Stellar Affair Part 1 : He's a "Star", she's stuck with past memories. Any chance?
I could only wait and see. I really hoped this wasn't a charade. What had I done? I just walked out of a wedding for a person who I barely knew for ten months or maybe ten years? What if I am being blinded by the illusion of romantic love, most of us discover the truth at the end of the love affair. The vodka didn't help me at all, it made me dizzier and the place was awfully secluded, you can only expect such a place from a star. A film star's choice. But I didn't want to meet the star, but the man behind that image. The image that I helped him acquire in these past ten months. What did I get in return or was about to? A broken heart maybe...
Ten Months Earlier...
I had come out of theatres watching my favourite hero's film with my best friend. You know the two minute happiness you get when you see all the movies still believing in ideal love. For me, no such thing ever existed. However, that didn't bother my best friend, she had very well found her own love and was getting married to him anytime soon. 'And the scene when they both sit in the sunset, reaching out for their hands' she said dreamily, as if it was her own dream fantasy. 'Yeah really sweet' I faked the sweetness in the tone, just to keep her happy. 'I wish Raunak asks like that you know, the way Abhay Kapoor asks Nyasa Rai' she voiced again in her dreamy tone. I doubted if Raunak would do that, he seemed too unromantic for that one. 'Or maybe something like Ayan Kishore in Yeh Pyaar Nahi Zindagi!' she said even more excitedly. I was just struck by the name, Ayan Kishore. The worst actor I have ever seen. The worst person I have ever known. Naina could concoct my crappy feelings easily, she was the only person who knew what actually happened. We swore we would never speak of it to anyone. 'I can't believe it! You still like him even when so much happened' I muttered to her.
'Shiru, it happened so many years ago, for god's sake we were in school!'
'So what we were in school! That asshole spoilt what could have been my best day' I said with a frown.
'Do you really think it matters now? Look at him, he is a superstar now. You should be gloating about what he did to you' Naina said optimistically.
'Gloating? If I could I would spill that!! Arghh!! Forget it'
If Naina wanted, she could tell the entire world what Ayan Kishore, the touted superstar did to me in school. But she gave me a promise for life, no matter what, she will never ever speak of it to anyone. And she had successfully kept her word.
After a few minutes of silence, my phone rang. My second most hated person was calling, unfortunately I couldn't avoid him. That would cost me way too much than Ayan Kishore. 'Hello, Sir' I said gently
'Shireen I need you at the office immediately!' he said, as if I was his servant.
'But sir-!'
Before I could say something, the devil had cut the phone. I wish I could kill these people with my mind. Though I am glad that is not possible, otherwise I would have killed Naina ages ago for something she totally didn't deserve, a best friend misunderstanding. 'I have to leave Naina, Sahu's call'
'Why don't you leave that place Shiru?' Naina cried, we were having a girls time out after a very long time.
'Because Sahu's firm is the only PR firm where I can get individual counselling assignments and he is-'
'I know I know, the best person for the line etc etc bullshit, but you work like an ass and your pay is well, okay its good' Naina whined but she knew it was necessary.
'You just can't have everything girl' and I left. My job was image reconstruction and counselling. Ravi Sahu was running the city's biggest PR firm. He had the best people with him, my parents always reminded me how privileged I was but that's only because I never let them know of the politics in house. I may hate Mr Sahu but he sure liked my skills. In two years, I had acquired all positions that came under my capabilities. Many competitors despised me, reason why I don't have many friends. As soon as I reached the office building, my phone rang, Sahu again. 'In the lift, Sir' and he cut again. My boss's chambers were up high for him to realise the weather. He would hardly step out of his ivory tower. And when he would, a black Mercedes would wait.
'Ah Shireen! Finally you are here' he said, sounding way too relieved, which actually frightened me because that would mean some favour, favour would mean something without money. I wasn't going to waste my Saturday.
'Yes, sir. What work do you have for me?'
'Shireen, we have got a very big client this time ( like sons of Bata, Tirla etc are small clients. What Gill Bates now?)'
I nodded, he continued 'He is not big in terms of capital but in reputation. He needs right help to market himself and he wants someone from our team'
'He has come to the right place' I answered, firm and clear.
'Excellent. Here' he passed on the information file.
'Meeting on Monday, 11AM sharp. The file will help you gain information. That's all'.
That's how it works, Sahu calls me when I am at the other side of the city for a ten minute pep talk. Brilliant. I opened the folder to check who my mystery client was. The moment I did, I regretted it. How can he be here and for help? Ayan Kishore, after ten long years. Why?
***
'Why don't you leave that place Shiru?' Naina cried, we were having a girls time out after a very long time.
'Because Sahu's firm is the only PR firm where I can get individual counselling assignments and he is-'
'I know I know, the best person for the line etc etc bullshit, but you work like an ass and your pay is well, okay its good' Naina whined but she knew it was necessary.
'You just can't have everything girl' and I left. My job was image reconstruction and counselling. Ravi Sahu was running the city's biggest PR firm. He had the best people with him, my parents always reminded me how privileged I was but that's only because I never let them know of the politics in house. I may hate Mr Sahu but he sure liked my skills. In two years, I had acquired all positions that came under my capabilities. Many competitors despised me, reason why I don't have many friends. As soon as I reached the office building, my phone rang, Sahu again. 'In the lift, Sir' and he cut again. My boss's chambers were up high for him to realise the weather. He would hardly step out of his ivory tower. And when he would, a black Mercedes would wait.
'Ah Shireen! Finally you are here' he said, sounding way too relieved, which actually frightened me because that would mean some favour, favour would mean something without money. I wasn't going to waste my Saturday.
'Yes, sir. What work do you have for me?'
'Shireen, we have got a very big client this time ( like sons of Bata, Tirla etc are small clients. What Gill Bates now?)'
I nodded, he continued 'He is not big in terms of capital but in reputation. He needs right help to market himself and he wants someone from our team'
'He has come to the right place' I answered, firm and clear.
'Excellent. Here' he passed on the information file.
'Meeting on Monday, 11AM sharp. The file will help you gain information. That's all'.
That's how it works, Sahu calls me when I am at the other side of the city for a ten minute pep talk. Brilliant. I opened the folder to check who my mystery client was. The moment I did, I regretted it. How can he be here and for help? Ayan Kishore, after ten long years. Why?
***
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