any two-bit employee for such an important event?” he straightened halting the other men in the process of their work. They stood behind quietly and Kajal was scared shitless.

“KB sir… I… actually it…”

“SHUT THE HELL UP…” he roared startling her to drop her folders and her tab, the papers moving across the floor all over. She stood still clasping her palms.

He moved towards her towering over her height of 5’7”. She was rooted to the floor and stared into his chest, her heart thudding with each passing moment.

“I am Rhapsody’s permanent client and they send a novice here? What is your qualification? Tell me right now.”

“I… I am… um…” For someone who had won debates for her college, she was tongue-tied.

“…I don’t have all the time in the world for dimwits who have no clue about the seriousness of matters. What was Shipra thinking?”

“I am sorry KB sir, and this was just meant to be a press release….”

“So…? Press release also involves answering a few questions thrown at you. Didn’t you know that? Have you even talked to Shipra about me?”

“I am sorry but there was… no time…” She tried to defend herself

“No time…? NO FUCKING TIME…? Is this a joke to you all…? My career is at stake here and all that you have is…NO TIME?” He drove a hand through his mane and walked back to his seat.

“Just call Shipra right now…I want to talk to her and not some fresher who can’t hold her wits about her… I want to ask what is Rhapsody doing with such useless staff around”

“KB sir, please don’t do this… I know I blundered… but I wasn’t aware… its my first time and…”

“…I don’t want to talk to you… just call Shipra…”

Kajal sighed and dialed Shipra but her phone was not reachable. Her anxiety mounted with every possible moment as four pairs of eyes glared at her.

“I am sorry KB sir but she is not reachable…”

He stood clapping and smirked. “This is the icing on the cake… they first sent someone with zero knowledge to the all-important event and then disappeared. Therefore, I, at this moment, declare that Rhapsody shall no longer represent me. Mr. Mehta…?” he looked at his PA. “… kindly look into this and find me an agency which can prioritize their commitments.”

Kajal stood stunned. This was bad… KB was an important account for Rhapsody and Shipra’s major one. She had to do something.

“KB sir please… Shipra ma’am is working hard on your case right now… she is meeting with…”

“…I am not interested in whom she is meeting with or whatever else that she is doing…She should have been here…”

Kajal was losing it now. “Sir, please don’t do this… to us….”

“Mr. Mehta, do I notice some begging here? You know I hate people to stoop to such levels…” He walked towards the mirror, adjusting his hairdo.

“KB sir, I assure you we will settle this…”

“HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SETTLE THIS… you don’t even know what this is all about and you are vouching for your superiors…? You have some guts, lady… for a newbie I must say you have the guts… nonetheless… I am done. My time is important and a lot of it is wasted today… Mr. Mehta shall connect with you guys on closing the account…”

He began to move and Kajal realized this was her only shot at setting things right. She rushed to him and held his hand, her silky hair releasing a little from the ponytail the make-up lady had so painstakingly done up. She was sure her make-up was all over too…

“Sir please… don’t do this… please…”

He shrugged his hand away and glared at her. “How dare you….? Learn to accept your mistakes, OK…?” he moved towards the exit.

“Sir this is not fair…” She almost whispered, and he halted in his tracks.

“What did you just say…? NOT FAIR…? ha…I am unfair? I took my ass out there, have been talking to a nobody for the past few minutes, and you say I am unfair?” He spoke, hands on his hips. Kajal had enough.

“Sir, with due respect…. to whoever you are, I know its our responsibility to improve your image, but it isn’t our obligation to go around doing damage control every time you decide to throw your weight around….”

He stared as if he had been slapped, but she didn’t want to stop… the months of emotional roller-coasters surging up. “…And by the way, I studied your case file on my way here. Shipra ma’am has extinguished so many fires so far, which you have conveniently lit around and saved your sorry image… I am sorry, but the fact lies in this fiasco… if anyone is primarily at fault, it is you….”

There was silence as the other men looked wide-eyed and Kajal was breathing heavily as she finished her tirade. She was sure her job was in peril but she couldn’t let this man insult her any more. Even as he looked, she began to gather her papers. Suddenly he held her hand and pulled her up. He was visibly angry as his hand dug into her arm… it was sure to leave marks.

“How dare you…. You… two-bit employee who knows nothing about me… you dare to back answer…” He moved closer, almost touching her even as her heart raced.

“Let me… go…” She wailed even as she inhaled his cologne, wondering if she would just collapse right there.

“…of course… I don’t want the likes of you around me…Miss righteous.” He pushed her away even as she rubbed her arms and just picked the tab before rushing out of the van.

She reached the make-up room allotted earlier and shut herself inside, rubbing her throbbing arm. She lifted her sleeve and saw the bluish imprint of his fingers. How could anyone treat a woman like this? But to her utmost horror, she wasn’t angry with KB… in a way, he had saved the day for her.

What was Shipra ma’am thinking? Why didn’t she prepare her for today? Why was she not given a heads up on what to answer?

Oh God, what was happening? She stayed there for almost half an hour, staring at her pale reflection in the tainted mirror as the surrounding light bulbs flickered and glowed. It reflected her life so well… Her head reeled, and she had to gather herself as she moved to the locker to collect her purse.

Her phone rang, shaking her out of her reverie. It was Vijay.

“he… Hello Vijay…”

“What on earth did you do today Kajal…?”

“Vijay… it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t know… I couldn’t answer their questions….” Her eyes filled again.

“You are all over the internet and Rhapsody has received the most publicity in ages…”

What was he talking about? She had messed up.

Vijay continued. “…You haven’t seen it looks like… you are no less than a celebrity…”

Kajal disconnected and googled up Rhapsody.

The first article that came up showed her breakdown under the spotlight, another one of her entering the vanity and the third a disheveled picture of her emerging out of the van. Her heart stilled as she read the headline…

‘Showbiz travails… sobbing act by PR agency… employee specially sent to cozy up to KB… what else was she doing in the vanity van?’

‘KB doing what he does best…. Extinguishing the fire… both external and internal…’

Who on earth clicked her picture? She was sure the reporters were all gone by then. Kajal frowned at the cheap thrills people derived from crap news; the articles were up half an hour ago and had received over five thousand likes… there were many such articles and she felt disgusted at the character assassination. Unfortunately, no one had the guts to print KB’s picture; it was just her. Fortunately, her complete profile or name wasn’t visible anywhere so that was a solace. Wiping her eyes, she walked out to the waiting car to go back to receive brickbats in the office.

As she looked out at the passing scenery, her mobile buzzed with an incoming message. Vijay had sent her an article.

There was a video of her opening the vanity van door and another of her exiting it. Here she was clearly visible as the camera had zoomed to show her waterworks.

Tears streamed down her eyes as she read the tagline:

‘Vanity romp…looks like the virile lion got his little bird right in his cage….’

©priyagole