Love will Find The way

Chapter 5- Far Away

Manik understood that Dhruv and Siya decided to look for a female lead actor through auditions. He remained silent though he did not like it. Dhruv told a situation to Nandini to enact. Cabir came there in no time. ''The actual scene goes like this. You have lost your parents and now you have lost your brother in a war, you are proud of him yet you lost your only hope and now your husband is going in the same path to join Indian military forces, please enact, you need to show the pride that your brother died while serving the nation, but you are deeply saddened by his death, and you will soon miss your husband and don't want him to go but you cannot be selfish'' said Cabir. Nandini's face was blank and Manik smirked at her. He was confident that no actor in an audition would get such a tough situation to enact pride, misery, death and hope in one go.

Nandini tried to do her best. ''Please it can be better'' Cabir commented. Nandini tried once again. ''See, you brother died but you are proud that he died for a great cause'' Dhruv said. ''Whatever be the reason, death is an ultimate loss'' Nandini said as she knew she cannot convince everyone in the room. ''Yes, what more you can expect from her, there's no use'' Manik said and Nandini is clearly hurt by his comment. ''You may leave now'' Manik said to Nandini.

"I'm a big fan of you" Nandini couldn't speak these words with Manik. Her favourite Super star is not what he is on screen. Nandini learnt that her journey is not going to be an easy one. She had to leave as she lost this opportunity. "Aur koi hai auditions ke liye" Manik asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Manik, we need to talk" Siya said and she took him out. "What's wrong with you! Why did you behave so rudely with that girl" Siya asked. "Now you're asking me what's wrong. You are not a part of this project, and I don't even know which is your next and you're asking me what's wrong?" Manik asked as polite as he could be.

"Manik, I know you're upset with me. I have already heard this story, just finalize karne ke liye uski ghar gayi. I wanted to surprise you by telling that I'm working on a new project. Meanwhile ye Cabir ek naya story lekar aaya and sab kuch gadbad ho gaya, nothing is going right" Siya looked upset. "Please don't worry, I can fix it" Manik assured her. "Iss project ke baad, tum jo karna chahti ho wo karna, bas ab ye accept karna" he asked her. "No Manik, pre production bhi start ho gaya and they have my call sheets. I can't go back now. Shooting ke liye mujhe NewYork jana padega" she told him.

"What! New York?" Manik never saw this coming. "Of course, Queen Victoria ki biopic hum India main kaise shoot karenge" Siya has a point. "Then why didn't you tell me earlier" Manik couldn't digest the fact that she is going far from him. "You know that I can't be away from you" Manik hugged her. "I know, but I'll be back soon" Siya pressed his hand. Manik hugged her tight and gently took of the hair that fell on her face. "I love you" she told him. "But I love you more" Manik smiled.

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For over a week, auditions became a daily routine. "We've received close to 600 audition videos Manik, and my team has filtered some of them. And about 70 live auditions bhi dekh liya humne" Dhruv is good at statistics. Manik and Siya are visibly worried looking at the numbers. "Aisa hai tho hum kabhi kisi ko finalize karenge kya?" Siya asked Dhruv. "Cabir, I think hum over think kar rahe hai, we should go through these 70 recorded auditions, few of them are good, bas inme se kisi ko select karna" Dhruv left it on Cabir.

"If Siya had agreed, this wouldn't be an issue" Manik said. "But she cannot, aaj raat wo chali bhi jayegi" Dhruv said. Manik made a puppy face and looked at her. "I'm gonna miss you too" Siya said. "Aryaman is coming tonight" Manik said. "So he will be happy without me, so that you both can catch upon each other" Siya said. "Mujhe kuch packing karna hai, will you drop me home?" she asked Manik and he readily agreed. "Siya tum neeche car mein wait karo, I'll send Manik" Dhruv stopped him. Siya went away from there.

"Manik, I know you will miss her, but I wanted to let her do what she wished. She might stay back if you ask her to but she would feel out of place. I know Siya ye role ke liye perfect choice hai but as a brother I wanted her to explore. I hope you understand her" Dhruv said. "When did you know that she accepted this script and is leaving to New York?, do you know before me knowing it" Manik asked. "How is that even important?" Dhruv asked. "It is important Dhruv. Either you or Siya, you both need not hesitate to tell me anything. Tum dono kr liye tho main apni jaan bhi dene ke liye tayyar hu. Poori duniya mere sath chod diya, par tum dono humesha the mere liye" Manik meant each of his word.

"I hope me and Siya didn't hurt you" Dhruv said apologetically. "Yes Dhruv, you both have hurt me so much but I can't even put it in words, because I owe my everything to you" Manik was deeply hurt and couldn't utter these words. Cabir came back to declare his decision. "After all the detailed reviews, I think Nandini would be best suited for this role" he said. "First audition wali" Dhruv remembered. "Ha wo itna bhi buri nahi thi" Dhruv remembered her audition. "So, let's finalize her" Dhruv asked Manik raising his brows.

Manik has still not accepted anyone other than Siya but she had left him with only one option: Nandini Murthy.