The beginning

Chapter 11

That evening Ranveer paced the set, unable to sit still in his van waiting for her to arrive. He'd spent the afternoon rehearsing for an upcoming action sequence, then showered and had dinner. Deepika was running slightly late because a couple of the interviews for her promotions for Race 2 had dragged on longer than anticipated. He knew this because her team had called the production assistants on set. He tried not to read into the fact that she hadn't messaged him herself. She was probably too busy, her phone with one of her team members during the interviews. When his phone rang and the screen flashed her name he felt an unaccustomed sense of relief. He checked to make sure no one was close and then picked up. 

"Hi baby, how was your day?" he asked. 

"Long and tiring," she sighed. "I've just gotten into the car to come there. It should take me about an hour, depending on the traffic," she said. 

"Do you have any work you have to get done on the way?" he asked. 

"No, I don't," she replied. 

"Then sleep for a while, love. I'll see you when you get here," he said. 

"Mmm, yes, that's the plan," she said, voice soft. 

"Shall I tell you a bedtime story?" he asked. 

She chuckled quietly. "Sure, tell me one. But fair warning, I might fall asleep before you finish it," she said and he laughed. 

"That's what bedtime stories are for. Okay, got your pillow and blanket?" he asked. He knew she kept those in her car. 

"Hmm," she nodded. 

He'd reached his trailer. "Okay, so once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a magical land far, far away." He heard a soft laugh. 

"Of course, a princess story," she said. 

"Shhh, you're meant to be listening and falling asleep, not commenting," he said. 

"Okay, okay, I'll be quiet," she replied. 

"So, this princess was the kindest, sweetest, strongest, most intelligent woman in the kingdom. She went to battle and slayed dragons, she ruled her kingdom with a fair and wise hand, and earned the respect of all." He stopped, wondering whether she was still awake. He'd purposely pitched his voice to a low and soothing murmur. 

"Go on," he heard her sleepy tones.

"The princess had a favourite pet, a white winged horse who was her constant companion as she went about hunting dragons and meting out justice and kindness across her land. The princess had only one fear - that someone would hurt her pet. Because not many knew, but the horse held a small piece of her heart, and any time he was hurt, she was hurt too. All the people in the land knew that to touch the horse without the princess' permission was to invite punishment. Only children were excepted from this rule." He stopped again. There was silence on the other end. "Deepu?" he whispered. She did not reply. He heard only the sound of her soft breathing and the hum of the air conditioner. She must have fallen asleep. 

He stayed on the line, knowing it was cheesy but unable to help himself, listening to her breathe. The next time he'd ask her to video call him. He finally hung up when his assistant knocked on the door of the van. "Come in," he called and sighed when the costume designer and makeup artist and everyone else entered. He submitted to their ministrations, his mind still on the story and the woman he'd been telling it to. 

He'd always loved writing and creating stories and she was a subject that had taken over his mind. In his story the princess would find a friend, a confidant, an itinerant warrior with his own winged companion and together they'd soar to heights undreamed of. She was more than intelligent enough to read between the lines. He wondered what her reaction to it would be.