Prem Kahaniyaan

4.

The following morning, Zara was already at the studio by 7 a.m., double-checking the schedule. They were set to film an important segment today—Arjun’s relationships with the people closest to him. The task had a way of peeling back the layers that most public figures kept hidden, and Zara intended to get to the core.

She was flipping through her notes when Arjun walked in, looking more composed than usual. He gave her a brief nod, but there was no sign of the usual sarcasm or guarded demeanor. It seemed their conversation from the previous night had left its mark.

“Morning,” Zara said without looking up from her papers.

“Morning,” Arjun replied, sitting down across from her. “What’s on the agenda today?”

Zara glanced at him over her glasses. “Today, we’re focusing on your relationships. Friends, family, and the people who’ve shaped your journey. I want to dig into how they’ve influenced you.”

Arjun raised an eyebrow. “You really want to go there?”

Zara smirked. “I do. So, let’s start with the obvious—your parents.”

Arjun leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “What about them?”

“Well,” Zara said, leaning forward, “you rarely talk about them. Why is that?”

Arjun stared at the table for a moment, his expression hardening. “It’s complicated.”

Zara’s eyes sharpened with interest. “Complicated how?”

“They’re... not exactly thrilled about my career choices,” Arjun admitted, his voice taut. “I come from a traditional family. My father wanted me to take over the family business, and my mother, well, she just wants me to settle down and get married already.”

Zara’s pen hovered over her notebook as she caught the weight in his words. “And how does that make you feel? The pressure from them?”

Arjun let out a bitter laugh. “Like I’m constantly disappointing them. No matter how successful I am, it’s never enough. My father still thinks acting is a hobby, not a real career. It’s frustrating.”

Zara nodded, sensing the vulnerability beneath his frustration. “Do you ever talk to them about it? Try to explain why acting is so important to you?”

Arjun’s jaw clenched. “I’ve tried. But it always ends up in an argument. They don’t get it. They never have.”

“Must be tough,” Zara said quietly, jotting something down. “So, is that why you keep them out of the public eye? To avoid more conflict?”

“Partly,” Arjun admitted. “But mostly, I just want to protect them. The media can be brutal. I don’t want them dragged into the mess of my world.”

Zara’s gaze softened. “That’s... considerate. More than most people would do.”

Arjun shrugged, deflecting the compliment. “It’s nothing. Just the way it is.”

Zara let the silence stretch for a moment before pressing on. “What about your friends? You’ve been seen with a few well-known actors, but are those real friendships, or just... professional alliances?”

Arjun’s expression grew guarded again. “They’re friends. Some of them, at least.”

“Like who?” Zara asked, leaning in. “Who do you trust the most?”

There was a beat of hesitation before Arjun spoke. “Vikram. Vikram Mehta. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”

Zara raised an eyebrow. “The producer?”