Clash of the Fans

The Fans Meet

Diana's friend's name – Kalpana (Asin)

Btw, Diana's character is again inspired by a real life character – my kid sister :D She is 13. So, I'll make every possible effort to make sure that this character turns out to be the cutest grown-up character, at least in my stories. :P :D

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Rubbing her gloves together, Diana trudges through the snow and breathes heavily. "We have been walking for hours, and we have not yet reached your office."

"Hours? We are hardly ten minutes away from our cottage." Kalpana gasps.

"Really? But I have seen countless trees and cottages from the time we have started walking. And snow all around makes it really difficult to walk around in here. How do you all manage to walk through this daily?" She placed her palms on her knees.

"Well, we are used to it. And by the way, this is not Mumbai. In Shimla, you'll find trees everywhere. We respect mother nature." Kalpana rolled her eyes towards Diana.

"So, do you think Mumbaikars do nothing for mother nature?"

"Yes."

Diana looked towards her left. She looked towards her right and said, "Unfortunately, true." She looked down and kept walking. "Hey!" She looked at Kalpana.

Kalpana jerked and looked at her. "What?"

"This is cheating! Talk about something I know and have an idea about."

"Aww! I'll talk about anything but Shahrukh." Kalpana's right eyebrow shot up. "Tell me any topic you are comfortable with."

Diana gritted her teeth and looked up.

"I'm waiting!"

"Umm... Why do you stay in Shimla and not in Manali?"

Kalpana narrowed her eyebrows and said, "Because... because my relatives are here."

"Damn!"

"What happened?"

"Manali is better."

She stared at Diana and said, "And why do you say so?"

"Oh come on! Srk has never shot a movie's scene here. But he did shoot in Manali."

"Oh God! Keep walking."

While walking, she said, "I'm sure you know which movie?"

"No. Which movie?"

"Oh God! You live just 250 or so kilometers away from Manali, and you do not know that Veer Zaara was shot in Manali?"

Kalpana smiled and nodded to indicate refusal. "It is so sad, isn't it?"

"It is!"

"Now, we cannot go back in time. So, sorry."

"But you can compensate for it."

"Is it? How? Tea, coffee or cold drinks?"

"Naah. Tea, coffee are too materialistic and boring."

"Then?"

"A small..."

"Small what?"

"A small trip to Manali."

"Are you crazy?"

"Please, please! I want to see that resort where Srk stayed."

"Shut up yaar!" She looks ahead and starts brisk walking.

"Oye wait!" She tries to catch up with Kalpana, but Kalpana being a regular in those areas, paces ahead.

Diana keeps walking ahead and makes sure that her footsteps match that of Kalpana's.