A night with the fallen star - Part 7

It was time for him to bid goodbye to his new friend. He wished the time stood still. He had never felt so complete in life. He had never felt that life could be very beautiful. Maya was magical just like her name. It was strange that few hours ago he hated her sight and now he longed for her company.

He had stopped at her place. She got out of the car. She walked few miles , turned and waved him goodbye. He smiled and waved back. He didn't stay for long and continued his journey towards home. He hated goodbyes and couldn't stand the emotions that sprang from it. As he reached home, the silence greeted him. He was tired and walked towards his room. He fell on his bed while his tired body enjoyed the well needed rest.

He woke up to new morning and new self. He freshened himself and headed towards the dinning room. His family were surprised to see him enjoy breakfast with them. They had never seen the happy side of him. He listened to their stories that he missed and spoke about his life which he had not shared with them. After a quick family reunion, he headed back to work.

For the first time, he enjoyed work. For the first time, there were no clashes or starry tantrums. It was like as if new star had risen. While he completed his commitments, he wanted to meet his new friend. He wanted to share his first day achievements with her. He drove past the same place he had dropped her. As he got out of the car, he was surprised. He was standing next to old building bearing name of the hospital. He was engrossed too much with himself that he didn't even bother to ask her where he was supposed to drop her or where she leaved now. He did know that she was in hospital before but he wasn't aware she was never discharged.

He walked toward the reception in the hospital. The receptionist was starstruck at his sight. She took minutes to reply him. He had to repeat many times until she was back to senses. "Sorry sir! I hardly get to see stars coming to this hospital. Give me a moment. Let me check and tell you.", she said. He smiled. She checked her old dust strewn register and got back to him. "Sir, this patient is at room number 12.", she said. He thanked her and rushed towards the room with excitement.

As he walked towards the room, a middle aged man rushed towards him. He caught his collar tightly and asked angrily,"Look, what have you done to my daughter. She is in coma for an year and this is all because of you." The man bent down, releasing his grip from his collar and cried. Vikram bent down to console him. "Sir, I am sorry. But I didn't do anything. I have just met her yesterday.", he said softly. "What do you mean? ", her father asked.  He narrated last night activities with her father.

Her father wasn't convinced. "How do I believe you?", he asked. He took him to the tea stall where they had tea. The tea stall was missing.  He asked a person walking by the same place." There is no tea stall here, sir. Two years back there was an hit and run accident where  the drunken driver ran over the tea stall owner and some men who were sleeping on the pavement. Since then, there is rumour that every night the pavement is haunted by their souls.", the person said.  Vikram understood the eerie feeling he had got when he was there last night. He watched her father holding his palm on his face with shame. "I am sorry , Sir.  I really want to prove that I am telling you the truth. But I don't have any evidence." Her father looked up at him and said, "She wanted to meet you. She said that she wanted to meet you when she was bought to the hospital. Those were her last words before she went to coma." He continued," Take me back to my daughter. That is least thing you can do for me."

After the bitter truth surfaced, Vikram learnt that he was not only responsible for her state but also for the death of the tea stall owner and other men. He wanted to repay all the sins he had done. So he headed towards the police station and confessed his crimes. He also took the responsibility of all the medical expenses of Maya. He was sentenced to four years. Fortunately it was later reduced to three years as soon Maya recovered from coma. A night had changed a fallen star to realize his worth and mistakes.

       ****  The end ****

A night with the fallen star - Part 6

He looked around the bridge for one last time. There was no one around. Cool breeze tickled his skin, making him snuggle inside his jacket more. He felt stupid to follow her advice. He tried to scream. But his voice was too low. "What was that? You have to scream loud. This is whispering?", she said.

He stared her with anger. "Scream louder. There is no one to look at you. Imagine that I am not existing.", she said. "I am not going to do this silly thing. I have had  enough.", he growled. "Please just do this once and I won't let you do it again. I had told you at the beginning. You have to do what I say.", she said calmly. He was irritated. He couldn't contain his irritation inside his heart and spilled it in form of loud scream.

She shook by the impact. She wasn't shocked though. She was excited. "How do you feel?", she asked. He started laughing. After few minutes he got back to his old self. "Nothing. Let's go.", he said.

 When they got back inside the car, she started with her never ending questions. "Oh come on! You must have felt great. I know. You are just hiding. Tell me how you felt? Great, right?", she asked. "Yes! Great! Fine! Now we are done.", he said in pretentious excited tone. "Whatever it is. You feel peace inside like...", she carried on but he cut her short.  "Do you always talk non stop? Don't your friends or family ever complain?", he asked.She kept quiet as if she had seen something horrible. "What? What happened?", he asked. She nodded and began, "Nothing! No one ever complains now. After what had happened, no one hardly speaks." He looked at her with confused stare.

 "My life was perfect. I had good job that paid me enough to help my dad. He is the only family I had got. My world was small. It started with dad and ended with providing him good life. In my small world, I made many friends. Some good. Some bad. But after the accident, I lost everything. I stay at the hospital ward, waiting to meet my world. My friends hardly meet me now. They have gotten busy with their lives. My dad is the only daily visitor who comes to meet me. It's heartbreaking to see him come and see me everyday like this.", she said.

 Vikram felt sorry for her. He wanted to know more about what she was going through. But he didn't know. Words failed. He wasn't used to feeling bad for others. He was always engrossed in his own problems to even notice others.

(To be continued)

A night with the fallen stars - Part 5

She asked him again like a curious child, "When was the last time you have screamed?"  "What do you mean?", he asked. "When was the last time you screamed out of joy or despair? " He walked back towards his memory lane. Flashbacks of life showed him no incidents of him screaming out of joy or sadness. How could he? He was a star. He was required to behave in a manner he is expected to.

He had learnt to keep his private life out of public scrutiny very early in life.  Here he was being asked a ridiculous question by a girl he hardly knew and he was searching for an answer. He had all the rights to not to answer this. But he did what he wasn't supposed. He answered her question, "No". He ridiculed himself for this action. "Why did I do that? What if she was some reporter? I know nothing about her.", he wondered.

She giggled and said, "Why do you think so much? Maybe because of that, you haven't let out the emotion that is eating you. Let it out. Now you will come across a bridge after this road. Stop there." He was relieved at last. He had been infuriated with her non stop question through out the journey. Now that she would be gone, peace would be back.

The bridge appeared in few minutes. He stopped the car. She opened the door and was halfway out of his vehicle. "Come out.", she said. He was puzzled. He got out of the vehicle. "What happened? Isn't this place you asked me to drop you?", he asked. She smiled. Her smile irritated him. "No! We are not done yet. I didn't ask you to drop me. I asked you to stop. This is place I come to vent out my frustration.", she said.

He looked around the bridge.  Except the sound of river flowing under the bridge, it was silent and eerie. The road was redone recently. There were no potholes on the road. The  pungent smell of tar still remained.But the bridge seemed like century old. "Isn't it peaceful? ", she asked while turning around excitedly. He nodded, "Yes"

"There is no one watching you out. There is no one judging you here. When you scream; your mind, soul and heart gets lightened. You are suddenly relieved from the stress and everything that bothers you. I come here with burden and leave with only positive feelings. You must try it.", she continued. He nodded, "Okay" She looked at him and said, "You must try it now". He was confused. "Is she gone mad?", he wondered.

(To be continued)

A night with the fallen star - Part 4

Vikram replayed the incident in his mind. Those people's vacant stares still gave him goosebumps. They seemed like ghosts or maybe psycho fans. Whatever they may be, they were scary. "Again you went back to your old self. What happened there?", she asked. "Nothing! I don't like answering all your questions.", he rebuked. She was embarrassed and said,"Fine! I will not bother you." 

" Some people will never change. They don't understand the word called humanity.", she whispered to herself.  Vikram was oblivious to her allegation. He was in his own world. He wanted only little time for himself and God had conspired to let him have that. He wanted the time to fly soon. It was strange when you want the time to fly soon, it moves too slow. Maybe it's with our mind. Time moves at it's own pace. Our actions determines the speed of the time. It's our human nature to do the opposites. We never let go of the time when we are sad and we let it move faster when we are happy.

Maya couldn't sit idle. Sometime she played with her hair. Sometime she drummed her fingers on her lap. When she fidgeted with the buttons on the stereo player, he would push her fingers away.  She had never been quiet for so long.  "Do you always hide yourself from everyone this way?", she asked, breaking her silence and his thoughts. 

"What? Do you always ask stupid questions like this?", he asked firmly. "Do you ask questions to people who ask questions? ", she asked. He shook his head slowly with irritation. "No, I don't always. But it is different with you. You ask too many unnecessary questions.", he said. She smiled. "I need to hide myself from people even those who are very close to me. The profession I am in requires me to be the way I am. It's difficult for me to trust people with my private life.", he continued. 

"My life is always in  a radar.", he mocked himself.  He remained quiet for sometime. "I am a star. If I share everything I do in my life with everyone, I jeopardize my career.", he said. "You don't have to share your life with everyone. But you can trust few of them with your secrets. Those few are not always bad or wronged people. They could be good ones. They could be your family or friends. You can't always keep all secrets to yourself. You can't keep burning inside. It's better when you share that heat with others. You reduce the fire that has been hurting you and give warmth to the ones who need them.", she said.

He looked at her and then turned his sight to the road. She was making sense to some extent. He had been burning inside. He had been keeping his frustration and anger inside. No one really knew who he was. They stayed away from him because he had always given them cold vibes. "When was the last time you screamed?", she asked out of  nowhere. He gave her a confused stare. "Now what was she going to do?", he wondered.

(To be continued)

A night with the fallen star - Part 3

He looked at her with irritation. "What had happened now?", he wondered. She was staring at the tiny tea stall that was located two minute walk away from his car. "Can you buy me cup of tea?", she asked sweetly. He glared at her. He had agreed to take her for long ride. He had agreed to give her company. Now this was getting too much. "Pretty please. You agreed to make my night memorable one.", she said. "Oh! That silly agreement", he thought.

He bent towards her. He almost startled her. She was unsure about what was going to happen next. She felt uncomfortable. But then he took out a shawl from the glove compartment box. He covered his upper body except the eyes with the shawl. He didn't want any attention at this hour. He knew the media too well. They were like the spy and would do anything to get a story on him. He opened the door and stood up. He was cautious. He looked around for anyone or anything suspicious.

When he found that there was no danger, he walked towards the stall. She watched him while he was doing all this. Then she burst out laughing. He turned around and cautioned her to stop. The stall was run by a short thin man. He had wrinkled skin and his head had tiny strands of grey hair. His eyes spoke of experience. However they were cold. There were two- three people standing next to the stall. They were drinking tea quietly. The owner was preparing tea. His weak hands struggled to pour milk into the vessel. "Bhaiyya, make one tea.", Vikram said.

The old man stared at me blankly. He continued to prepare tea. Vikram felt embarrassed. He didn't understand whether the old man heard what he said. After two minutes, when Vikram reminded him of tea.The old man offered him tea and said warmly which contradicted with his cold eyes, "Here is your tea. Are you new here?". Vikram was startled. "Why did he ask me this question?", he wondered. He nodded his head. He looked at the people standing next to the stall. They seemed different. They gave him vacant stares like the old man. He felt threatened and something eerie about the place.

He took the tea and gave the old man his due. The old man took and offered him a small plastic plate with maggi. He refused. But the old man insisted. "Take it. You are my new customer. I always offer free maggi to new people I meet.", the old man said. Vikram couldn't say no and took it. He whispered thanks to the old man. He looked one last time at the people. They were still staring at him. He was scared and immediately rushed towards the car.

He knocked the window and asked Maya to open the door. She quickly opened it. She took the tea and maggi from his hand. Later he immediately started the engine as soon as he got inside the car. He drove quickly until he felt he was safe and far away. "What happened to you? You didn't take your shawl out.", she asked. She took out tissue from the tissue box on the front shelf of the car. He took out his shawl. She wiped his sweat and giggled. "What!", he said. "You look as if you have seen a ghost.", she replied. The word 'ghost' gave him goosebumps.

(To be continued)

A night with the fallen star - Part 2

He didn't know what to do. He never hung out with people unless it was business purpose. He always spent the midnight hours alone, driving long vacant roads to clear his mind. But he was in a fix. He couldn't leave her. "Okay! Just few hours. After that you will leave me alone.", he agreed her condition. She was excited. "Hmmm.. You never know you may like my company.",she said with smile.

He sulked. He helped her sit inside the car and started the engine to drive. They didn't speak for few minutes. She looked around, gazing the outside world through the window. He was focused on driving. She played around with the in built stereo. She was enjoying the sound of pressing randomly the buttons of the radio. He didn't mind initially. But he got irritated and grabbed her hand firmly from the stereo. She looked at him, shocked and pulled her hand from his hold.

 "Sorry. I am not used to people touching my stuffs.", he said apologetically. " It's okay. I understand.", she said, looking outside the window. After few minutes, he spoke, " I am Vikram. And you are ?" "I know you are Vikram.", she said, turning towards him for a minute. "I know. I was trying to make a conversation. We just met. I am not used to driving with a stranger at this hour. ", he said. "I am Maya.", she said while she smiled.


"What else you are not used to?", she joked. "What?", he asked bewildered. She laughed. "I was joking. You are not used to people playing with your stuff. You are not used to driving with people at this hour. So I thought you might have a list of things that you are not used to. It would be easy for me to hang out with you tonight.", she said, laughing at her own sarcasm.

He smirked. "Well! I don't have any of such 'not used to thing' habit. I am used to everything.", she said. He didn't smile. He held the steering wheel firmly. He felt like throwing her out of the car. But he didn't. He simply rode the car. "Oh my gosh! You are angry ? Don't take any of my jokes seriously. I am used to pulling people's leg. It's one of my hobby. I cannot sit without talking nonsense. Bear with me for few hours.", she said.

He didn't say anything. He was waiting for the time to get over. He cursed the time he got out of the car to help her. Suddenly she shouted, "Stop the car. Stop the car." He stopped. His heart had almost reached his mouth. "Now what happened!", he wondered.

(To be continued)

A night with the fallen star - Part 1

It was midnight. The streets were empty. The roads were perfect for a long drive except for few humps. Vikram drove his car at top speed. He ignored the speed indicators. He enjoyed the speed and the music that played in the background. It helped him to be at ease and be someone who actually he was.

World adored him. Everyone wanted to be part of his life. To the world, he was the scion of legendary  movie star. For the media, he was rich spoilt kid who loved controversies. For his fan, he was God, they worshiped. But no one knew his real side. He hated that world. He wished for a simple normal life. A life without Page 3 controversies, fans waiting for hours outside his house to catch his glimpse or his over demanding father. He wished he get away from this. Unfortunately acting was the only thing he knew. He was good actor in reel and real life.

He was driving on a vacant street with tiny rays of light flickering from the street lights. He felt there was someone in middle of the road. He pushed the brakes hard that it made huge noise to stop. However he almost hit the person. "Not again", he thought. He was involved in many hit and run cases. Due to his father's name and his popularity, he always managed to get bail. He got out of the car instantly to check on the person.

The person was her. Fortunately she wasn't hit. She had fallen on the ground due to fear of getting hit. "Are you okay?", he asked. "Yes! I am fine.", she got up with limping leg. He stared at her with surprised expression. She was very young, barely out of her teens. "You look injured. Please come. Let me take you to hospital.", he said politely, assisting her towards the car. "No, it's fine. I..", she said but he interrupted, "Please let me help you. It's midnight. It is not safe."

She stared at him and asked, "How do you think I would be safe with you? You are drunk." "I am not that kind of person. I only had two drinks. I can drive. Don't you know me.", he said. "I know you very well. You are the star who thinks the roads are your father's property.", she mocked.  He was upset. "Ah! Let me guess, you want to bribe me for not filing a case against you for this accident.", she said. 

"No.. Ok! Yes if you think so. I don't want you to file a case against me for this minor accident. By the way, this is not an accident. I barely hit you.", he said. "You did. I am limping.", she said. "What do you want?", he asked. "Hmm! I will not file a case against you. But you have to take out for night out. I have five hours before sun rises. You have already wasted fifteen minutes. Now it is up to you to make my night the most memorable night ever.", she said.  He was shocked and wondered the intentions of the young girl standing before him.

(To be continued)