Serendipitous Love - Ep07 (Finale)

Lal had met Krutika and explained her was expected of her. He also said she was in position to refuse and there was no compulsion as such. Lal also said something like Krutika has a bright future in industry. She couldn’t be sure.  Lal was willing to pay her a lakh or so to do the part.  Her friend argued she is taking an easy way out. Krutika knew that the financial condition at her home was no good and this money could be breather for her family. She called up Lal,

“I accept your offer.”

“Great, I will tell you time, date and place of shooting.”

Lal also called up Dhairya Khurana and told him he has found a heroine who would not disappoint him. Lal hoped to get a meaty output from shooting.

The shooting location was one of the shady studios in film city. It was actually not a studio. It was a  stable and it stank.  As per Dhairya’s requirement of anonymity the lights were kept low at the shoot. Krutika was advised to stand at particular place, naked. She had done as they told her. Lal as a habit never watched these shooting so he sat in one of the offices.

Camera rolled, Dhairya was also standing naked in front of Krutika. They were to move closer and then they were to make out on a mattress lay aside.

Dhairya and Krutika walked slowly towards each other. As they walked closer to each other a line of sweat dripped from Krutika’s naval. Dhairya saw the sweat drip. Now, they stood a little lesser than a foot to each other, barely able to make out each other’s face, they could hear each other’s heavy breath. There in that moment they forgot there is a camera watching them.  All they wanted was to feel each other. It was magical.

Dhairya’s hand moved to touch her naval to feel her skin, he moved his finger around it. Krutika’s body responded to the touch as if it played to cadence of music. Her hands had moved to feel the chest. Their rhythm to discover each other was broken by the noise outside the studio. Media had raided the studio. Immediately, Lights were switched on and horror swept Dhiarya’s face. He picked up his clothe and ran covering himself in hooded shirt. Krutika was slower, and the media which arrived there caught her on camera.

Dhairya escaped, Krutika couldn’t. 

Dhairya was brought home by his parent’s in time. As it dawned upon him – he dropped his face in his palm.  Krutika was the woman he had fell in love with and he had left her to be gorged by media. The TV ran stories of her most of which were untrue.  

The day couldn't get any more worse. To fall in love in a moment and to be thrown like a trash can in next. Her friend tried to sympathize with her but she was news on national TV. Back home her family must be suffering shaming from society. At that instant death indeed looked like an option.

But, as fate took another turn, Dhairya arrived at her doorstep that evening and escaped with her. Away from his parents and her society, glamour, and media attention. They ran.

Guilt & Conscience

 Note : This is a sequel to my earlier post "Two Friends"

As they say destiny always has different plans for life. If you plan X , you land up in an exactly in opposite direction of X . Sherya and Shankar were made for each other that’s what the world thought . Indeed Shreya had wondered about what would  be her next step in life. Life wasn't exactly fulfilling yet she had little or no expectations .But then Shreya & Sankar's life took turns in two opposite direction . Shreya who always wanted to be with someone was treading alone and Sankar who would have been last person on this earth to be commited, found his match whom he was eager to Marry. Isha was intelligent, career oriented, fair, curly hair; not exactly size zero but with curves at right places. Sankar at once fell in love with Isha. They worked together and Sankar was bowled over by Isha’s enthusiasm to shop, to have fun and her common sense. Sankar and Isha instantly became good friends.  Isha and Sankar were in relationship for six months and he thought, time has come to introduce Isha to the group.

Before announcing his new commitment, Sankar met Vijayan to find out about Shreya. He hoped that she has already met someone. Vijayan who enjoyed close relationship with Shreya and Sankar, knew them very well. Vijayan had a feeling about what might be on Sankar's mind, Sankar on other hand was as vague as possible. He asked, "I wonder what Shreya is upto these days ?." Vijayan acted as if he didn’t hear the question. It was easier to act as both of them were sitting at a pub. Vijayan pretended to be drunk. Sankar also knew Vijayan well enough, he didn't push.  Sankar wanted to bring topic about himself and Isha to change the discussion which never took place. However, suddenly Shreya's memories flushed through his mind. Her smile, her calmness , innocence flushed through his mind as a wave of memory. Sankar felt restless , he went to cloak and vomited. He took a quick leave from Vijayan and left the pub. It was sudden and abrupt . Before Vijayan could speak or react, Sankar had left .
Sankar walked briskly almost 5 -6 km for next 45 mins. as if he was trying to be faster than flow of thoughts .Smoking off all 10 cigarettes  of the pack, trying to recollect atleast one of the shortcomings of Shreya which justified the separation. His memory only brought back their intimacy, exchanges of thoughts without speaking, her hugs and  the hug at airport, when he returned from states ,  affection was lost . Shreya was suddenly looked ugly. He stopped, his legs couldn’t move further , he called a cab . As soon as he sat in it, he was fast asleep.

At pub, Vijayan was pondering over the bill. He wondered whether Sankar still has some inclinations for Shreya . He knew Sankar was always the stronger and dominant part his and Shreya’s relationship. However, he was confident that about Shreya's ability of handling this major setback of life. Sankar's vulnerability came as surprise for Vijayan . Vijayan paid and left the pub. He prayed his wife should be fast asleep and was glad that his wife was not awake when he reached.

Sankar was awoke by his mother by gentle tapping on his arm , which he saw in his dream as someone pushing him across the cliff. He woke up with a jerk . His mom said “how can you sweat with AC on." Sankar said nothing. He concentrated on what he wants now. He told himself "he wants Isha."He wrote it on paper. After freshening up, and breakfast. Sankar left for work. At work he tried to focus on work. However, more absurd thoughts were running in mind. First thought, he imagined Shreya accusing him in public for being rude and selfish. In another stream , he imagined police came for enquiring about mysterious death of Shreya .His  stream of thoughts were interrupted by Isha , who had specially dressed for him. She saw some weird expression on his face , she asked "are you okay?" Shankar shrugged and replied “I am alright. You look gorgeous today”   “Its from ‘Vera Moda’”. Both of them were now lost in appraising each other and planning the upcoming weekend. After dropping Isha home, Sankar drove to the nearest corner and parked his car. He scrolled through the list of numbers , there was Shreya’s number, he couldn’t bring himself to dial. He sat there staring in dark.

He told himself, “I want Isha” and sped away.

Shreya somewhere was accepting larger responsibilities in professional life with no space personal commitments.