Layers of Us

Chapter 72: Found Out!?

Months passed, and somewhere between the chaos of camera rolls and retakes, Tripura and Ram found something they never saw coming - a friendship wrapped in comfort, laughter, and unexpected moments of joy.

The sets, once intimidating and professional, now felt like a second home - mostly thanks to the walking troublemaker who answered to the name - Ram Kapoor.

It began with harmless things.

A fake lizard on her chair one morning.

Tripura had screamed so loudly, the assistant director dropped his clipboard and ran thinking someone had fainted.

Ram, hiding behind the camera, nearly choked trying to contain his laughter.

Tripura, red in the face and heart hammering, had spotted him seconds later.

"Mr. Kapoooorrrr!" she bellowed, launching her script file at him.

Ram had bolted, laughing like a maniac, the crew laughing along as she ran after him through the vanity vans, yelling creative threats.

"I swear on my coffee stash, I'm going to smack you with your own dialogue book!"

"Only if you catch me, bestie!"

She did catch him eventually - by the collar - and gave him a playful smack on his arm while he dramatically collapsed onto the grass.

The crew still talked about it like folklore.

Brunches. Lunches. Dinner catchups.
It became a thing.

From ordering pani puri off set to arguing about who makes better coffee - their connection was no longer stiff or uncomfortable.

Ram would text her at 2 a.m. just to send a meme.

Tripura would show up on set with his favorite cinnamon buns on Mondays because "you're insufferable without sugar, Mr. Kapoor."

The walls they'd once kept so high around each other had slowly crumbled... brick by brick.

And now, it was the last day of shoot.

The air on set was bittersweet. Laughter still echoed through the corridors, but everyone carried a hint of nostalgia in their smiles.

Ram leaned against the doorway of her vanity van, watching Tripura as she packed up her things.

He knocked lightly on the frame.
"You're really leaving without pranking me back?" he asked, mock offended.

Tripura raised a brow.
"Oh, I'm saving the best one for the promotions."

Ram grinned. "Then I'll never come for the promotion. Just to stay safe."

She shook her head, amused. "You're impossible."

"And you enjoy it."

She didn't deny it. Not verbally.
But the soft laugh that escaped her lips as she nudged him with her elbow was answer enough.

Ram said, "Come on. Everyone's waiting for us to finish the last shot."

She smiled and walked past him.

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The set was filled with an air of excitement, happiness, and a pinch of sadness. The crew bustled around, setting up props and perfecting the romantic backdrop for the song shoot.