Inescapably Yours

V

"I'm moving to LA," he announced.

"What?!" exclaimed the director, "when?!"

"As soon as I'm done with this film," Ranveer answered.

"Did you get a movie offer?" the director inquired further.

"No, it's not work-related," Ranveer stated and the director understood he was drawing a line and respected his privacy.

Ranveer was sure he was making the right choice. He had led a successful career life with Deepika and then without Deepika. He can compare and measure the two phases on a caliber of personal happiness. The comparison would be laughable. Being successful meant nothing when you don't have someone to share it with. Being successful meant nothing when you come back to a cold empty home. He missed the life that they once shared. The love, the laughter, the banter, even the fights. She makes life better. Point. Blank.

He used to say destiny brought them together and he wholeheartedly believes that. She was not just another girlfriend to him. She was not just someone he loved at one point in his life. She was the person who loved him when everyone else was keeping a distance. She was the person who accepted him for who he is and never once tried to change him yet kept his feet firm on the ground. Without her, he loses his footing and his ego knows no boundaries. Without her, he was lost.

The last five years had been a constant struggle of what-ifs and where it went wrong. Everyday he wanted to run after her and bring her back to his life but he knew she chose that life. He didn't mind misery as a companion if it meant happiness was hers. However, seeing her again made him resent himself for not having run after her earlier. By the looks of it, she was as miserable as he was but stubborn as ever, she refused to let them be together at the cost of their careers. This time, however, he would be damned if he let her have her way.

***

Later that day, while the set was being prepped, Ranveer decided to pay a certain someone a visit. He told his assistant to inform the director that he'd be back in a couple of hours and headed to her friend's cabin. From a distance, he could spot her propped up on "their" balcony looking ravishing as ever. He smiled and she noticed him and smiled brilliantly back at him. His heart skipped a beat. Everything was right in his world again...until he almost trampled the sudden person that intercepted his path.

Ranveer had to physically make an effort to stop and look twice at who he was about to walk over.

"Babe!" said the person worriedly, "where have you been?! I called you a million times but you didn't pick up! I was worried sick," she accused.

"Oh um," for a minute his mind went blank and he couldn't remember who this was. Then inevitably he remembered this is the girl he's been seeing. "Right," he blinked, "I left my phone at the hotel. I'm sorry," he told her.

She threw her arms around him kissing his cheek and hugging him, "you scared the hell out of me."

Over her shoulder, Ranveer could see a very amused Deepika watching the scene unfold before her. He gave her an apologetic smile and she shrugged. He glared at her in response and she only gave him an amused smirk in return.

The woman was still talking in his ear and he can confidently tell you he heard none of it. "Babe, I have to be somewhere important right now. I'll call you later," he said.

"You're leaving again? After you left me all night?" she pouted.

Oh if only she knew what was about to hit her, he laughed silently. "Sorry," he sounded anything but apologetic.

"Promise you'll call me?" she wagged a finger at him and he looked down at her amusedly. "Sure," he replied.

"Okay," she smiled brightly, "I will see you later," she tippy toed up and placed an open mouthed kiss on his cheek. His eyes widened horrifically and, to his ultimate shock, Deepika was cackling in her place. He didn't know if he was more offended by the gross kiss or by Deepika's reaction!

She disentangled herself from him waving goodbye and went on her separate way.

With newly determined steps, he stomped his way up to the woman on the balcony. She stopped laughing and was now only smirking crookedly at him with her arms crossed against her chest.

He finally reached her. He jumped the rail, grabbed her arm and pushed her inside the room and against the wall. All the while, she was laughing uncontrollably. "Arrey, why so angry, mister?" giggling, she asked.

"Why are you enjoying this?!" he growled genuinely confused.

"Because I asked you if you were seeing someone," she patted his cheek lightly.

"I'm not!" he replied defensively.

"Then who was that?" she retorted.

"I don't know," he lied, "I don't even remember her name," he looked down avoiding her eyes.

"Priya," she said.

He looked up sharply, "so you have been checking up on me," it was his turn to smirk amusedly now.

"I told you, your affairs are very popular," she tried brushing it off while her fidgety fingers smoothed his collar.

"Hmm, I didn't know I was that popular in America. Looks like I underestimated myself," he played along.

"Mhmm they love you there," she whispered conspiratorially.

"We love you here too," he told her in the same tone, "we watch all your movies. And some of us even know you haven't been in a serious relationship for a very long time."

She smiled sadly still playing with his shirt, "it's not easy to control matters of the heart."

He stilled her hand and brought it up to his lips. "I'm coming with you this time. And I'm not taking no for an answer," he told her decisively.

Her eyes lit up with a spark of hope that only lasted a few moments before something closed within her and she tried pushing him off of her but he was stronger and more determined so she remained in her place pinned by his weight against the wall. "I can't let you hate me. Not like this," she said darkly.

"And you can't not let us try! We can't keep on living like this!" he exclaimed exasperatedly. He took a deep breath, "look, we'll make a deal," she looked up at him listening intently, "I will come with you but the minute I start doubting my decision, I will pack my bags and come back to India," he stated. "How does that sound?"

She weighed it over for a few moments. "Okay," her face broke into the biggest smile which he couldn't help but devour. She smiled into the kiss bringing him closer...

Disclaimer: this story is work of fiction. It uses real people as characters but it has nothing to do with the real Ranveer or Deepika or any of their industry friends. It's not meant to offend or defraud either. It's just for fun. Take a chill pill and don't share it with the real deepveer because that's a dick move.