mind games

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"Ma'am even if we know what's the truth, people aren't going to believe. We had given you a chance, but you ruined it." The assistant said.

"It's my personal life. I am here to do my job. If I qualify the requirements, I must be assigned the role. Who I date or get engaged to isn't concern of people." Shehnaaz was losing her cool. After Shyam drama in her life, it was difficult for her to get a role. She knew these arguments were pointless. People weren't going to change their ways. She took her handbag and left from there. It was just the beginning of the day. There was a lot to endure. She drove to a remote area where a small cafe was situated. The cafe was isolated from the city. She ordered a cold coffee and a few eatables from menu and sat writing down a few things. Later she dialled a few directors and producers of show. She even contacted the casting crew and few of her friends. She wanted a role badly. She planned to even take up any cameos if offered. Her efforts were going in drain.

She pressed her temples in frustration. Her life seemed to have stuck at a point. She looked outside to only find that it was getting dark, she had to visit a few directors before the day ended. Paying off the bills she went to car. She switched on the radio in which the songs of late 90s played. She hummed along the way. The only good moment since morning it was.

She parked her car and went to the director's house. It was Ashish Nehra, one of the leading producer of nations who worked for OTT platforms. Shehnaaz mumbled a prayer before getting in, she really wished this worked out as it was the only hope. She wanted to make an appearance in public so that she would come out of the nuisances and get more work. A break was only that she wished for. She was welcomed by his maid and she found him sitting on sofa. He greeted her and then bought a file. He narrated the plot that he had been working on. Shehnaaz was amused by the plot and was looking forward for what would happen next in the story.

"When will be the auditions held sir?" She asked after his narration was completed.

"You don't need any audition, Shehnaaz. You just need to be good at it. You know what I am speaking about, right?" He said placing his palm on her lap. Shehnaaz's mind stopped working. "Stay away from me." She jerked his hand off and was about to stand when he pulled he rby her hand.

"This is the only chance you have to get back into this industry." He said looking at her and kissing her neck, giving her a hickey. Shehnaaz was stunned and disgusted. Her limbs had gone numb. "No! " She yelled and pushed him away. She managed to run and get into her car driving it off. She was disgusted by his touches. His every touch burned her skin. She was driving rashly as her eyes were filled with tears. "No! No! No! " She mumbled against her breath as those scenes reminded in her mind.

She reached Siddharth's house and got off the car, not even parking in the lot. She ran into the house towards her room. Everything around her seemed to have blurred out. As she ran towards her room, she bumped into a hard figure. "Sana?" Siddharth's hoarse voice reached her ears, making her look at his face.

Her eyes had gone red and her hair was completely deshelved. Her dupatta was torn and she was crying vigorously. "Sana? Kya hua?" He asked her again cupping her cheeks in his palms. "Tell me what happened Sana?" He said getting impatient. No words left from her mouth, her body shivered as she kept crying. "No! " She mumbled against her breath leaning against Siddharth's chest. He quickly wrapped his arms around her body. He was concerned for her so he didn't ask her anything further. All he wanted was her to be feeling safe at this moment.

"Cabir." Siddharth called out the silent spectator of the scene. He was surprised seeing Siddharth concerned for some girl. He knew who she was, Shehnaaz Shah, the famous actress. He knew about the contract as Siddharth was the closest friend he ever had. He bought a glass of water as instructed by Siddharth.

Siddharth sat in the sofa holding her tightly in her arms. He let her cry her heart out, which also made his heart clench. He pushed her hair behind her ear and wiped her face with his palm. His eyes squirmed as he noticed a red spot on her neck. His eyes hardened as realisation dawned upon him. He held her close to himself, closing his eyes shut. He didn't wanted to loose his control but whoever did this to her wasnt going to live in peace.

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"Hey! It's Cabir Dhawan." Shehnaaz gripped onto her blanket as he came in. She visibly shivered and her eyes looked for Siddharth.

"Don't be scared of me please. I won't hurt you, I am Siddharth's friend. Oh God. Don't be scared. He's coming in a few minutes. Just asked me to stay so that you don't feel left alone." Cabir started panicking seeing her scared. He didn't want to scare her anymore. She had already dealt with so much. He called out for Siddharth and even called him, muttering curses as he didn't saw him at distant.

"Where's he? " Shehnaaz mumbled against her breath.

"He's in the house. That fool is making dinner for you. Who gets so engrossed while cooking dinner? Siddharth!" Cabir uttered and went out of the room to call him.

Shehnaaz walked up to her study table and plucked her pictures of acting in shows, dance performances and ripped it into pieces. Tears were flowing from her eyes as her body shivered. "Sana." Siddharth called her softly as he entered the room. "Sana." He called her again but she wasn't responding to his calls. He hugged her from back and stayed close to her till she cried her heart out.

"I cannot do this anymore. Every single time something wrong happens I push myself to work hard. But these people have always judged me, for everything Siddharth. The way I speak, walk, made fun of me when I was at my lowest. And
today this. Kya bigada hai maine kisi ka? Why do I have to go through all this? Why Siddharth? Aur nahi saha jata mujhse yeh sab. I just can't. " Siddharth held her closely as she cried. His heart churned listening to her, seeing her so vulnerable. He couldn't think of anything consoling. He had never consoled anyone. But seeing her go through all this made his heart burn.

"I am sorry. I failed to protect you." He mumbled against his breath like a whisper. It felt as if he was saying it to himself.

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"What are you upto?" Cabir questions leaning forward.

"What? " Siddharth asked him as he checked some of his files. Cabir sighed and walked towards him, taking away the file.

"Siddharth. She is too innocent to understand things. She's an angel and you know that she's completely different. She going through a lot. Don't mess up around her. This is not the right time. Not the right person as I have always said. She is not the person to play your mind games with. She isn't the reason for whatever happened to you. She doesn't even know about it. And how could you do anything to that poor soul? Don't do it. Stop before it's way too late." Cabir said but Siddharth simply dismissed his words. Cabir before he could speak further hushed as some employees came in the room and they started discussing about their business.

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