The Fame Changed You - A Narbhi Story - Complete

~20~

"Nakuul and Padma were in that fake relationship because I had asked them to. I never wanted to hurt someone's feelings but I guess I was so money-minded that I didn't realize the value of marriage. I hurt his wife who had nothing to do with this industry and I'm truly sorry for my behavior and actions. I don't know if a sorry will change her feelings towards me but at least it's the first step." Nakuul turned up the volume of the TV as Afreen was speaking about the contract.

"Do you realize that there were many fans who loved the relationship already?" A reporter asked.

"I do realize that I destroyed many dreams and I'm sorry about that. The fans need to realize that I destroyed a masquerade, something which had never existed... The real couple is the one I saw yesterday when I visited Nakuul. I saw him and this innocent woman he called his wife. They didn't do any gesture of love towards each other yet you could feel their love. I guess that's what I needed to come back to earth... a realization of love." Nakuul and Surbhi had an eye lock while Avinash was rolling his eyes. He despised Afreen to such an extent that he couldn't even accept her nice avatar.

"The more I see her mea culpa the more my ears bleed!" Avi tried to change the channel but Surbhi took the remote.

"Don't... I do believe in her sincerity. I mean she's doing this in public!" Surbhi defended the director and Nakuul just drew patterns on her back. He was in deep thoughts. Why would that woman decide all of sudden to change her mind?

"And what about you Noxie? Do you believe her?" Avi turned to the other male of the room who just shrugged his shoulders in response.

"I don't care whether she's sincere or not. What matters is that my marriage hasn't collapsed due to these absurdities. I don't really care if she is just saying that to keep her name in golden letters." Nakuul reached for his phone and saw that many fans were now criticizing him and doubting on his talent. He wanted to feel bad and destroy everything around him but he just knew that he deserved their hatred and he had to work harder to earn their love all over again. But then as he was scrolling through the hate and negative comments, he saw something that caught his eye, it was the only positive comment he saw among the hate, it said 'People choose different paths to achieve their dreams, you took the easiest, but who can say proudly that he doesn't do mistakes? Even the most perfect man does mistakes, you did a mistake and my faith in your talent makes me believe that from now on, you will use your talent and hard work to climb the ladder to success. Let the hate down and fly to your success, good luck sir.' He clicked on the ID @Kumaree_Rosie and followed the person, a silent thank you to the only fan who stood by his side through thick and thin.

"I need to call mom," Surbhi said and ran away to her room with her phone. She looked at the notification and smiled. She was happy that she could give him some happiness that too indirectly. She knew how affected he would have been to believe that everyone had turned his back on him but now that one true fan, though it was his wife, showed him that yeah people do mistakes but the most important is realizing it and fixing it, he probably felt better and that all she wanted. She wanted him to feel better and have a good life ahead. But then everything can't be all good right? And she understood it when she came out of her room and went to the living room, she witnessed the most unbearable scene, that brat Padma was hugging her Nakuul!

"May I know what's going on?" She asked and both parted as if they had been caught red-handed.

"Huh..." He muttered.

"I'm sorry, you must be Nakuul's wife right? I'm Padma Malik, his co-actress. I am sorry for hugging him that way... I just felt broken." Surbhi clearly didn't buy her masquerade but she let her in for the moment.

As soon as he saw her, Avinash furrowed his brows but his best friend just nodded her head no.

"Actually since Afreen's interview I've been tagged as a wedding breaker and as a mistress because you were married and..." She stopped to cry and Surbhi rolled her eyes. Padma was about to hug Nakuul again but Surbhi came in between and held her hand.

"Listen stuff like that happens. Both of you betrayed your fans so that's normal for them to react this way. So I don't really understand why you coming here to cry will change anything and will make things better. Just cope with it for the moment. And I've already told Nakuul that you took the decision to do this fake dating drama so you need to face the consequences now!" Surbhi said and faked a yawn.

"It's not like I don't want your company, but we've already had a tiring day, so can you please leave?" Surbhi added and literally shooed Padma out of their house. When she met the boys in the living room, they were hiding their laugh behind their hands.

"What?" She inquired, furrowing her brows.

"You know you could have been nicer." Avinash cleared his throat.

"Yeah, have you already seen a woman nice to her rival? Whether she's fake or real?" Surbhi raised an eyebrow and he shrugged his shoulders. "Anyways, I'm sleepy now." She added and went to her bedroom to get ready to sleep, leaving her two boys to chuckle.

As she was braiding her hair while looking at the glistening moon, he came and held her waist. No words were needed as he kissed her shoulder, sliding a hand inside her short shorts. No words were needed as they let the passion burn the calm night.