The princess and the knight

Chapter 3

The whole team was gathered at the San Francisco Football field where an emotional sequence had to be shot. Being told that the weather in San Francisco was pleasantly warm they where lightly dressed. The nights however where surprisingly cold ...

'I am sorrrrrrrry" Kajol managed to say with clattering teeth, "I can't do this, I can't even speak properly." She felt guilty for postponing the shooting but she was freezing.

"Here, take my coat," Shahrukh, always the gentleman, offered and wrapped it over her shoulders providing a bit of warmth.

Instead of the angry looks she expected to receive from the crew for postponing their schedule and giving them extra work tomorrow, she heard relieved sighs and even some exclamations of joy. Sometimes Kajol's honesty and directness could hurt people but now everyone was grateful that the fiery actress dared to say what they all were thinking.

"Ok, it is a wrap for today," Karan announced through the speakerphone. His announcement was received by an loud applause.

Half an hour later Kajol was enjoying a warm bath. After being completely defrosted she decided she would go to the gym and work out a bit since Karan wanted her to loose some kilos...

After having played a videogame with Aryan, Shahrukh felt he needed to get rid of some excess energy so he changed into some comfy clothes and headed towards the fitness room.

He didn't know he was going to need every drop of his energy very soon..

Shahrukh walked into the gym nonchalantly when suddenly two people caught his eyes.

It was Kajol and her personal trainer. She was doing some toning exercises. Shahrukh wondered why Karan had asked her to loose some weight she looked great! Aman, the personal trainer, had noticed Shahrukh's approving glance and told Kajol the training session was finished. When Kajol stood up and turned around to head to her room and take a shower she noticed her co-star:

"Hey Shah are you going to work on your six pack?" she asked smiling mischievously.

"Yeah am afraid you are going to become more muscled than I," he teased.

She playfully hit him with her towel and said goodbye.

Aman who had witnessed their friendly banter stepped next to Shahrukh and whispered in his ear while watching Kajol's figure disappear:

"What a beautiful woman she is, I would give anything for a night with her."

Shahrukh's fingers clenched automatically into a fist. Seeing Shahrukh's shocked expression Aman explained:

"Oh common, don't get mad, as if you weren't thinking the same. I saw you staring at her,"

And Aman continued mouthing some very improper things about Kajol.

Shahrukh couldn't take anymore and although he was a peaceful human being, his fists swung right against Aman's cheekbone as if they had a mind on their own. Aman was taken by surprise and landed on the floor.

Just as the two man really started fighting Kajol who had forgotten her sport bag returned.

"Shahrukh what are you doing?!", she exclaimed while she threw herself on her friend's back clutching to his arm to prevent him from fighting.

Since she was not strong enough she decided to put herself between the two fighting men. She looked into the hazel eyes and was shocked to see the rage and anger reflected in those normally kind brown pools. Her own shock, fear and even a tad of disappointment was visible in her expressive eyes.

Locking eyes with his friend Shahrukh came to his senses and stopped the fight, standing there tall and tense he gave Aman a look that said: "You are lucky Kajol saved you."

"Shah, what's wrong with you, have you gone crazy?" his angry friend asked.

"Didn't you say in an interview that I was too soft, kind, perfect. As I remember correctly you said I should punch somebody," he tried to soften the tense atmosphere with a joke.

"You know well enough that I did not meant that literally. You know that fighting never solves anything. For heavens sake, you are two grown men you can talk things out," she said still disappointed in her friend.

Aman gave Kajol a sheepish innocent look.

Shahrukh couldn't take it any longer and explained: "I am sorry Kajol, but he said some nasty things about you."

"It doesn't justify your aggressive behaviour," Kajol seriously retorded.

But when Shahrukh whispered what Aman had said to him, Kajol took her sport bag and started hitting Aman with it, yelling: "You are fired as my trainer. Get out!"

"I thought you said fighting doesn't solve your problems," Aman squealed.

"That was when I thought you where arguing about some men stuff, you should never talk disrespectful about another person," Kajol explained.

Shahrukh couldn't help but smile at the picture before him, who said women needed a hero to save them, his friend was perfectly able to stand up for herself.

Still blushing and breathing heavily from running after Aman, Kajol walked up to Shahrukh and hugged him tightly:

"Thank you for standing up for me!"

Shahrukh managed to produce a smile, even though he couldn't hide a painful grimace. Kajol was famous for her firm hugs, usually he liked them but now he felt an intense pain starting from his shoulder running all the way to his fingers.

"Shah, are you Ok?" Kajol asked concerned.

"Yeah I am fine, my shoulder is just a bit stiff. Working on a Karan Johar film I am not used to action anymore. I think I have had enough of exercise for today, let's go." Shahrukh said and the two friends walked back.

Kajol could tell Shahrukh was still in pain. When he wanted to wish her goodnight and go to this room for the night Kajol took his hand and gently pulled him towards her room: "You are not going to sleep before I have looked at your injury", she stated.

The tone in her voice left no room for discussion, so Shahrukh followed her inside the hotel room.