Always and Forever

CHAPTER 2 ME YOU- STILL US ?

Shehnaz smiled as she arrived in Bombay. All the memories came rushing back, hitting her hard. She did the required paperwork in the evening along with her manager and got to know about sidharth as her costar. She had mixed feelings. She came back home and slept so peacefully as the moist air of Bombay hugged her close, calming her nerves.
It was a beautiful weather next morning. Shehnaz was still sleeping so peacefully as if she is resting in her comfort zone after ages. She even forgot her dinner last night. Everyone reached set on time but she was no where to be seen. Sidharth was desperately waiting for her. He wanted to have a glimpse of her. His nerves were burning and he wanted her sight to calm his nerves. It was almost one hour when all the setup was done but shehnaz was still no where to be seen. Sidharth was getting restless. Is she okay? She was not even picking her manager's phone.                                                                                           And then there she came. Running her breaths out and reaching the set. Her hair were all messed up. She was in slippers and a very casual tee as if it was the first thing she saw and wore it up. She knew she was so late and came running to the set.
"iam sorry sorry sorry .. vo mai late uthi .. really sorry .. kal flight se aate hi seedha paper work fir so gai aur subah uthi" she took long breaths to form all these apologies and words. Her manager pulled her hastily to her vanity to get her ready.
"mai bs 15 minute mei ready hoke aai.. sorry" her hazy voice echoed back a bit making everyone smile on her antics. Sidharth was mesmerised seeing his little rabbit all flushed up. Her red cheeks and nose were complementing her natural blush. She didn't even noticed him in all haste but he couldn't spare even a single look away from her. Everyone noticed sidharth being in a love daze and the director nudged him to explain him the scene.
                                                                                                      She came back as soon as possible in the prettiest yellow flare dress when she saw sidharth with the director. He was looking so handsome, and she smiled the brightest. What was this with her , she was so in love with this man. He broke her apart, shredded her emotions and she was still so happy seeing him. How could she love like this. This is an impossible reality. She was not even a pinch hating him. She wanted to see him smile always. She wanted him to have the best of everything. She wanted to rush to him, take him in her little arms and take care of him forever. She noticed his light beard and dark orbits, how careless is he. He was also a bit lean. She scrunched up her nose at his not so healthy built. But all these things apart, he was still killing her with his looks, his thumping veins from his folded sleeves were calling out to her. She just wanted him to come to her once and she knew she will forget all the things. She loved him this much. Only he matters, other things are all temporary.
[[mai chahe kitni bhi naraaz ho jaau, agar tu mere pas aayega na mai apni sari ego bhul jaugi, itna pyar karti hu mai tujse]]
She smiled at her own statement. She admitted how foolish she is!
                                                                                                        She came closer and the director explained them their scenes. They did not even exchanged hi helloes and went to be shot. Everything came so naturally to them. They were so flawless as they shot so gracefully in minimum retakes. She shivered as his rough palms caressed her cheeks as they shot the romantic segment. The song was soulful and a perfect tribute to all the love anthems. It portrayed a glorius victory of love with magnificent scenes, backgrounds, colour combinations and their costumes. Everything was drenched up in love and their chemistry was on point. Their eyes locks made it so real and emotional that everybody was in awe of this couple. Even after so many days of being in front of each other that too being heartbroken, there wasn't even a tinge of awkwardness. It was as if they were just made for each other from every lifetime.

They shot a few scenes before lunch. At almost lunch time, she inhaled the food aromas from around the set and she felt super hungry. She didn't have any food since yesterday when her flight landed. She slept all the time and even missed her breakfast. The last scene was being shot when she felt a sudden urge to devour all the food in this world. Sidharth was holding her from her waist and she was looking in his eyes, as soon as the director said cut, she leaned back with his hand support on her waist and made such cute pouts indicating everyone on set that she is hungry. He felt himself pulled towards her as she leaned down and he tightened his grip preventing her to fall. She removed his hands and went to sit on a chair nearby.
"yrr bohtt bhuukh lagi hai mene kal se kuch nahi khaya hua aaj subha aate hi shoot start kr dia ab plzz plzz mujhe kuch mngwa do mere pas tiffin bhi nahi hai" she requested to her manager in a little loud voice as she was irritated due to hunger and tiredness. Oh yes, she slept all day yesterday but still was tired. The crew team heard her and told her they had already ordered some burgers from a nearby food joint, she can come and have a share if she pleases. She had become a little diet conscious due to her big movie as a lead star and didn't want to eat burger but she was so hungry and agreed instantly. They also called sidharth to join them for lunch. He had his own tiffin as he never ate from set but joined them to sit along. Shehnaz was eyeing his food and drooling over it. She so wanted to eat that but just ignored as he didn't even ask her once.                                         She talked heartily to all the team members and all were enjoying their conversations. Sidharth hardly said anything and finished his food. Shehnaz ate half a burger and went to her vanity. He felt bad for her as he saw the half eaten burger, he knew she wanted food, proper food and was hungry as she rarely did her tantrums regarding food. He wanted to offer her food so bad but he was very hesitant and was not sure how to talk to her. He was getting nervous as his head was filled with the memories of how he broke her heart.
                                                                                                  The shoot went well for the day. Sidharth was eager every time their shot was ready because he just wanted to feel her close to him and that was possible only in front of the cameras. How ironical! They both remained in no talking terms with each other very gracefully while she was just hoping he will talk to her. She was still on the terms of their separation. He broke up with her, how can she go back running to him while he shoved her off back in the past. It must be him to come to her.
The next day of the shoot was very special as well. There were so many romantic scenes and the song was just like perfect dessert. He held her close, brushed her cheeks with his fingers, kissed her forehead, twirled her around, hid himself in the crook of her neck and she rubbed his back while walking along the bush of flowers, rubbed her fingers in his thick hair massaging his scalp as he hugged her close and caressed his facial features with her soft fingertips making him close his eyes. And cut. It was all so natural. There was no need of any retake, everything came so natural. All the chemistry, the expressions, the responses were just them, all their emotions were from within.     At the end of the shoot, they were informed the next last few scenes that were left were to be shot on a different location. It was on the outskirts of the city, a beautiful seaside almost a different part of the city, a little less polluted and about two hours from the main city. Shehnaaz was told that she will be picked up in the production car where as as usual sidharth will be driving himself. Not once did sidharth ask her to come with him. She felt so distanced from him for the first time. Their hearts were not the same anymore, she thought. Whereas he was all puzzled, he didn't know how will she react to his talks. He wanted to talk so desperately but was immensely scared. What if she tells him she didn't want him anymore or she has found someone else in these months. What if she fights more and show him his real place, out of her life. He was so scared. All his whatifs made a hell in his mind. If she was happy, he didn't want to disturb her peace. But little did he knew, she was still the same, all of her. She just wanted him to love her. Even in their big fight, she knew it was not a permanent thing. They will get back together. She was angry and broken at first so she left the city without informing him as his punishment and didn't pick up his call in the beginning but as usual her heart melted and she started missing him but he never made an effort after that. She expected him to come to her or talk to her but his absence made her realize may be he really wanted to separate their ways and she could not cajole him after his blames on her of ruining his reputation.
                                                                                         He slept late that night and woke up late. He rushed to get ready and leave as the drive was of two hours. He forgot his lunch in a hurry. He was all grumpy on the set that day. It was noticed by all the people on the set. He didn't have his breakfast and forgot his lunch. He didn't like the food of the set. His mother called him to send his lunch but he declined knowing the long route driver had to take. He thought of ordering something from some restaurant during lunch. Shehnaaz noticed him rubbing his fingers on his temple again and again, maybe his head hurt. He was irritated. He just wanted this shoot to end for the day and he wanted to sleep away from all the reality. He saw the costume designers and makeup artists again and again touching shehnaaz as her dress was off shoulder. They were just giving her final touch ups and dress fix ups of the last moment but here he was getting restless seeing all that. He wanted to do so much at that moment but he was lacking the courage. He sauntered towards his vanity and asked for some timeout. Shehnaaz gave her some single shots and everyone decided to have a lunch break.
She knew he was more than irritated and grumpy and ofcourse hungry. He needed someone to calm him down, pamper him and love him. She changed into her own clothes and was thinking deep. She wanted to go to him and hug him close. But she didn't know if it was right. What if he humiliates her! he broke up many months ago and never tried to get together, how could she just throw herself on him? Swaying away all other thoughts, she let her heart rule. She ordered some of his favourites for lunch and asked them to even deliver the cutlery. She was worried of his reaction but then she did what she always does when she is down.
She went to her happy place of their best memories together. She thought of all the happy moments spent together. The way he always complied to her, never made her feel like an ordinary girl. He always took care of her like the most special girl for him. He used to feed him with his own hands whenever she used to feel low or missed her family. He stood by her every now and then. So what if he said all those mean things, he could never get away from her. He is hers!
She had seen the love he still carries for her in his eyes. The way he touched her during the shoot cannot be just for the shoot. Her thoughts gave her immense confidence and she sat more straight ready to shove the food into his mouth. She was busy in her thoughts when her vanity door knocked and she collected her food parcel.
She carefully opened all the boxes and plated the achaari chicken, some daal, rice and few chapatis and then covered it with another plate. She left the leftover boxes in her own vanity and walked towards his vanity. She was still thinking of all the possible outcomes. 'zyada hi chik chik kia to bs khana khila k aa jaungi.. bol dungi bs khana hai .. nhi nhi chhod .. kuch nhi bolungi chup chap khana deke aa jaugi.. itna kyu darr rhi hai shadi ka proposal thode na leke jaa rhi hu .. relax sana' she prepped herself.
There was a spotboy in front of his vanity who was strictly informed not to let anyone in.
He denied shehnaz to get in making her angry. "sorry mam but sir ne kisi ko bhi abhi andr jane se mna kia hai .. keh rhe the soyenge thodi der" a trembling spot boy said.
"open the door" she said tightening her jaw and a little louder.
"but mam"
"I said open it" she said getting irritated.
The spot boy saw sidharth's manager from a distance and saw him nodding, signalling to let shehnaz go in. He opened the door and let her in. "abb kisi ko bhi andr mat aane dena .." she said in her angry voice pressuring each and every word specially ABB.