THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ROMANCE

Chapter 12

Chapter – 12

            “Where is Pakhi? Aryan, I thought she was coming with you.” Tina asked after all the guests had arrived. Her reception party was filled with all the who’s who of the town but she kept on questioning about her best friend. “I don’t know. I came directly from the office. Even I am calling her but she is not taking the call.” Aryan said.

“She is also not answering my calls. Priya aunty said she didn’t come out of her room throughout the day. She never does this kind of things. She last did it when Samrat broke her heart. That means it has to be you. Did you say something to her?” Tina was furious at him. “Trust me Tina, it’s not me. Maybe this has something got to do with her drama. That Forevermore.” Aryan said but from the shock in Tina’s face he understood that this was something very bad. “OMG! It’s her biggest work. If Pakhi is disturbed about this, it means she needs our help. I can’t leave my reception party, you have to help her.” Aryan was about to leave when Tina held his arm and said, “If something happens to this performance, Pakhi’s career is screwed.” Without another word Aryan left the reception venue and drove like a mad man till he reached Pakhi’s house.

            He didn’t wait for the maid to open the door. He just went inside her room in his old way. Pakhi was sitting with her head between her knees. “Pakhi?” Aryan sat beside her. She raised her head and Aryan saw her eyes were swollen from crying, “I am finished. I will never be the writer I wanted to be,” saying Pakhi fell into his arms and cried her heart out.

            The next thing that registered to Pakhi’s head was that Aryan was driving her to Romantic Veil’s office.  Ira came running out from the building and said, “This is really bad news.” “Where are the others?” Pakhi asked with a soaked voice. Aryan followed them to Pakhi’s room in the office and saw all the members of the drama society as well as some theatre actors associated with Romantic Veil were there. Krishna was sitting in the end of the table and Astha was weeping. Aryan had come here before with Tina, so he knew maximum of Pakhi’s colleagues. “Krishna sir?” Pakhi said. Krishna was looking at some papers, raised his head, “I am sorry Pakhi. I promised you that there won’t be any problem during your absence but looks like I am not capable enough to keep that promise.”  “Don’t say that. At least we have a week. People manage to perform in less than five days. We will do something.” Pakhi assured. “Pakhi is right, we have other actors, and we’ll ask them. Our show will go on as it was planned.” Sruti said to Krishna. “Nothing will be like we planned. Don’t you all understand? This drama is very delicate, and the lead actors cannot be prepared within a week.” Krishna screamed.

“Exactly! The drama requires actors who could do justice to the roles. The ones we found were the best. And now they have resigned saying they need a better payment,” aaid Gourav.

“I was ready to give that but still they refused without an explanation.” Krishna said.

“Don’t lose hope, we will definitely come up with something.” Pakhi forced a smile on her face.

“But that something won’t be the best! Come on Pakhi we all know this is a big opportunity for you.” Ira patted Pakhi’s back.

“Yes! And now you won’t be able to give your best.” said Arun, one of the actors of their group.

“Unless she performs on stage herself!” Raghav’s words drew everyone’s attention and Ira ran up to him and hugged him.

“Raghav you rock!” Ira smiled and continued, “This is the perfect idea. It’s written by Pakhi so she will be the perfect actor to be in the lead role.”

“And we all know that she is a very good actress. I mean the way she prepared us for every play, it was beyond amazing.” Aarti joined Ira in Pakhi’s praise. She was working with Romantic Veil as a choreographer as well as an actress from the beginning and was elder to Pakhi.