Mr. Imperfectionist 2

4 - Contract

"I believe you guys have gone through the contract. The contract contains a list of terms and conditions. Dos and don'ts, "shooting site," etcetera, etcetera." Meghna spoke firmly but had a slight smile on her face. Something about her told me that she was going to be difficult. I could tell she was haughty from the way she spoke. Her round eyes hardly blinked, and she spoke while staring Arman and me down. It was hard to hold her gaze for long. She reminded me a lot of my school teacher.

Arman and I simply nodded in response. She scrolled on her laptop with her fair, chubby fingers and red nail polish, showing us the designs. She showed us the beautifully embroidered lehengas in variety of colours. It was for a bridal shoot, and I was the only bride. Six other girls were largely going to appear as extras dressed as family members and bridesmaids. Each garment she showed us glowed in my eyes. I pointed to one exquisite bridal gown. It was adorned with gold craftsmanship.

"You would look stunning in this attire," Prabhas added with a smile.

I blushed and thanked him. We continued talking about the contract and my diet intentions. The shoot took place in Sitges. I knew it wasn't very far from Barcelona. The idea of going to Spain still bothered me and made me feel uneasy in my stomach. I wondered if it was possible for them to think of another location. I knew it was ridiculous to expect them to adjust their plans just for me, but I could at least try. I began to consider whether I should ask Meghna if the shoot site might be changed. The last thing I needed was to get kicked out of this project.

But what if Sabil finds out I am back in Spain and plans to kidnap me again? Or does the news reach his enemies first, and they plan to kill me? What if Sabil gets harmed in the process of saving me? With all of these thoughts racing through my mind, my head begins to spin. I couldn't focus on Meghna when she showed us the shooting location.

There was also something else that was worrying me the most deep inside. What if we run into each other and he isn't as eager or afraid as I am? What if he merely shakes my hand and walks away? What if he's lost interest in me? This notion made me sweat profusely. More than being murdered or kidnapped, Sabil's lack of interest would hurt me. It's better if I don't go to Spain at all. There's no harm in asking Meghna if the shoot location may be changed. There are still two weeks left.

I couldn't help but ask her nervously, "Do you think it's possible to change the shoot location?" I heard Arman murmur my name in a reprimanding tone the minute those words left my mouth.

His eyes were both surprised and enraged. I instantly felt embarrassed. Meghna smirked as she raised her right eyebrow at me. "I thought you had smart models," she remarked cynically to Arman.

Arman looked down at the table in embarrassment, and I just wanted to bang my head against a wall for being so stupid.

Meghna then glanced at me. "You should know that the production has spent lakhs of rupees on this site and other expenses. A month before the shoot, everything is finalized. We can recruit someone else if you don't grasp this, Saanj."

My palms were sweating, and my heartbeat was accelerating. Working for Nasch was every model's dream. We would kill for an opportunity like this. I was being compensated for more than I had anticipated. And now I was going to miss out on this opportunity because of a foolish nightmare and someone I might never see. Before I could find my lips to speak, Arman did the needful.

"That won't be necessary, Meghna. Rest assured, Saanj is very talented, and I'm sure you have seen her portfolio. It's just that she has visited Spain far too many times. There is no other reason," Arman stated calmly, his face tranquil.

Meghna clicked her tongue and turned her round, smug eyes toward Arman. "If you say so," she responded. I could feel Prabhas and Rex's eyes on me. I was too embarrassed to look at them. I apologized to Meghna in hushed tones, which she obviously ignored.

Meghna took out the contract papers and placed them in front of me to sign after a little more debate and Arman's relentless efforts to persuade her that I was the best choice. It took several seconds for me to believe it was happening. Aside from the fact that I was returning to the land where my heart had been broken, I was finally going to be one of Nasch's faces. I took the pen from the contract papers and signed it. My grip was wobbly. I paused for a moment before pressing my right palm and fingers with my other hand. Arman gave me a cautious glance.

I could tell from his expression that he was imploring me not to screw up. I sighed and looked down at the papers. I spared one quick look at Meghna. She was looking at me like I were stupid. She was worse than my teachers. If I were a ten-year old, I'd have peed my pants. I steadied the pen in my hand and signed through all seven pages. After that, Arman signed the last two pages.

The moment the signing was completed, all three of them started clapping. Arman then got up from his chair and joined in. I was ecstatic beyond words. I wanted to jump and scream. I was finally a Nasch model. I rose from my chair and I thanked everyone. Rex and Prabhas shook hands with me and gave me a side hug. Meghna extended her hand to shake mine. While she congratulated me, her grip was tight and her eyes indicated, "I'm watching you." If I could, I'd have smacked the smirk off her face.

After they left, Arman gave me a big hug by scooping me off my feet. I was expecting him to lose out on me the moment we were alone.

"You are my star... you are my star..." he screamed as he spun me around. His shouts were followed by a "woohoo... and yayyyy.."

Arman's cabin door was open. Everyone in his office gathered around his cabin to witness our happiness. They all smiled and laughed. Arman let go of me after a while and walked out happily.

"We finally have a Nasch model, guys. Please congratulate Ms. Saanj Mehra."

Everyone applauded and congratulated me as I walked out. It was difficult to keep my emotions in check. Arman popped open a champagne bottle, spilling half of the foam on the floor. He called for snacks and more Champagne bottles. It was a celebration.

Arman then took me on a drive after everyone had settled into their desks. "Let's get back to what happened in my office." He muttered as his gaze darted across the road.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. I didn't want to talk about that embarrassment.

"Look, I'm sorry that I screwed up. But can we not talk about it now? Let me enjoy this moment, please." I pleaded.

"I don't mean to ruin your mood, Saanj. But what you did back there was quite risky. What were you thinking, haa? That they are going to take your opinion and change the location? Do you even know how easy it is for them to switch models?"

His words tore a hole in my heart. Had it come from someone else's mouth, I wouldn't have bothered. But it was my best friend telling me I was replaceable.

I slouched back in the seat and rested my elbow on the window. I closed my eyes and placed my head on my knuckles, fighting back tears. I sighed and murmured quietly, "Thank you, Arman, for making me feel so special."

There was complete silence in the car. His words continued to sting me as I stared out the window. He finally spoke after a few minutes.

"You know, that's not what I meant. Saanj, you are one of the top models in India. You know your value in the fashion world. I don't need to tell you that. No one needs to. Had it been another production, they'd have adjusted. But Naasch is one of the biggest brands. It's suicide to give them our opinions." He said calmly.

I breathed and turned to face him. His eyes were on the road. "I'm sorry, I made a mistake." I said.

Arman smiled as he turned to face me. "You don't have to apologize, Saanj. You are the most mature and smartest friend I have. Believe me when I say that the rest of them are immature and brainless. But everyone has a flaw, and I'm sure there's a strong reason why you don't want to step foot in Spain. All I can do is wait for the day you open up to me." He said.

"One day." I replied, and we both exchanged a smile.