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

Chapter 3

The office wagon-R cruised along the Worli-Bandra sea-link towards a studio in Andheri as Kajal began to google up her client. KB was apparently shooting for an Ad film that day and a group of press lay in wait. His PA had placed an SOS call to Rhapsody early in the morning when things began to get out of hand and hence the running around building, digging the proverbial well when the house was on fire.

Kajal shook her head as she read about KB’s shenanigans. He was a Casanova and had his string of flings with models and female actors. Especially his sordid affair with the actress Anushka Pandey had been the talk of the town as they waltzed from one party to another. After their mysterious break-up four years ago KB had been changing girlfriends like he changed clothes and currently the flavor of the month was Hetal Kapadia the hottest calendar model and his perfect arm candy.

KB wasn’t bad to look at all… in fact he was the proverbial hunk. 28 years of age and standing tall at six feet his brown orbs seemed as if they saw through your soul. In one of his pictures, it felt as if he was staring right into her heart. Her heart skipped a beat. What on earth was that reaction.

She had never been carnally attracted to men before and here she was drooling over a photograph of a man she didn’t even know before today.

As she browsed further, she came across and article, ‘Model/actor KB trolled for excessive kink… wounded girlfriend files complaint’. There wasn’t much available except for a few lines mentioning his fetish for unnatural wanton pleasures. Nothing made sense to Kajal. She was only 21 for crying out loud and had never experienced the feel of a crush or what they called love in the movies. She never had the time.

She chuckled as they reached the outer entrance of the studio. She was the last person KB would even like to look at given that he was spoilt for choice with hot bodies ready to do anything for him just to be photographed or spend a night with the guy whose every pore oozed masculinity… She shook her head as they approached the enormous gates and she saw the crowd of reporters gathered to get a couple of bytes.

The gates opened allowing the Rhapsody vehicle to pass and she was immediately taken to a room passing through the built up cul de sacs. She was made wait behind something that looked like backstage and as she looked around, she saw various props and other articles strewn over. Those probably had seen better days and were now the unwanted wastes. This was probably the shooting site of some mythological or historical series given the kind of thermacol and plaster of Paris wreckage with gaudy paint and glitter. There were some models of horses and couches from the medieval period.

Kajal was told she could have the day free and decided to surprise Krunal later by taking him out for an early dinner. She had got a special outdoor allowance and that could even cover the pav bhaji parcel for her mama and his family. Excitement surged through her body after months and she couldn’t wait to get done with this speech.

Soon the woman with the earpiece called her over and she walked onto a temporary dais. TO her utmost dismay she stood under a bright spotlight while the sea of paparazzi occupied the ground below and, in the darkness, she could only see their silhouettes.  A few flash bulbs went off blinding her despite her covering her eyes. She squinted to find her way to the marked spot.

She opened up the folder and began her assigned task.

“This is on behalf of Mr. Krish Bhatia alias KB. It is to be noted that baring circumstantial evidence of a seemingly doctored grainy CCTV footage, there is no proof indicating our client KB’s involvement in the assault at J & J bar last night…”

There was a huge uproar from the seated press as the flashes went on and Kajal had to look away. These people were actually hounds as they were rightly called. They were worse than little kids and no sense of decorum. She waited for the sounds to subside but the paparazzi were in no mood as they shot one question after the other.

“KB is known for his fondness for liquor…”

“What about the injured woman and her rumored paramor… did KB assault them because she was two timing him?”

“What about Ms. Hetal Kapadia…?”

“Why is KB in hiding…?”

 Kajal’s legs began to tremble as nervousness got the better of her. This was the first time she realized the true meaning of ‘been thrown to the wolves. She blinked back tears of humiliation as they directed questions at her… actually they yelled.

She only stared and they probably took it as a chance to wreak things further. Suddenly one of them screamed.

“Do you think its because of his game gone wrong?”

 What on earth was he talking about? Kajal only stared trying to process the question. She was supposed to just make the statements given to her and exit but this was turning out into something she hadn’t envisioned or prepared for. What would she answer? She didn’t even know the guy.

“lllloook… I  I…. I … He…” she stuttered.

“Cat got your tongue young lady?” Someone said and the crowd jeered.

She was now at her wits end and her tears made a beeline for her cheeks.

“Oh oh… the woman cries… someone give her a tissue… what is it lady? You missed the bus with the gorgeous client?” another voice blurted and she bit her lower lip trying not to turn into a muddle right there.

 “It’s that special feature that went wrong isn’t it…?”  there was another round of laughter accompanied by hoots.

“Where is the boss then… hiding away in his den and sending his lobbying cohorts?”

Laughter followed and she thought she would collapse right there as tears flew unhindered.

“BOSS ISN’T HIDING ANYWHERE… HE IS RIGHT HERE YOU MORONS… STOP PLAYING WITH THE LITTLE BIRD AND TALK TO THE LION…” A deep baritone boomed startling her and there was a pin drop silence.

She looked up shielding herself from the light above and moved a few steps behind. It was then she saw… Greek God personified… Gosh his pictures didn’t do him justice.

She felt like a rat standing before a lion in his den and this lion tough it appeared he was smiling, he was very very angry.

The most beautiful pair of brown eyes symmetrically placed on a perfectly chiseled face, starred daggers at her. The sprinkling of hair on his chest shining under the bright spotlight huddled by his black loose shirt casually hanging off his firm shoulders.

Krish Batra had arrived to face the wolves…. And he wasn’t happy at all.

©priyagole

Chapter 2

Kajal didn’t even know they had so many neighbors watching the number of people who came to pay their final respects to her departed father. At the moment, she couldn’t help but remember the ironic statement from Munshi Premchand’s novel, ‘kafan’. While living, no one cared whether her father was dead or alive or needed anything as he vacillated between life and death in the last decade. Finally, today, as he lost the battle and transitioned to the other side, everyone was suddenly mourning.

Guilt overwhelmed Kajal, watching her brother cry, but she was unable to shed tears. She had often wept whenever she had tended to baba’s bed sores or heard his lungs struggle with excess phlegm or watching him over the years turn into mere skeletal remains of his former self. She had often wondered if he could hear whenever she vented out before his unresponsive self or whenever maami spewed venom against them. But today, she was relieved that he was free from pain, physical, mental, and emotional.

It was an end of an era for Kajal’s family. Aai where are you… baba is no more… can you come now at least?

Besides curious neighbors, her baba’s old colleagues also came to pay their respects. Maami was happy to see the many men in uniform. Mainly because they were government servants, Kajal saw the gleam of finding a prospective future son-in-law for her daughter Poonam. Poonam tai had finished her graduation a couple of years ago, and instead of pursuing a career or being helpful at home, she would laze around binging on repeated TV soaps.

Maami went out of her way to provide the khaki visitors with refreshments and had insisted Poonam wear her new salwar suit as if they had come for a wedding and not a funeral.

As Kajal stood in the corner in poignant silence, Ganpatrao kaka, her father’s old friend and colleague, sauntered his plump way towards her. Ganpat kaka had always been there whenever they had trouble accessing her father’s funds when she was a minor. He had gone out of his way to arrange for some parts of baba’s medical expenses to be reimbursed for them, thereby easing the load a bit. Kajal’s eyes filled at the oasis of kindness during her demanding days.

“Kaka… don’t forget us now that baba isn’t there” She softly spoke amidst tears.

“…No child, Manohar was a brother more than a friend, always ready to help everyone. He didn’t deserve this decade of turmoil or the year-long tumulus life before that. I know things were difficult for you as well, but it hit him hard. Vaini’s (Bhabhi) disappearance compounded by his case tribulations had shaken him… I hope you forgive him child, let him rest in peace….” Ganpat kaka wiped his teary eyes.

Kajal nodded, and Ganpat kaka took out polythene handing it over to her.

“This is something that was with me for a long time… a little before that accident, your father had wanted me to burn it, but I couldn’t. It’s a folder on what he had found out after your mother disappeared and that broke him totally… I didn’t want to ruin your memories of your mother, but now that he is no more, I think you should have it. If you want, you read it and I leave it to you if you want to share it with Krunal.”

Kajal peeped into the polythene to see an old dusty folder. She wrapped it and hid it in her cupboard below her clothes before maami’s prying eyes found dirt on her parents.

The few days following the funeral were hectic as Kajal had to complete formalities and close her baba’s chapter from everything mortal. She could never find the needed solitude to go through the folder.

Krunal also had his final exams coming up and she had saved up some money for an injection prescribed for her father. She paid his final fees installment mentally berating herself yet again for the relief she felt. Krunal had been speaking less for last so many days and though she had asked him repeatedly he didn’t open up to her. But ever since baba passed, he had totally stopped talking, except to nod and answer her if she asked something. She wished she knew what was troubling him and decided to take him out someday after their exams and have a chat.

Her study leave had started and in span of one and half months she had her final exams. She had already started to update her resume and sending across to job openings.

One morning Krunal was at school and she had just wound up the kitchen after everyone had breakfast. Her neighbor who had promised a job arrived unannounced.

“Kajal beta, my PR firm is hiring and has a position open. They are taking freshers. The pay is good and currently its yet to be released online. I got the insider information. Come over today and give an interview…”

“…But uncle, my exams…” Kajal wanted nothing more than the job but she had to study as well.

“What exams and all are you talking about…?” Her maami butted in. “…Who is going to pay yours and Krunal’s living expenditure? Does money grow on trees? Should I even tell you how much we have spent on you people in the last decade? Your mama is retiring soon and Poonam is to be married… how on earth do we arrange for funds… enough is enough. You better take up the job, else leave the house.” She turned around and walked back into her bedroom.

Kajal blinked back tears. Years of painful word-bricks thrown still didn’t reduce the impact they had on her. She knew she had to make this choice. She had to take up the job… she would give exams later by correspondence as well, but at the moment the job mattered. She had Krunal to think of. She agreed and, in an hour, she was in ‘Rhapsody’ PR consultants.

From a brief wait and a little tour, she found out Rhapsody was the most sought-after PR agency by the celebrities. Be it models, small time actors and even TV stars.  She cleared the interview and though she didn’t have any experience, she was given an assistant position under Ms. Shipra Malhotra. The pay was better than what she had expected but she was told, her hours were not to be numbered. She agreed and was soon sent across to Ms. Shipra’s cabin.

As expected Shipra was a thin woman with an almost hourglass figure reeking of high-end perfume and wearing a figure-hugging dress in addition to a painted face. Kajal felt like an idiot before her. Shipra gave her a once over and rolled her eyes.

“Is this what PR has stooped down to? is this what Rhapsody needs? Heights of cost cutting… Anyways your attire will need to change when you go out in the field with me…” Shipra spoke bluntly waving a perfectly manicured hand towards Kajal.

Later that night as she watched Krunal sleep peacefully she felt confident about her decision. Everything will have to wait. She had to first get their finances on track and save up a bit.

Within a fortnight Kajal had gotten acclimatized to the working of the PR company. She was the most sought-after assistant and though she was assigned to Shipra, she was happy to help out other departments too in her free time since it taught her more about the functioning of the company. The staff was very friendly except for Shipra but Kajal was fine by it. She was already learning so much from her boss.

Kajal soon realized Rhapsody did the damage control for the wayward personalities be it breaking a signal, a little accident in inebriation, drug history, mistakes in the sack which became public… just about everything. Shipra was in charge of their VIP clients. She was very particular about Kajal’s dressing and lent her clothes during their outdoor visits, though Kajal only had to stand in a corner and make notes. The only drawback was the odd work hours, which maami was fine after Kajal gifted Poonam and her expensive perfumes she had received as a give away post an event.

One morning Kajal entered the premises to a flurry of activity. The atmosphere was tense and even Shipra who was usually uptight was scampering around like a scared rabbit.

She asked another colleague, Vijay, what had happened.

“Oh, don’t ask… just consider Shipra’s house in on fire and she can’t seem to douse it… its her biggest account who is in the eye of storm now… Good luck to you Kajal… you will have to bear with her foul mouth today.”

As soon as Shipra saw her she gestured Kajal to her cabin.

Kajal was surprised to see Shipra pace within the cabin confines instead of her usual poise. Halting, she bent over her huge mahogany desk.

“Look Kajal, today I am depending on you. You have a tiny but important task at hand. Um… I would have gone myself but I have other damage control to do. However, one of us will have to go to address the press conference. I can’t allow anyone else because of the confidentiality involved. So… you will have to do it.”

“I… Shipra ma’am…I don’t…” Kajal was nervous. Speaking before an audience in a debate was different and speaking to press hounds was a different ball game all together.

“Kajal, this is my request to you. He is our biggest account and we can’t lose him… Just go through the press release in the folder. You only have to read it out before the press on behalf of Rhapsody…”

If Kajal hated anything, it was going to a competition or an event unprepared. She had to find out what this was all about but there was barely anytime. She had her clothes laid out for her. This time it was a black business suit that Shipra had selected and she had also asked for Kajal’s makeup to be done. All dolled up Kajal couldn’t recognize her-self but she felt great for getting a chance to dress up for once in her life. She left Shipra’s cabin trying to figure out where she was destined to land.

A quick glance at the press release indicated some KB was charged with alleged drunken assault in a local bar and Rhapsody was announcing it didn’t happen as shown in the viral news. Apparently the video was doctored and grainy and not proof enough to indict KB. The press was asked to wait for the official announcements from KB himself while Shipra worked things out at the backend with the victim and the lawyers.

Kajal shook her head and looked around the office as she waited for the driver to bring the car around. Vijay walked up to her sipping the concoction they called tea form the machine installed.

“So off to the lion’s den. Wish you all the best Kajal” He chuckled.

“What… what do you mean…?” Kajal’s anxiety only rose notches higher.

“You don’t know who KB is?”

Kajal shook her head. She was a disgrace to PR dealing with celebrities… she never followed the news. She didn’t know one actor from the other. Vijay was only too happy to flaunt his knowledge.

“KB is none other than Krish Batra, famous model, TV actor and…” Vijay sighed.

“…And…?” Kajal was now curious as she watched the driver arrive at the entrance.

“…And… he is PR industry’s worst nightmare…”

©priyagole

Chapter 1

Ten years later….

“And the student of the year award goes to Ms. Kajal Manohar Shinde, final year BA-literature. Not only has she excelled in academics, but she has been an allrounder. She has actively participated in various intercollegiate competitions and has brought accolades to this institution. We are proud to have her as our student.

We would also like to announce that Ms. Kajal has been one of the few fortunate from the country to be selected by the reputed University of Winchester for their renowned Master’s program in the literature that would commence next year. We have enrolled her for the bridge course in our college for the upcoming year and the subjects are of her choice.

We congratulate her on behalf of the management, staff, and students and wish her a bright future….” The emcee announced, and the auditorium roared.

Kajal walked up to the dais amidst the shower of claps and hoots. Holding the corner knot in her modest faded cotton dupatta, she blinked back tears, remembering her mother, who had always been encouraging irrespective of their dire financial status. This was her dream!

Aai, where did you go?

There was a shrill whistle jostling her to the present. She looked below to see Rahul dressed in his blue checks shirt neatly tucked into his trousers. He was the most decent guy in college and every girl’s dream boyfriend to introduce to their parents. But Rahul liked her, and she knew it though she hadn’t reciprocated. At 21 years, she had loads of responsibilities on her tender shoulders and didn’t have the time to invest in a relationship.

She sniffed and walked towards the dignitaries and accepted the trophy and the certificate.

She was asked to say a few words, and she nodded, walking towards the mic.

“Hello everyone….” Everyone roared, and it took enormous efforts on teachers and other staff to bring them to silence. Kajal smiled and continued.

“…First of all, I would like to thank my teachers and my batchmates, as well as the seniors and juniors, for having supported my endeavors. My life in these five years in this esteemed college right from 11^th grade to date has been a dream… a dream from which I don’t want to wake up.…” there was giggling and murmur

“…I thank the management for the opportunity of doing the year-long bridge course, but unfortunately I will have to decline…” the auditorium was now silent with soft murmurs.

The teachers and the principal looked at each other. Kajal paused, giving everyone time to assimilate what she just rendered.

“…I am sorry I won’t be able to join the University of Winchester either… So, the upcoming final exams next month will mark the end of my studies. Thank you, everyone, once again….”

The auditorium was now in complete silent mode. Kajal bowed to everyone, and picking up her trophy; she turned to leave the stage.

As she walked outside the auditorium building, she was surrounded by her close friends. She wiped her calmy hands to her simple lemon-yellow salwar-kameez her only good outfit that she had reserved for events. She tried to plaster a smile even as tears threatened.

“What is this Kajal…?” Her best friend Raina asked huffing. “…this was an opportunity of a lifetime…Come on, yaar!” The stubby girl stood with her hands on her hips.

It was then that Kajal saw Rahul navigate the crowd and move towards them. That was the last thing she needed, a confrontation with him. So, she dragged her friends away, and they ran till they reached outside the vast campus. It was lunchtime, so the campus was filled with a sea of students loitering around.

They moved under a tree to escape the wrath of the afternoon sun.

“Now shoot Kajal…” This time her other friend Shivani spoke, annoyance dripping from her voice. “… this was an opportunity to escape your crappy life. Why did you decline? You would have received a modest stipend for a year….”

“Look, Raina, Shivu… you know my situation. I am in the dumps, just a little away from hitting rock bottom. Baba’s medical expenses are now getting tough to bear with… as I had told you, the savings are all exhausted, and so have all the severance pay he got six years ago. I sold all the jewelry left behind by aai… I have nothing left, and baba still needs care. Besides, Krunal is now in the 9^th grade. I haven’t paid his fees installment…It’s tough. Forget the stipend, I can’t afford the education even with a scholarship. And what will happen to Krunal then?” her voice choked, thinking of her younger brother, who had matured up far ahead of his 14 years.

Her friends only stood watching the crowd move.

“Kajal seems like Rahul is looking for you. By the way, he had proposed, right? So why don’t you accept? You can eventually get married, and he is fine with Krunal living with you as well. He is OK with you going abroad for studies, ready to wait… you like him too, right?” Raina spoke calculatingly.

Kajal sighed. “It doesn’t matter if I like him or not. Marrying just because I want something from him is wrong. It’s not that at all. He is a great guy, but I can’t burden him or anyone else with my problems. I have borrowed money from mama for the next couple of months and hopefully will get a job after exams.”

“What about that part-time work in the café next to your home?” Raina asked

“I had to stop. I couldn’t spend more time because Krunal was getting neglected… He had to give up on tuition for that… He says he doesn’t need it, but I know its tough for him to manage… I feel so helpless at times.” This time she couldn’t keep tears at bay.

“I wish I could help you, Kajal, but besides moral support, I can’t do anything….” Shivani lamented.

“You two are my pillars of strength. Without you, I don’t think I could have lasted this long.” Kajal squeezed their hands grateful for the sprinkle of blessings in form of her friends.

Kajal escaped Rahul and hurried to the bus stop. She had switched off her phone hours ago to escape the texts and calls form her batchmates and teachers. She just wanted few moments of solitude to gather her thoughts. Her repaired footwear bit into her ankle, but she didn’t have a choice now; every penny mattered. As she waited for her bus, her life flashed before her eyes.

They had been a happy family where her father, a sub-inspector with Mumbai Police, and her mother, a homemaker, doted on her. They lived in the police quarters at Andheri, and she had been well provided for. Her baba especially treated her like a princess even after Krunal had arrived when she was 7. Her aai was a beautiful woman who had eloped with her baba when she was barely 20 and had never looked back. Aai wanted to become a fashion designer but had given up on her dreams.

But aai never seemed unhappy, so eleven years ago, when she suddenly disappeared, it came as a shock to all of them. Baba had been excessively preoccupied in a classified case and was never home. Was aai,  a staunch devotee of Lord Ganesha, feeling neglected? Kajal had always wondered. But at ten she couldn’t fathom the turn of events.

Baba was never the same again. He had taken to the bottle and was always angry, taking out his frustration on Krunal and her. Finances were tough, but she somehow managed so far. She never had a proper childhood or fun moments like children in her class, but she didn’t complain. She had to look out for her brother.

Then that horrific day ten years ago, her father was grievously injured in the line of duty. It was devastating for them, and they came over to stay with her mother’s brother to save on the costs. Since then, her father was almost vegetative and after months of hospitalization his permanent address was now, the tiny storeroom in her uncle’s modest home.

Kajal had tried her best to make him comfortable, but the treatment costs had skyrocketed beyond their capacity. Her uncle wanted to help, but he wasn’t well off either…

Kajal’s mami wasn’t happy with the intrusion in her tiny gamut. Kajal’s cousin, brother, and sister were much older and weren’t happy to share their rooms and things. But her uncle had been firm, so they had relented. Form the go, it was a life filled with mocks and insults every step of the way. Kajal tried to keep Krunal away from everything, but she had to bear the brunt of the constant taunts thrown their way.

Being good in studies, she took up home tuitions for younger kids in the neighborhood, earning their keep in the house.

She had tried her best to juggle the expenditure and also tried looking for her mother, but there was no trace of the woman. Was her aai so unhappy that she didn’t even miss her children?

There were talks at home, where her mami often spoke about the wastage of money on the vegetative man. She had even contemplated sending Kajal and Krunal to an orphanage.

Her uncle had stood by the kids much to the chagrin of his wife and had put his foot down. Once eighteen, Kajal had withdrawn their meager savings nominated to her, and her aunt had been pacified. She sold off aai’s little jewelry, but nothing ever sufficed.

Her college had been kind enough to wave off half her fees given her scholastic abilities. She was the recipient of a philanthropist’s generous program throughout college. She hoped to meet the person someday to thank him/her for saving her life, in a way.

Did you see aai? I belive in Ganesha too… just like you taught me…

Kajal had spoken to a kind neighbor who had promised her a job at his PR firm right after her exams. Despite her situation, she had been an ace student and hoped her accolades would help with the job. That would take a load off her uncle’s aging shoulders.

Throughout her journey homewards, she was lost in thought about spending the upcoming two months in deep turmoil. She was tired of facing the curveballs life threw at her and hoped to get a respite.

Aai where are you when I need you the most?

As she walked towards her home, she saw a small crowd that had gathered outside the flat. Everyone moved as she approached. Her heart stilled, wondering what had happened.

Just then, Krunal saw her and rushed outside, hugging her, crying into her shoulder.

“Tai, why did you switch off your phone…? baba died… an hour ago….”

©priyagole