Love, Take Two

by Saranya Rai

  ‘This light is gorgeous on Kritika and her outfit!’

  ‘It won’t kill you to show some subtlety, Sudarshana. Toning it down will give the scene more gravitas, I promise.’

  ‘There’s plenty gravitas to be found in well-lit spaces also. Let Vicky and Kritika work their magic.’

  ‘All right, all right.’

  ~

  Kriti watched her co-star approach and sink into one of the plastic chairs nearby. ‘You okay?’ she asked.

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘Sudarshana ripped into you pretty badly in front of everyone.’

  Vicky’s brow cleared and his cheeky grin returned.

  ‘It’s not like I didn’t deserve it.’

  ‘Yeah, you did a little. Still. Can’t have been pleasant. I was cringing on your behalf.’

  Vicky stretched and leant over the arm of the chair he was sitting in and winked. ‘You have the kindest heart, Kritika.’

  Kriti felt her breath falter slightly. Really, she was far too old to trip over such obvious tactics to tease her. No matter how broad the teaser’s shoulders were and how charming his smile was and how he’d unwittingly helped her out by letting her step away for a moment.

  ‘So . . . are you okay?’ he asked.

  Her breath stuttered again, in panic, this time.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Nothing, you just seemed a little . . . distracted. It’s very unlike you.’

  A suspicion crossed her mind, and Kriti lifted her head and really looked at Vicky. Away from the direct floodlights, his eyes gleamed in the semi-darkness of the set and were fixed on her. His steady gaze wasn’t threatening at all—just slightly curious and sympathetic. Kriti was suddenly overcome by an urge to get up from her chair, walk over to him and throw herself into his arms for a comforting hug.

  Instead, she deliberately took a large swig of water from her flask and returned to fidgeting with the mirror work on her dupatta. Absolute madness. Maybe he’d read her unease and tried to lighten the situation. Maybe he’d been truthful to Sudarshana and had just been horsing around with no other motive. He had been kind at best and goofy at worst, but it did not mean he was invested in her emotional state.

  ‘Kritika?’

  ‘Yeah . . . I’m fine. It’s just been a hectic schedule, you know? I’m a little wrung out.’

  ‘Yeah, that could happen to anybody.’

  On a whim, Kriti looked up again. ‘Thanks for the break. I needed it.’

  She couldn’t be sure whether it was a trick of the light but a very faint wash of red bloomed against his angular cheekbones.

  ‘Any time.’

  Nope. She hadn’t been mistaken at all. Vicky Behl had deliberately messed up his dialogue and cracked a joke, provoking Sudarshana’s irritation, to give her a break. Her stomach lurched as a warmth bloomed in her chest. It was rather nice having a co-star who had your back.

  5

  ‘And just where do you think you’re going?’

  A sun-browned arm caught Heer around her waist, bringing her flush against his body. Heer fought to restrain a delighted smile and made a half-hearted attempt to escape from Ranjha’s embrace.

  ‘Home, where else?’

  ‘Not until you tell me why you follow me around all day, distracting me from my work, trying to steal my flute.’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Not all of us have the luxury of spending all hours wandering the fields and forests.’

  ‘Is that so?’

  Heer leant her head against his muscular shoulder, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

  ‘Absolutely. I have chores to do at home. There’s grain to be separated, butter to be churned, clothes to be mended, dishes to wash, food to cook . . .’

  ‘My poor overworked Heer.’

  She could feel his lips smile against her temple even as he pressed a tender kiss there. It made her heart sing.

  ‘Did you get extra chores as punishment for taking the fall for losing Sunehri?’

  She shook her head. ‘No, my father is very forgiving. And he can’t bear to deny me anything or punish me. It’s why I’ve grown up to be so headstrong, you know. Everyone’s always lamenting about it to my parents, wondering who will marry me.’

  Ranjha dipped his head, his breath tickling her ear. ‘I don’t think your parents need to worry about that.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Heer cocked her head, mimicking Ranjha’s earlier tone.

  There was an answering gleam in his eyes. ‘Yes, just so.’

  ~

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Do I ever joke about these things, Kriti?’

  ‘No, you’re a humourless Grinch, but are you sure? How did you convince him? I just need a moment to process this.’

  ‘You process it all you want. I knew that pompous bastard would cave, even if he acts like he’s doing you the favour. You’re going to play Ananya Dutt and I’m bringing the contract with me. I’ll see you on the other side.’

  Kriti disconnected the call with an audible squeak of joy. She turned around to return to the lunch area and barrelled straight into a hard chest. She would’ve stumbled backward less than gracefully had it not been for the arm that caught her around the waist and held her in place. Just slightly out of breath, Kriti found herself looking right into her co-star’s twinkling eyes. He really did have unfairly lush eyelashes for a guy.

  He dropped his arm and took a step away from her, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

  Kriti couldn’t help herself. She grinned back, so widely that she knew she looked like a grade-A dork, but she didn’t care. Nothing could ruin this day.

  Vicky searched her face. ‘You look like you’ve just found out Santa Claus has been real all along. What’s up, Kritika? Did you get nominated for an Oscar or something?’

  ‘Close. I just got a call from my manager confirming that I’ve got a role I’ve been really, really hoping to get for something like a year.’

  ‘Shit! Congratulations!’ This time he pulled her into a deliberate bear hug, and Kriti didn’t shy away. Resting her chin in the crook of his neck, she breathed deeply, letting her joy diffuse and fill up the space around her. Vicky was warm, just the right build to hug her comfortably and smelt intriguingly of just a hint of cologne and something else she couldn’t pinpoint. He hugged true to character, not holding back at all. She could’ve stayed like that for ages. Too soon, he broke away, mirroring her earlier grin, dark eyes glinting with excitement.

  ‘So, what role is this? Whose film? This calls for a celebration, right? Let’s get dessert!’ he rolled off, going at his usual million miles per hour.

  Chuckling, Kriti shook her head. ‘I’d rather not have our respective personal trainers kill us before I even sign the contract. Dessert will have to wait till Sunday, when I get my cheat meal.’

  ‘God, your dedication is just this side of annoying. Although, you’re probably right about Himmat and homicide—which is going to be the name of his true-crime documentary if he finds out I even looked at dessert today.’

  Laughing harder, Kriti led him back to the table where she’d left her Tupperware containers of grilled chicken and sprouts.

  ‘Okay fine, I’ll settle for making a megaphone announcement to the rest of the cast.’

  At that, Kriti shook her head. ‘Not until I’ve signed the contract and fixed all the paperwork. I don’t want to jinx anything, okay? It’s been a long time in the making and I’m still slightly nervous.’

  ‘Fine, fine, but you have to tell me about it. You know I’m not going to let go until you do. I swear I won’t tell anyone. Mummy swear!’

  Kriti rolled her eyes at the dramatic begging but the grin on her face diluted the impact considerably.

  ‘I’m not giving away any details. I’m only going to say that it’s the next Abhimanyu Neogi film—still untitled.’

  Vicky leant forward, resting his elbows on the table. ‘No way!’

&
nbsp; ‘Way!’

  ‘That’s . . . That’s amazing, Kritika! I’m so happy for you. The range of your choices is impressive!’

  ‘Thank you. I’m glad someone thinks so.’

  She had meant it as a joke but a thread of resentment must’ve passed through because Vicky frowned, studying her intently.

  ‘Why do you say it like that?’

  ‘Say it like what?’

  ‘Like you don’t believe your choice of roles is impressive?’

  Kriti shrugged uncomfortably. ‘Oh, you know—I don’t exactly have a rep for meaningful cinema, whatever that means. I mean, I don’t have to think so, that’s what all the critics say as well.’

  ‘Ok, firstly, that’s just wrong. You were legit the best part of Aatishein, and if that isn’t “meaningful cinema”, I don’t know what is. Yeh Jawani Teri was one of my favourite films of last year. Pure, unadulterated entertainment is also meaningful. And now, Ranjha Ranjha? That’s three distinct characters who have nothing in common in two years! Also, who cares what critics say? They’re mostly pretentious windbags who are as shallow and flaky as the box office!’

  Kriti couldn’t restrain her smile any longer.

  ‘So says the dude with critical acclaim on his side.’

  ‘Pah! Do you know what some of my very first reviews said? That I was “energetic and sincere” but “didn’t look anything like a traditional hero” and no one could predict my success because of that. Basically, code for being ugly as sin.’

  Kriti gasped, partly to play along with Vicky’s tone of righteous indignation and partly in genuine outrage.

  ‘Yeah! All right, I don’t look like Jahan Malek, that gorgeous fucker, but I showed them all, didn’t I? And look at me now.’ Vicky leant back into his chair, running a hand consciously through his shiny hair. ‘I’m playing the legendary Ranjha opposite one of the most beautiful women in India.’

  Kriti put her fork down before she choked on any of her food.

  ‘Bullshit. Flattery is not going to get you any of this watermelon.’

  ‘I am wounded that you would think I was complimenting you just to get some of your food. Also, you were literally Miss India so I’m not even exaggerating when I say you’re one of the most beautiful women in the country.’

  Kriti pushed the bowl of fruit across the table with a sniff. ‘One piece. Otherwise I’m telling Himmat you broke your no-fruit-after-breakfast rule.’

  ‘Dig my grave while you’re at it,’ Vicky said, grinning as he scooped up a piece of watermelon, savouring it like a schoolboy eating the last of his popsicle, before looking wistfully at the bowl Kriti took back.

  ‘I can tell you, being a one-time Miss India is part of the problem. Everyone expects models to fail as actors.’

  ‘I swear, Kritika, you need to stop worrying so much about what people expect and think and say. You’re never going to please everybody, you know?’

  ‘I know, I know. And I mostly remember that and try to just please myself. But I slip up.’

  ‘All of us do.’ His tone softened. ‘It’s okay.’

  A burst of colour heated her cheeks. If Vicky was charming in a playful mood, he was downright irresistible when he was sweet. Kriti gave herself a mental shake. He was a Bollywood actor—and a good one at that. Of course, he was charming and sympathetic. It was literally his job. He got paid to play the romantic hero. She needed to remember that no matter how much fun it was sharing jokes and food with him. She absent-mindedly picked at the worn wooden grain of the rickety table they were sitting at.

  ‘I guess. Achha, listen, I was serious about not telling anyone, okay? It’s too soon. I wouldn’t have told even you if you hadn’t surprised me immediately after I got the phone call.’

  ‘I am so offended, firstly. Secondly, do I look like someone who is bad at keeping secrets?’

  ‘You aren’t exactly known for your tact and restraint, Vicky.’

  Vicky threw up his hands in frustration.

  ‘Et tu, Brute? Is it my fault that I am constantly misunderstood by the media?’

  ‘Soooo . . . you were never dating your hairstylist Karen Andrade and the tabloids lied about your direct quote implying you were?’

  ‘That is exactly it! It was a joke! A joke about how the most intimate relationship I have, well, had is with my hair stylist! It was a good joke!’

  Kriti put her head down on her arms, shaking with laughter. ‘This is exactly what I mean. Your “jokes” are very dangerous.’

  Vicky also leant forward, folding his forearms on the table till his face was inches away. His expression had shifted from outraged to calculative, and for no fathomable reason, it made Kriti’s heart beat faster.

  ‘Waise, Kritika, if you wanted to ask whether I’m single or not, you could’ve asked me upfront, y’know? No need to beat around the bush. I’m actually flattered you keep track of tabloid gossip about me.’

  And despite all her self-proclaimed immunity to practised flirts and incorrigible hero-types, Kriti flushed all over.

  ‘That’s not . . . I wasn’t . . . Don’t change the subject!’

  Vicky pushed back from the table, folding his arms with an awfully smug expression on his face.

  ‘I wasn’t changing the subject at all. Just exploring it further. Don’t worry, Kritika, your secret’s safe with me.’

  With a wink, he picked up his empty plate and walked away from her. Kriti dropped her head into the cradle of her arms again. How did he manage to throw her off balance each time?

  ~

  Samiya was at least half a foot shorter than Kritika, and slender as a reed, but what she lacked in stature, she made up for in personality. Kriti was honestly just a little afraid of her manager sometimes. There was something about Samiya, though she wasn’t much older than her, that made Kriti feel like a teenager skipping tuitions to hang out with her friends and then getting caught by her no-nonsense mother.

  Which is why, Kriti didn’t know how to tell Samiya that she’d already accidentally broken the confidentiality clause in the contract from KNP Productions that they were going over.

  ‘I know we’ve already talked about you taking a pay cut for this film but I want to caution you to not make a habit of it in the long run. It’s not good for your brand.’

  Kriti curled up further in her comfortable hotel room armchair. Samiya was going to be so annoyed.

  Samiya was, as always, sitting at the very edge of the other armchair, across a small coffee table and poring over the contract spread out in front of her.

  ‘Don’t worry about the promotion schedule. It’s child’s play compared with what you’re normally used to. They don’t have the budget for anything bigger. In fact, I recommend doing some extra PR by ourselves but we can talk about that later.’

  ‘Samiya.’

  ‘Of course, I’ve sent a copy to Madhura for the legal team to look over as well. They’ll probably want to set up a call this week to talk about it. I’ll speak to Sudarshana and—’

  ‘Samiya!’

  ‘What? I’m listening!’

  Her agent looked up with a furrow between her brows and Kriti took a deep breath.

  ‘I can’t sign this contract, Samiya. There’s a problem.’

  ‘What problem?’

  ‘The confidentiality clause. I . . . told somebody about signing this film right after I spoke with you on the phone. I’ve already kind of broken it.’

  Samiya sat up straight, pushing her reading glasses up her nose. ‘Whom did you tell? Sudarshana?’

  Kriti mentally cringed before answering. ‘No, Vicky Behl. My co-star?’

  Samiya gaped at her for almost a minute. ‘I know who Vicky Behl is. I’m just . . . confused about why you would tell him? It is so unlike you!’

  Kriti tilted her head against the backrest and covered her face with her hands. ‘I know! He just . . . surprised me right after you called me, and I was so excited . . . it slipped out. I had no idea there would be an actual clau
se in the contract about this!’

  ‘Kritikaaaaa,’ Samiya groaned, ‘what am I going to do with you? This is such a rookie mistake! You know how secretive Neogi is about his film, and its story and characters. Tell me you aren’t on some kind of rebound fling with Vicky.’

  ‘It’s a little late in the day for rebounds, no?’ Kriti could feel her hackles rising. ‘Considering it’s been more than a year since I broke up with Raunak?’

  ‘Fine, a regular fling, then.’

  ‘No,’ Kriti snapped. ‘And I only told him about signing the newest Abhimanyu Neogi film and nothing else at all about my character or the story. I also told him not to tell anyone else until I made an announcement. I just hadn’t even considered that there would be an actual clause. Why the fuck didn’t they make me sign anything during the audition and negotiation?’

  Samiya considered the paperwork in front of her thoughtfully.

  ‘You know . . . there may be a way out of this. If Vicky can keep his mouth shut for just a couple of months, we should be all right. You’re saying you didn’t tell him anything beyond that you’re signing the film. That bit is bound to come out—formally or otherwise—sooner or later. Nothing is a secret on social media, these days. It was careless of them to not give us an NDA sooner.’

  ‘So . . . you’re saying we should just go with it and pretend I didn’t say anything?’

  ‘That is exactly what I’m saying. That Neogi is a pain in the ass to negotiate with, and I don’t want a hiccup at this stage. We just need to make sure no rumours—from Vicky or anyone else—can be traced back to you. And if I understand correctly, your confiding in Vicky was a brief one-time verbal thing. In that case we should be okay. If it somehow does come out, I’ll put PR on deflecting it from you.’

  ‘Samiya, you ruthless fiend.’

  ‘I can’t tell if you’re impressed or scared.’

  ‘A little bit of both, I think.’

  -

  From: mrinalini.b.97@gmail.com

  To: vicks_ki_goli@gmail.com; jay_sean@yahoo.co.in

  Subject: Birthday

  I expect both of you to show up for my birthday the Saturday after next. With presents.