Stellar Affair: Part 8
The moment froze. Two individuals standing face to face, not knowing that they're looking extremely stupid. If this was movie, people sitting as audience would have started screaming. 'Kiss! kiss her! Forget her, kiss me instead!', that's exactly what I hear when I am watching an Ayan Kishore movie with crazy love- struck fan-girls. And here I was, in the same position. However, this was real life, not reel. I had no idea what to say. Ayan didn't do anything after saying those three overrated words. Overrated, yet truly magical.
'C'mon Ayan Kishore, you're the best at making moments', I finally said. A faint smile appeared on his face. He moved towards me, closer and closer. Embraced me warmly, my heart was already throbbing at the speed of light. Finally, his lips touched mine.
***
A week had passed, Ayan and I hadn't spoken much. Especially not after that day. He gave out a statement regarding that picture. I was told to stay away from the press. Some of his officials were in the talks of terminating my contract. But Ayan had warned them not to do so. As for my feelings, I never felt so confused in life. Naina and I talked for three hours straight on the phone regarding the whole thing. I didn't tell her about the kiss or what Ayan said. I still don't know what my feelings were, were they even there? My parents had called too, but somehow the tabloid report hadn't reached their eyes or ears. I was glad that it didn't. Finally, Ayan called.
'Hello?'
'Reach office within an hour' and he cut the phone. Wow! Too much for a conversation in week. His call had made me angry for sure, but more than that it was what he said the previous week. It would have been better if I had not reacted to that report. At least everything would have been normal. But wait, it's Ayan Kishore's life. How can any of this be normal? I reached the office at the allotted time, Ayan wasn't there. Mr Patel, his new manager asked me for Ayan's house keys(He had given me earlier). 'Is that all?' I asked. The bald headed and fat bellied manager nodded. 'Stay calm Shireen', I told myself. I need not react to this, he had done this previously before too. 'Remember, he made you clean his dog's shit. You hate him' but the cruel truth was, I didn't hate him anymore, I loved him. Loved him since the day he came to apologise personally for his behaviour. All those days when he called me at odd hours. Why? Why did this happen to me? What had I done to deserve this? I suddenly felt the urge to cry and rushed to the washroom. I cried and cried, there was no stopping to my tears. I cried for all the times when I thought I could be just friends with Ayan Kishore, the movie star.
At last, I pulled myself up and tidied my face. I am not going to be loser, I never have been and never will. 'Just flush those stupid emotions of yours', the arrogant and not-so emotional side of me erupted.
When I came outside of the washroom, I saw Ayan and his co-star, actress Sujata Rai linked in each others arm. That was one way I had suggested to sideline the attention from the earlier report. Surprisingly, I didn't feel anything when I saw those two together. No jealousy, no insecurity, nothing at all. In fact, I didn't even know if that would have been justified. He hadn't committed to me in any sort of way. Nor did his actions seem like so.
***
As I was looking forward to go to Delhi, I was also informed that my six month contract with Mr Kishore had been terminated two months before. Somehow, I was expecting it. Since that day Ayan and I had distanced ourselves completely. We hadn't spoken to each other in weeks, we hardly saw each other. It was like nothing had happened. On the inside, it was killing me, piece by piece. But reality had ultimately hit me. Though, there were few good things about the termination: I would return to Delhi for my normal life and I would have plenty of money to spend as Mr Kishore paid me for the those two non-working months. When I informed Naina about this, she was thoroughly overwhelmed.
'I am so glad that you're coming back! You can help me with shopping and stuff. Really Shiru, all this is beyond me now!', she cried. As much I was happy for her, I also wondered what was in Ayan's mind. Leaving Bombay was somehow difficult but there was voice inside me that said 'You're coming back bitch!'.
***
Naina's engagement preparations were in full swing. As soon as I came back, I was given no free time. I was so involved with her that I almost forgot about my story. I even contacted Sahu and surprisingly he said that he would be delighted to take me back, actually didn't even say that much. 'Shireen report to the office whenever you feel like'. The Ayan stint had definitely increased my value at my job. The engagement was finally here.
The guests had pleasingly arrived at the right time.
Naina and Raunak had decided their wedding date as well. I was seated with Naina's cousins. They were all Ayan Kishore fans for sure because for the past twenty minutes they had been discussing about one scene from his picture. 'Didi do you like Ayan Kishore?', the youngest of them asked. I hadn't answered that question in a long time. It was like a piercing a dagger through my heart. 'I think I do' I replied. I am sure that didn't satisfy her. Suddenly, the slightly elder one, Tara, sprang up from her chair and screamed 'Oh my god! Ayan Kishore! Here at Naina's engagement!'. I turned back and saw a familiar face. Indeed, it was Ayan Kishore himself trying to make way from the people (mostly youngsters) who had blocked his way. He came to our table, all the kids were staring at him with blank faces. I didn't look up.
'I want to talk' he said and smiled at those kids.
'This is not the place nor the time' I replied.
'Didi didi Ayan uncle wants to talk to you' said the youngest cousin again.
'Look, now even the kids are telling you to speak'
'There is nothing to speak Ayan. You wanted me gone, so I left. I am here and I can't put through myself again' Ayan could easily frame how angry and heart broken I was. And I too wasn't going to fall in his traps this time. He waited and then called Tara, who was literally watching him with her jaw open. He said something in her ear. She ran away and later came with a mic. Ayan held the mic and started to speak
'Namaskar, this is Ayan Kishore!'. All the attention from the happy couple shifted to the guy dressed in grey suit. Instinctively everyone rose to catch a glimpse.
'My heartiest wishes to the couple, Raunak and Naina, may they always be together' and DJ put on Ayan's signature track. I don't know what was going in his head but he started to dance. Soon everybody in the hall was dancing with Ayan Kishore, it all looked like a movie sequence. Naina rushed towards me, 'Did you make this happen?'
'What?No!'
'Shireen this is the best engagement ever!', she shouted and mixed with the crowd to dance.
Later, Ayan and I met in the parking lot. 'What do you want?' I demanded.
'You...' he answered in his flirtatious voice. Before I could say anything, he kissed me, again.
To be continued...
'C'mon Ayan Kishore, you're the best at making moments', I finally said. A faint smile appeared on his face. He moved towards me, closer and closer. Embraced me warmly, my heart was already throbbing at the speed of light. Finally, his lips touched mine.
***
A week had passed, Ayan and I hadn't spoken much. Especially not after that day. He gave out a statement regarding that picture. I was told to stay away from the press. Some of his officials were in the talks of terminating my contract. But Ayan had warned them not to do so. As for my feelings, I never felt so confused in life. Naina and I talked for three hours straight on the phone regarding the whole thing. I didn't tell her about the kiss or what Ayan said. I still don't know what my feelings were, were they even there? My parents had called too, but somehow the tabloid report hadn't reached their eyes or ears. I was glad that it didn't. Finally, Ayan called.
'Hello?'
'Reach office within an hour' and he cut the phone. Wow! Too much for a conversation in week. His call had made me angry for sure, but more than that it was what he said the previous week. It would have been better if I had not reacted to that report. At least everything would have been normal. But wait, it's Ayan Kishore's life. How can any of this be normal? I reached the office at the allotted time, Ayan wasn't there. Mr Patel, his new manager asked me for Ayan's house keys(He had given me earlier). 'Is that all?' I asked. The bald headed and fat bellied manager nodded. 'Stay calm Shireen', I told myself. I need not react to this, he had done this previously before too. 'Remember, he made you clean his dog's shit. You hate him' but the cruel truth was, I didn't hate him anymore, I loved him. Loved him since the day he came to apologise personally for his behaviour. All those days when he called me at odd hours. Why? Why did this happen to me? What had I done to deserve this? I suddenly felt the urge to cry and rushed to the washroom. I cried and cried, there was no stopping to my tears. I cried for all the times when I thought I could be just friends with Ayan Kishore, the movie star.
At last, I pulled myself up and tidied my face. I am not going to be loser, I never have been and never will. 'Just flush those stupid emotions of yours', the arrogant and not-so emotional side of me erupted.
When I came outside of the washroom, I saw Ayan and his co-star, actress Sujata Rai linked in each others arm. That was one way I had suggested to sideline the attention from the earlier report. Surprisingly, I didn't feel anything when I saw those two together. No jealousy, no insecurity, nothing at all. In fact, I didn't even know if that would have been justified. He hadn't committed to me in any sort of way. Nor did his actions seem like so.
***
As I was looking forward to go to Delhi, I was also informed that my six month contract with Mr Kishore had been terminated two months before. Somehow, I was expecting it. Since that day Ayan and I had distanced ourselves completely. We hadn't spoken to each other in weeks, we hardly saw each other. It was like nothing had happened. On the inside, it was killing me, piece by piece. But reality had ultimately hit me. Though, there were few good things about the termination: I would return to Delhi for my normal life and I would have plenty of money to spend as Mr Kishore paid me for the those two non-working months. When I informed Naina about this, she was thoroughly overwhelmed.
'I am so glad that you're coming back! You can help me with shopping and stuff. Really Shiru, all this is beyond me now!', she cried. As much I was happy for her, I also wondered what was in Ayan's mind. Leaving Bombay was somehow difficult but there was voice inside me that said 'You're coming back bitch!'.
***
Naina's engagement preparations were in full swing. As soon as I came back, I was given no free time. I was so involved with her that I almost forgot about my story. I even contacted Sahu and surprisingly he said that he would be delighted to take me back, actually didn't even say that much. 'Shireen report to the office whenever you feel like'. The Ayan stint had definitely increased my value at my job. The engagement was finally here.
The guests had pleasingly arrived at the right time.
Naina and Raunak had decided their wedding date as well. I was seated with Naina's cousins. They were all Ayan Kishore fans for sure because for the past twenty minutes they had been discussing about one scene from his picture. 'Didi do you like Ayan Kishore?', the youngest of them asked. I hadn't answered that question in a long time. It was like a piercing a dagger through my heart. 'I think I do' I replied. I am sure that didn't satisfy her. Suddenly, the slightly elder one, Tara, sprang up from her chair and screamed 'Oh my god! Ayan Kishore! Here at Naina's engagement!'. I turned back and saw a familiar face. Indeed, it was Ayan Kishore himself trying to make way from the people (mostly youngsters) who had blocked his way. He came to our table, all the kids were staring at him with blank faces. I didn't look up.
'I want to talk' he said and smiled at those kids.
'This is not the place nor the time' I replied.
'Didi didi Ayan uncle wants to talk to you' said the youngest cousin again.
'Look, now even the kids are telling you to speak'
'There is nothing to speak Ayan. You wanted me gone, so I left. I am here and I can't put through myself again' Ayan could easily frame how angry and heart broken I was. And I too wasn't going to fall in his traps this time. He waited and then called Tara, who was literally watching him with her jaw open. He said something in her ear. She ran away and later came with a mic. Ayan held the mic and started to speak
'Namaskar, this is Ayan Kishore!'. All the attention from the happy couple shifted to the guy dressed in grey suit. Instinctively everyone rose to catch a glimpse.
'My heartiest wishes to the couple, Raunak and Naina, may they always be together' and DJ put on Ayan's signature track. I don't know what was going in his head but he started to dance. Soon everybody in the hall was dancing with Ayan Kishore, it all looked like a movie sequence. Naina rushed towards me, 'Did you make this happen?'
'What?No!'
'Shireen this is the best engagement ever!', she shouted and mixed with the crowd to dance.
Later, Ayan and I met in the parking lot. 'What do you want?' I demanded.
'You...' he answered in his flirtatious voice. Before I could say anything, he kissed me, again.
To be continued...
SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE!! that's what stellar affair paert 8 was all about! My jaw was open throughout and expressions on my face were like.. Smile.... WHAT!!?? aaawwwww...... Can't believe just 2 parts left but equally excited :D :)
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