The Dirty High Society✔

Page 17

Page 17

Monika changed into something comfortable and lay down in her mother's room. She watched her mother's peaceful sleeping form, Utkarsh's words echoing in her mind.

Why couldn't he just let her go? Why wouldn't he divorce her already? She didn't want to play this sick game of revenge. She had so many things to focus on. Why? Why couldn't he just disappear and never be found?

She had been so wrong about Utkarsh. She once believed that after marriage, she would confess all her secrets to him and build new memories together. Now, her mind was filled with regrets.

Tina was behind all this, Monika was sure. Tina was vengeful, still angry about her family's destruction when Avantika entered their lives. Nobody had been happy about that. Monika had suffered every time because of Tina. Avantika and Suraj's relationship had caused enough damage, but that was in the past. They were no longer part of their lives, so why now?

Monika's thoughts swirled, heavy with the weight of the past and present. She sighed, knowing sleep would not come easily, if at all.

Just leave me alone Tina and Utkarsh. 
Just drop your weapons because Monika didn't want to fight.
–----

" Excuse me, sir. Monika ma'am's secretary is asking for your permission to meet you," Utkarsh's PA, Junaid, informed him in the morning.

" Why? "

" Monika ma'am cleared her house loan and has also paid the house bills. She's asking for a no-objection certificate from our company. "

Oh, so Monika wants to flaunt now, Utkarsh thought. She didn't have time to sort things out between them or wanted to show off her celebrity status. She wasn't even a heroine yet and already started showing tantrums.

" Okay, I’ll see what I have to do. This is personal. "

" Okay, sir. Should I send her in? "

" Yes, send her in."

When Junaid left, Utkarsh opened the file he had left on his desk. There was a newspaper clipping with it, detailing the previous night's events in the Page 3 section.

'The Wadhwans Again in the News'

After his father's controversial affairs had been published, Utkarsh had kept a close eye on the media to stop them from spreading rumors. He sighed, feeling the weight of yet another public spectacle.

Utkarsh did everything to stay away from the rubbish fake news, but now, because of Monika's mother, the media had another chance to drag the Wadhwan name through the mud.

" Good afternoon, sir. Monika ma'am told me to handle her house matter," Monika's PA, Sabrina, said as she entered his office.

" Hmm, take a seat," Utkarsh replied.

Sabrina pulled out a chair and sat down.

" Sir, Monika ma'am also said if there is anything else regarding the house matter, you can discuss it with me, and I will inform her. "

Oh, discuss it with her secretary, Utkarsh thought bitterly.

" How much is she paying you? " he asked bluntly.

" Excuse me, sir? " Sabrina was confused.

" I can offer you a job in my company. Leave her secretary job," he said, his tone direct and unwavering.

Sabrina blinked, taken aback by the unexpected offer, her mind racing as she tried to gauge the sincerity behind Utkarsh's words.

-__-------_.

Monika was busy with the shooting of her film. When the day’s shoot ended, her director, Kita Kapoor, informed her that they would be doing outdoor shooting in Sydney.

Monika couldn't leave her mother just like that, especially given the current situation. Determined to discuss this, she went to Kita's office. As she was about to enter, she overheard Kita on the phone, talking about her.

" You know, her acting skills are so irritating that I have to correct her on every single thing. The good thing is she’s trying hard. Also, the fact is when young girls like Monika are ready to take off their clothes on screen, the audience applauds that and especially goes to the cinema to watch those particular scenes. So we get a kind of surety that if it won’t be a hit, it won’t be a flop either. "

Fury and humiliation surged through Monika. She knocked loudly on the glass door. Kita turned in her chair, surprised by the interruption.

" Monika, come in," Kita said, trying to mask her shock with a forced smile.

Monika entered the room with gritted teeth. " I wanted to talk about the Sydney trip, but..."

" Before you jump to any conclusions, you have to be broad-minded if you want to work in this industry, " Kita interrupted.

" Broad-minded? Like what you were just saying? "

" It's the reality, Monika. You’re new to this, so it's no surprise you find these things offensive, but at some point, it’s the truth. When you go for interviews, you’ll learn what not to take as offensive and when to be defensive."

" Just tell me one thing what am I to you? "

" The leading heroine of my film. Your character is under my control, but not you."

" Obviously. So, teach me, is this your perspective on how you see your heroine? "

" Look, Monika, I’m a very straightforward person. I believe in what I said."

The debate about actresses being mere show material in the industry was endless. Many had accepted this fact, while many others continued to fight against the injustice.

---

After a heated and frustrating conversation with Kita, Monika went home, only to find Utkarsh waiting for her.

Not him again.,..., she thought, already in a bad mood. How could she ignore his unwanted presence in her home?

" Why are you coming home so late? " he demanded.

Monika's temper flared, but she took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. The last thing she needed was another argument, especially after the exhausting day she had just endured.