Harsh kept his hand on the window pane and looked at the city before him. The night lights made it look beautiful. But Harsh couldn’t enjoy the view. He had to leave that night and he won’t be there for Jen’s birthday. He lowered his head in sadness. Harsh felt Jen’s hand on his hand and he looked at her.
Jen: What happened? You look sad. You should be happy. You are going to Thailand to meet our fans. I am so excited for you. I wish I could come but I have to go for shoot.
Jen tried to smile.
Harsh: I don’t want to go Jen. Day after tomorrow is your birthday and I won’t be here to wish you. I think I should just cancel the trip.
Jen moved towards Harsh and kissed his cheek.
Jen: You should not cancel the trip and I won’t let you cancel it. You have promised and your fans are waiting. Do you want them heartbroken?
Harsh: I don’t. I want them happy. I will go. But I will miss your Birthday celebration.
Jen: You won’t. I am not celebrating my birthday on 29th. I am celebrating it on 30th night. I will cut the cake only after you arrive.
Harsh: You don’t have to do that for me.
Jen: You have booked the ticket for 30th even without telling me. I would have stopped you if I have known. You will be tired with all the fan meet and you taking flight on the same day for me makes me feel guilty. So, I am postponing the celebration.
Harsh: I have promised your dad that I will be there for you and I have promised myself that you will always be my first priority. I will come back as fast as I can.
Harsh cupped Jen’s face and kissed her forehead and smiled. Jen smiled looking at him. The shoot for her new series, These Colors Don’t Run begins next day and Harsh is going to Thailand. Jen felt a void in her heart. This will be her first shoot without Harsh in two years. For the last two years she had only shot with him for their series. She hugged him tight. She was sadder because she was not able to go to the airport. Harsh’s friends will be going. She can’t risk getting clicked with him in the airport. They are keeping the relationship under wraps for now. Harsh hugged Jen tighter. He didn’t want to let go, ever.
Jen: Harsh, let go. You will miss your flight.
Harsh broke the hug. The fan meet was only for a couple of days, but it felt longer. The initial plan was to go with Jen but because of her shoot, the plan was changed and now Harsh can’t back track from it.
Harsh: See you soon.
Harsh took his bag and walked out of the apartment. Jen waved a good bye and closed the door behind her. Jen realised how Harsh might have felt when she left the country for a vacation. The thought broke her heart. It was not the days but the distance that hurt her. It was long.
Harsh reached the Thai airport. The flight arrived on time. Harsh was amazed by the fans in the airport. They had posters and t-shirts with his picture and name. He was overwhelmed. He went and greeted all of them and gave autographs. He signed on his pictures and then he found the picture of him and Jen and his heart melted. He signed on her picture. It kind of made him feel like he was with her, like she was his. He knew that it was crazy after he did it but then he couldn’t change it. He hoped that the JenShad shippers never found it out. Harsh went to a hotel from the airport and took rest. He had a fan meet in the evening and one the next day and then he would catch a flight back to Jen.
Jen was busy with shoot. She missed Harsh a lot. Her new co-stars were nice, but they were not Harsh and no one else could ever be him. Jen was sad but when the camera rolled, she forgot her personal life and became the character she was given to play. She became Monica Stephen Ronald, the army officer. She was strong and could not be taunted by anything. She played her part well. It was when Jen came back from her scene that she found Harsh’s missed calls in her phone. She immediately called back and Harsh didn’t pick up. She realised that he was busy. Jen kept the phone aside and started memorizing her dialogues. If Harsh was there he would by heart her dialogues as well and would tell her when she goes blank. Jen felt like crying. She kept on reminding herself that she was an adult and she should stop acting like a teenager. She concentrated on the dialogues.
