'Beyond the Horizon': There's more to it...

Chapter - 4

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Sidharth got busy in his events for the remaining days but with a lot of enthusiasm this time. And why not he was to speak to her at a stretch after so many days, at least that's what he thought hence keeping his hopes high. He has been counting days ticking them on the calendar like a lovesick teenager which he was definitely not, being a 24-year-old guy.

His life was almost at a halt after the episode of her leaving Mumbai to back to her native. He became so uninterested in everything that he would bunk almost all classes at the university, would only go and sit at the restaurant not even meeting his friends only if they came to the restaurant looking for him. As if he had stopped living until his mother pushed him during his college fests to participate in at least one of the events out of all that were organized. And he did, the most simple and easy of all where he did not need any practice or preparation but was only supposed to dress-up and walk the stage. And that marked his first ramp walk of many more coming in future which he had never thought then would be choosing as his carrier option ever.

Sidharth's mother had observed his behavior and was adamant to get him out of his 'don't talk to me' zone. So, when she was informed about the college fest via one of his friends who had come to visit Sidharth pertaining to his absence in the class, she decided and filled the forms herself. Sidharth was informed later, and he had to go for it on his mother's insistence.

She being a matriculation certified from her time was about to enter intermediates when she got married. But that didn't stop her from learning. She would read different books in her free time. After kids she got too busy with the day-to-day activities taking care of the family, missing on her readings. The life changing moment for her was her husband's demise. She was devastated as she had a family to run, her daughters were still to get married. Yes, they had a family business, but she was not supposed to participate in that, again the age-old thought process and Sidharth was a school going kid then. Her brother in-law helped them initially and he has been actually of a lot help on and off but one cannot be dependent on others for a whole life. With that in mind she had started revisiting her interest area and giving tuitions to the pre-primary students. Hence a very good command at language with a proactive and progressive mindset. Even her daughters had the freedom to choose a life for themselves who are now happily established with small, beautiful families of their own.

Sidharth was in for a trial for one of his upcoming events at the Lakme fashion week, it had just been a year of its commencement and he was a part of it already, how big of a deal right? During the selection trials few months back, he had got to meet the famous photographer 'DR' who had wanted him to be part of one of his ventures. It had started last year and they have been considering models only as of now. He was flabbergasted with the Greek god like features of Sidharth's and the impressive height making him instantly decide to take him in. It was a calendar thing inspired by the famous 'kingfisher calendar' which Sidharth was yet to be a part of so to work on a similar concept looked as exciting. He had confirmed his participation only recently, such a good mood he was in after all. And it was important for the career growth as well. After the trials they were to shoot for it today.

DR had sent a message through one of his assistants to Sidharth informing the same and that they might need to give some bits to the media as it too was important to maintain the hype for the same. Once done with the event arrangements he was here at the studio getting ready for the shoot when some media people arrived, and he was called to join them. The session went well, and they went ahead capturing the best shots of him.

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Shahnawaz was at the showroom that his father owned which they were now sharing with one of the loan sharks here at Karachi who had agreed to grant them a loan only if they sell half of the business's share to him. The deal was to return the shares back if they can pay all the loan amount in a year's time, interest included. They had no other option but to comply with the conditions put on the loan paper as they were in a dire need. Well, they have been still trying to get over it as the interest rates were held unnecessarily high.