The Untouchable-Part 16

She was engrossed in her world. Her mind was filled with thoughts and memories of him. The rings of her phone bought her back to the reality. It was him. After hesitating for few minutes, she answered the call. The call was brief. "Hi, How are you?", he asked. "I am fine.", she spoke, trying to hide her tears and grief. But Varun could sense it. He didn't ask instead he said, "I wanted to inform you about tomorrow's press conference. I have explained everything to your manager. He will let you know about everything regarding conference."

She couldn't bear the pain anymore. She cut the call before he could speak longer. The pain was terrible. Their night was sleepless one. The morning was no better. Roop was physically occupied by her mother and manager's constant inputs of what was she expected to speak and what questions she would be asked. However her mind and heart was with him.

Varun was disturbed. He wondered about her sudden change of behaviour. He had kept himself busy with work, trying to keep himself away from her. But it was not working. It pained him. It hurt her. It was wounding their special relationship. He didn't want to lose one good friend.

Varun and Roop arrived together while the producer, lead actor and the media waited for them. As they walked toward the main stage, they momentarily glanced each other. They were searching love in each other's eyes but reality forbade them to indulge deeper. Anant sat between them. 

The questions hit them like arrows. It started with questions regarding the movie, future projects and memories regarding the shooting. Later it got diverted towards their relationship. Roop was uncomfortable. She tried to avoid some of them. "Are Varun and Roop dating?", one of reporters asked. "We are good friends. We share cordial professional relationship with her. Apart from that, there is nothing.", Varun said, the words broke his heart as well as Roop. She watched him. Her heart was breaking. She should have known from the start. There would be no spark between them.

"Yes, that's true. Apart from work relationship, we don't share anything.", Roop said bitterly. "Any chances of you working with him again?", one of journalist asked. "I don't know about future. I only live in present. Can we talk about this movie for now?", she replied. The press conference was success. With the months passing by, the news about them was fading slowly. The movie was success. Roop regained her position back. Varun got his foothold right on the industry. They hardly meet eye to eye when they are in any function. But their hearts silently ache for the special memories they shared together.

**** The End ****

The Untouchable - Part 15

The shoot was over. The post production activities started. Her mother watched her suffer. She hardly spoke to anyone. She had turned into her old self. She became cold. Her smile had vanished. The glow in her eyes were fading. It was now filled with pain. Since the last interaction with her mother, she had consciously distanced herself from him and everyone else.

She wanted to speak to him. But her mother's words hit her and her courage vanished. She didn't dare to speak to him. She was in turmoil of promises she had made to her mother before she had entered the stardom. She had promised her mother she would never leave her.

Varun secretly watched her whenever he had the opportunity. He was disturbed by her cold demeanor.  He  wanted to know what was disturbing her. But he couldn't muster the courage to speak to her. He had tried to break out of this so called ' promise' he made to himself. He couldn't. Every time he thought of speaking to her, he was reminded of the harsh words of his uncle. Those words bought in memories of the sweat and pain he had put into his debut movie.

The promotions of movie had begun. They were present for all the promotional events. Their interaction with the media was professional. There was no show of bonding between each other. Their friendship was severely affected by the new relationship both wanted. But paparazzi and page 3 journalists were behind their romance. They didn't stop their comments on their relationship. This affected both of them.

Varun was busy scheduling the dates for next promotional event while his uncle Anant stormed into his cabin. "I need you to settle this. No one seems to be interested with the movie. They are only behind your relationship with Roop. I want you to clear this tomorrow. I have invited everyone for press conference. I want you to get them focus on the movie.", Anant said sternly.

Varun didn't speak. He was too tired. A good rest was what he needed.

(To be continued)

The Untouchable - Part 14

Varun was disturbed. His uncle was right. He had put his blood and sweat into his dream. He didn't want to ruin his hard work for love when he was this close in realising the dream. But love! Love was also important to him.

He thought about her. She made him feel special when they were together. He was his true self when he was with her. He missed her smile ,  bubbliness and innocence when she was not her.

Anant watched his nephew. He could see him losing himself in love. He had to stop him.  "But I love her. How can she be disgrace to my career? Love is special. Love is strength...not weakness. ", Varun cried.

"Son, how should I explain you! Love is indeed strength. But this is not right time to fall in love. You have just started out and she is not right for you.",Anant argued. "There is no right time or right person to fall in love. There is nothing right or wrong in love. Love is pure.",Varun protested.

"Enough! I am tired of explaining you what is right for you. You are not understanding my advise. You are blinded by false attraction.  If you continue with this so called relationship, I will cut off all the funds I have put in your project. I will believe that I am nothing important to you. I will no longer give you my advises. You are on your own from now on.", Anant said in firm voice.

Varun was struck by the blow hit by his uncle. He walked out of room. He was angry, confused and distraught. He loved his uncle as well as Roop. He wished he didn't had to make choices. He didn't want to leave both of them. As the last day of shoot continued, there was deep silence between Varun and Roop. They hardly spoke. They focused their anxious mind towards their work. Both of them wanted to break the silence but were tied by shackles of promises and thoughts.

(To be continued)

The Untouchable - Part 13

It was his uncle. He had expected her. He was disappointed but didn't lose hope. He smiled, hiding his disappointment perfectly. "What's up?",he asked. "I wanted to discuss about promotional activities.",Anant said. Anant looked suspiciously at the bouquet of flowers on the table.

Anant couldn't contain his suspiciousness and asked immediately,"What are these flowers for?" Varun was startled. His mouth was dry. His mind was blank. His heart was filled with anxiety. He neither wanted to lie nor wanted to say anything.  He wanted to share his feelings with her first.

"Oh now I know ! Who is that lucky girl? Won't you say anything to your favourite uncle?", Anant teased. Varun blushed and excitedly said," Roop" Anant was shocked. "What! You must be joking !", Anant exclaimed. Varun smiled, "It's true. I love her." "Why? I mean this is wrong. She is an actress. ", Anant said coldly.

"Why is it wrong to love an actress? What's big deal in loving her? She's human being. A loving human being whom I care so much.", he said softly. "This is not right! Forget her. She is a fading star. You have just started out.  This is her gimmick to be in limelight.",Anant spoke sternly.

"How could you say this ? She is not a cheap person. She would never do such a thing. You should be ashamed of accusing her of doing any cheap tactics. I love her. You know nothing about love. ", Varun growled. "Calm down! I am not accusing her. You don't understand how this industry works. Everyone wants piece of  success and  fame. They will do anything to achieve ..",Anant said. Before Anant could even complete any sentence, Varun yelled, "Uncle ! Stop it!"

"I am only saying for your own good. Does she feel the same way as you are?", Anant asked. Varun replied, "No!" "You don't know whether she feels the same way. It's not too late. Don't ruin your career for girl. Link ups are not good for you right now. Your career will be overshadowed by fading star's name. You maybe remembered right now. But tomorrow you will be forgotten. Do you want to give up your dreams for girl who you are not sure whether she loves you or not?", Anant advised.


(To be continued)

The Untouchable - Part 12

She wanted burst out her anger. Instead she asked gently, "Mom, why? I love him. He isn't like the others. He understands me. He cares about me." "Don't be stupid. Don't act naive. Your career is almost on brink. One stupid decision can spoil your years of hard work.  Love may seem rosy now. It will fade within few days. If it doesn't work, tabloid will tag us as failure. You won't get one more chance to redeem yourself while your director lover will be romancing with new actress.", her mom spoke harshly.

Her mother's words stung her heart. "Why do you think our love will fail? Just because you didn't find true love , it doesn't mean I won't. Stop overreacting , mom!", she argued.  She quickly apologised when she realised what she had said. 

"It's okay, darling. So does he mutually shares the same feeling as you do?", her mom asked. "No. I am going to ask him.",Roop said. "You are assuming that he loves you! He is debut director. This is his first movie. He is simply giving you special treatment because you are first actress he is working with. If you are smart enough, don't let him know about your crush. Forget him. Move on. You have career on stake. Love will come and go. Once your career will take backseat, you can't revive it back. ", her mother said. 

"But mom....", she was about to say something but kept quiet. She thought deeply  , "What if I am assuming his friendliness with love? What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if mom was right ? I am not sure what he feels. God , why is this too hard?" "You are not teenager . You are a star. You have many things at stake. You can't lose it for some puppy love that you are not sure. ", her mother adviced. "I have always adviced you right. Forget him. Focus on your career.", her mom continued.

Nothing felt so right than today. Varun had decided to share his feelings today. He didn't want to mess it up. He was going to share no matter what happens. He brushed the petals of roses from the bouquet of roses that he bought. He smiled at the thought of how it was going to be. 

" Would she blush or smile when I say those three special words? Would she be mad?", he thought as every second of time passed and moment was coming closer. Suddenly he felt a presence behind him. He turned and was startled. 

(To be continued)

The Untouchable - Part 11

Roop's mom stayed quiet while Roop spoke colourfully about her friendship with Varun. She had never seen her so happy. Roop's smile was radiant and glowing from inside. She knew it instantly. She had been through the same phase. She had the same radiant smile when she fell in love with Roop's father. Love had betrayed her. She had nothing to lose. She had nothing to look forward. Her life had gone standstill until Roop came into her life. She didn't want her to lead her life. Roop had everything at stake. She didn't want to Roop to lose everything for silly love. She had to make this stop.

It was one of the sleepless night for Varun. He was contemplating on whether he should let her know about his feelings. He felt stupid about what he did today. He couldn't control himself. He didn't see whether it was right time to share what he felt. He didn't even bother to see that her mother was present. He had an opportunity before her mom arrived to share his feelings. When he had finally decided, he couldn't speak. He was still. He had to shed the burden out. He couldn't keep the feelings hidden anymore. He took long breaths and decided to share the feeling next day.

Roop was getting ready for last day of shoot. She had finally decided to share her feelings. After last night debacle, she couldn't handle herself. She had one day left and she couldn't spoil this. She had practiced what she would say many times. Every time she said, it sounded funny. She prayed for things to go smoothly. Many times she thought that he would rebuke her advances and then a light of hope appear in heart that gave her courage.

She had five minutes for the shoot to begin. She looked at her reflection on the mirror. She seemed confident and ready.  She started towards Varun's office. Suddenly she felt the door of her make up room open. She was excited. "It maybe him. Thank god! You bought him here. Now I can tell him.", she thought. Her heart was beating faster. She was shivering and trembling due to fear. She was remembering the words she was going to use to say her feelings out.

To her dismay, it turned out to be her mom. She was disappointed but she did not lose hope. "Ma, How come you are here? The shoot hasn't yet started.",she said. "I know.", her mom replied , walking closer to her. She held Roop's face when she was closer. "When did you grow so big that you are hiding things from me?", her mom asked. "I didn't hide anything. You know everything that's happening in my life.", she lied. "Not everything! You didn't tell me that you like Varun!", her mom said. Roop was stunned. " I don't..", she was about to lie when her mom spoke, " Don't lie. Your face speaks the truth. I know you love him. I have seen your eyes sparkle and your face glow when you are with him."

"Yes, I do love him! I have never felt like this before. I feel complete with him. ", she spoke the truth at last. She couldn't hide any longer from her mother. She felt shameful for hiding the truth. "You have to forget him. He is not right for you.", her mom said. The words of her mom hit her sharply. The pain was unbearable. She fell on the floor with shock. She didn't say anything. She felt nothing except pain and anger. She wanted to burst out the anger. Instead tears rolled out from her eyes.

(To be continued)

The Untouchable - Part 10

She lay on the bed with one arm on her head. She was dreaming about what had happened with eyes open. Her eyes were dozing off . She didn't want to sleep. She didn't want to switch off her mind . She wanted to remember those moments. She wanted to keep them close to her heart.

After months of fighting with her feelings for him, she had finally lost the war.  She felt her heartbeat race faster and body shudder whenever she was close to him. She missed him like a wanderer in desert searching for an oasis. She needed him as well as not want him at same time. She felt strong connection toward him - an attraction she couldn't avoid. 

She wanted to share that feeling with him but the thought of rejection dampened her desires. "What if he never felt anything like what I felt! What if he would ridiculed me if I shared my feeling! No! I need to stop this. He is my friend. I don't want to lose a good friend.", she thought. 

Few miles away from her abode at the same time, he was thinking about her. Memories of her smile, her eyes and her chirpiness warmed his soul.  Happiness in her voice, the rhythm of her giggles and her beautiful soul lit his hidden feelings. He had admired her for her beauty when he first laid eyes on her. Now he adored , worshiped and loved her after getting to know her inside and out. 

He wanted to spill out his feeling for her. He had tried many occasions. Sometimes luck was not favorable and sometimes his fear took the lead. With the final day of shoot coming closer, his heart panicked. He didn't want to stay apart from her. He wanted to spend more time. He tried to find some free time between the shoots to spend with her. Sometimes his heart broke when work came in between them. However when he found some time with her, he would wish time to stand still. 

They were finally alone. The shoot ended smoothly. Everyone had left except for few. Roop and Varun were joking around at his makeshift office. They were giggling and teasing each other while sharing dinner together. The time flew fast. They were deeply engrossed in their talk that they didn't bother to wash their hands after dinner. Suddenly, Roop's mom arrived without knocking. They were startled by her arrival. "Ma! How come you are here?", Roop asked. Roop's mom smiled nervously and replied,"I was worried about you. You didn't respond any of my calls." "Sorry Ma!", she said and bid Varun goodbye. As she was about to leave, he grabbed her hand suddenly. She turned back and held his gaze for long time before they realized her mom was waiting for her. He wanted to say something but he couldn't speak out. He mumbled, "Sorry" and let her go. Her mom understood what was going on. Her greatest fear was turning true.

(To be continued)