HIDING HERSELF (A Short Story)

Hiding Herself Part 6

Rishab walked towards the film city studio to grab more evidence about the rising qualms in his mind. He needs to find out more about this veteran actress Nadira.

Rishab approached one of the director's assistant to get some upright answers as he believed the assistant had a good knowledge about film stars...

"Nadira Ji was a great actress Rishab...one of the best the film industry's had" said Rajesh while checking the sets of the film

"Anything else about her?" Rishab put his hands in the jacket

Rajesh looked at Rishab "well you want to know more I guess, but I don't have much information as I was not even born when she was a star on this earth"

His eyes then fell on the shelf "oh yes... you can check here" he handed Rishab some slides to go through...

There wasn't much in the slides except for her films...

He searched the list of her films, surprisingly she worked with only one director in her entire life that was somewhat very unusual.

RK thought of meeting this director who had such a lovely chance with this beautiful actress to work with in his twenty five films... "Wow" he said "this lucky man must have some answers"

After finding the address of this old director who had settled himself on the outskirts of Mumbai in a quiet hilly area...Rishab left without discerning...

He knew there was much more to what he's thinking. May be that Nadira was alive, she's become old...so old... or she must be related to Madhu, but Madhu won this house in the auction... This was all getting messed up.

On one side Madhu wasn't telling him a thing and on the other this mystery of Nadira was making him crazy.

There wasn't any mention about her death, no pics, no records...then where did she go?.

He drove towards Lona Valley, a few kilometres from Mumbai. He might get all his answers today...

He stopped the car near an old villa, checking the address one more time he stepped out from the car, the place was indeed very quiet, not anyone was seen around.

Only the chirruping of birds could be heard or the waves of the nearest beach just on the side of this villa...

He knocked at the door when an old servant opened.

"Mr Masoom Hussain lives here?" Rishab asked confusedly looking at the old man

"Yes Saab Ji is having his tea" the servant replied and guided him through the dining room...

As he walked Rishab saw the antique furniture in the house that was so much similar to the ones in Madhu's house. "similarity" he mumbled...

"Mr Masoom Hussain?" Rishab slide open the door to enter.

Mr Masoom Hussain turned to look at the handsome man standing few feet away...

"Yes?" said the old man sitting in his suit and pants with a round hat sipping his drink.

"Sir, I am Rishab, I have come from Mumbai."

"Sorry I don't do any interviews" replied the old director "you may leave"

"You got me wrong. I am not taking any interview... actually I have come to ask something about Nadira Ji, that old actress" RK said sitting on the nearest chair...

Mr Masoom kept the cup on the table and looked at him "Nadira"

"She used to make films only with you, I guess you would certainly know better about her than anybody else" Rishab said looking at his perplexed features