When the Camera Stopped Rolling

Chapter 2

It's been three weeks since that incident. I kept the card that Ravi gave me, but never used it. But he was on my mind all day everyday. His tall strong body, his wheatish skin, full lips, and two beautiful obsidian orbs that stared into my soul.
His touch was still lingering on my chin. I'd get shivers every time I'd think about him.

"Ma'am, are you ready for the shot?" The assistant director asks. I nod and pressed my cigarette on the ashtray in front of me. Yes that's one habit I picked up in the last three weeks. At first it was hard for me, but now I can't think properly without it.

I stand in the middle of the set. Today I am in a photoshoot for the cover of Cineblitz and an interview for the page 3. Interviewing me was a journalist's dread. I had nothing to spice up the conversation. I'd never bad mouth or diss any other actors, nor I'd show over appreciation for them. I don't have a off screen chemistry with anyone in the industry. I had friends, but it was platonic. I'd give funny stories about the actors, but never give away there private life. And the magazines hated it.

After the photoshoot was done I got a break for an hour. I went to the green room and Shalini followed me. "So are you going to give another boring interview?" She inquires. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. "Stop it Mira, you are the nation's crush right now. You need to give them something. All stories that you have is with your mother,no offense. But you need to move on." She said. Shalini loves Mumma just as much as I do, but she was a professional. "Why don't you tell them about your encounter with Ravi Rawal?" She says. I told her about it that night, which was a mistake.

"What no! Absolutely not! He is an extremely private man more than that he is dangerous." I whispered yelled. Shalini nods in understanding, then lights up a cigarette and offers one to me.

"Give him a call, you've got his card right?" She says. I raised my brows questioning why would I?
"Just ask him if he'd be able to pick up for a dinner or not from the studio. If a few people see you entering in the car with him, you'll have a hot story for yourself. And he wouldn't blame you thinking it as an mere coincidence." She finishes. Well that was a good idea, but ughhhh!

"Alright." I agreed to her. I dialled his number in my phone and waited for someone to pick it up.

"Hello, it's Rawal Interprice. How may I help you?" A lady says.

"Um...can I talk to Mr. Ravi Rawal for a moment?" I asks as my voice shook a little.

"Who am I speaking to?" She asks.

"Um..tell him it's Mira Singh. We met..." Before I could finish my sentence the lady replies.

"I'll forward this call to Mr. Rawal" she says.

After waiting for a few seconds Ravi's voice rang through the speaker. "Mira?" He asks.

Me: Hi, Mr. Rawal. I was wondering how you doing?

Ravi: I have been waiting for your call actually. What are you upto nowadays?

Me: Oh nothing much really, I'm actually in the studio of Cineblitz for an interview. And after that I'll be free, so I was thinking if you could pick me up and we go for dinner together.

Ravi: I don't mind actually. When does your interview ends?

Me: In about like 45 minutes. Is that alright?

Ravi: See you in 45 minutes, Mira. **Hangs up the call**

I look at Shalini, who was grinning, "Happy?" I asked.

Shalini plants a kiss on my cheek and then I get ready for my interview.

After my interview I walked towards the exit of the studio to see a sleek black sedan waiting. The driver opens up the door for the backsit. I get in to see Ravi, looking absolutely gorgeous. "You look beautiful, Mira." He whispers. Then he orders the driver to start the car. I sit beside him with a healthy distance between us, but for some reason an unknown pressure was crushing me.

"Mira?" Ravi calls out, looking at me intently.

"Yes?" I replied softly.

"Did you called me here in the studio to start up a gossip about us, by any chance?" He asks. My eyes widened in surprise.

"I...I..." I try to come up with an answer.

"Don't bother to cook up a lie right now, Mira. Let me the truth it's easier." He places a hand on my thigh giving me tingles all over my body.

"Yes.." I confessed. "My interviews are extremely boring, so my manager thought it'd be a great way for me to get some publicity through gossip. But don't worry, you didn't come out of the car so they don't know who picked me up." I say everything.

Ravi looks at me or rather looks at my soul with his extremely angry eyes. His grip tightens on my knees. "Mira, let me tell you one thing. Never think about tricking me, you'd never succeed. I'm letting this slip for now." He threatened. I nod, shrinking into my seat feeling ashamed.

"I'm sorry, you can drop me anywhere you want." I say. Ravi looks at me for a while, a flash of softness crossed his eyes.

"Ballav, take us to Juhu instead of the restaurant." He orders. What is going on now?

The car arrives at the beach, I keep seated at my place, by now I had a cigarette lit up between my fingers due to the rising anxiety. Ravi grabs the cigarette and throws it out of the window without any explanation. "Ballav go take a walk along the beach, and come back after an hour." He orders again. The driver, Ballav gets out of the car and goes for a walk. Ravi turns towards me, "Mira, tell me you are not giving into the pathetic standards of Bollywood?" He asks. I stay quiet, I was too ashamed to answer it. "Come closer." He orders. I hesitate for a moment, then I scoot closer to him. He tucks my hair behind my ears and grazed his fingers over my cheek and neck. "You don't have to be afraid of being borring. I admire how you talk about your mother in your interviews." He says softly. "Just be yourself, Mira. Unapologically." He whispers. And tears starts shedding down my eyes.

"It's not that easy, people won't want me if don't have something interesting going on in my life. Soon the media will not cover my stories if this goes on." I said. Ravi looks at me and nods in understanding.

"Alright, in that case you can talk about me a little in your next interviews. Also you can accompany me to a few parties." He says. My eyes lit up. "However I want something in return, I'm a business after all." He says with a smirk.

"What?" I replied.

"How about a kiss?" He asks. I look away for a moment thinking if it was the right thing to do. "Take your time, Mira." He says.

I look outside the glass. Will it be alright if I kiss him? I mean it's just a kiss, probably Mumma wouldn't have liked it, but it's the only thing I can do. Ahhhh....fuck it! "Okay." I say. "But just once." I keep my condition.

Ravi grabs my chin and brings his face closer to me, "How many lips had touched these lips?" He asks tracing my lower lip with his thumb.

"No one." I whispered. Ravi's eyes darkened.

"Kiss me." He orders. I place my lips on his and give a little peck, then pull back as blood rushed to me cheeks. "That's not a kiss, dove. Let me show you what a kiss is." With that he pulled me into another kiss. This was a kiss. His mouth dominanted mine, and I let him. His hands finds their way to my waist and pulls me on his lap. He forces his tongue into my mouth and explores it. His hands cups up my face and deepened the kiss, this time I kissed him back. I felt him smirk while kissing me. His hands slowly makes its way down my neck then my shoulder. Before he could go down to my chest I grabbed stopped his hands with mine. Instead he wraps his arms around my waist and kissed my for one last time.  "Fuck!" He pulls back.

I pant heavily as I get off his lap, feeling extremely restless. Ravi chuckles at my expression and places a hand on my shoulder trying to comfort me. I did it. Soon Ballav returns and starts the car. On the way he makes a quick stop and buts a box of chocolates for me then drops me off in front of my building. "Good night, little dove." With that he kissed my cheek and get inside the car then drove off.

I get in my luxurious apartment and made my way to my room. I stopped infront of Mumma and Papa's picture. I'm sorry. With that I dive on my bed and fall asleep.

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