My Dad's Best Friend

Chapter 8: My Dad's Competition

Being an actor is no piece of cake, when you're not working. It takes a calm mind, consistent working on yourself personally. The isolation you face when there is no work environment should be a preparation period before you get in front of the camera. I still remember my first audition. Well, I was prepared with the monologue which was handed to me by my then agent, practiced for hours in front of the mirror at nights, controlling the expressions, making pointers of adding personal touch. Personal touch is everything. Sometimes it's not observed well when you are cast, but with consistency it will become a signature

Then the day has finally come, I've been waiting for.

Lights, camera, action...

FLASH

I felt someone tug the earphone out of my ear while I was on the treadmill causing an interruption in the memory lane. I turned to see my brother panting.

"I've been... huh screaming... your name," Raj sounded as if he's going die panting. What I didn't understand is, why would he come to the gym I workout at, looking so exhilarated when I don't like any interruption in my workout. It's my only place to be left with my thoughts. Back home, I find no peace even when we're having a quiet family dinner. The only time there is noise is when NICK comes over. As far as I am concerned, she hasn't visited home since my lash out. But, I did see her a couple times at the stairway while getting home from the gym. She was getting down immersed in the phone as if she didn't see me. At first, I thought she was ignoring me, but she wasn't. The other day I got out to the hallway to take my food delivery and I saw her struggling with her keys trying to open the door. She looked at me, smiled and said a quick hello, still twisting the key and scurried away, when the door opened. So, I think she is not avoiding me. But she is not visiting either. Maybe, Raj has something to say about.

"Speak." I spat out making it obvious, I hate interruption.

Raj looked scared. But he still managed to say, "I don't know why, but I think Nick is avoiding me."

"Useless," I thought.

He continued, "At first, I thought she's avoiding us because you lashed out at her. But, I knocked on her door just to check up on her and a guy opened the door."

"And?" I asked, having received no further information.

"The guy was shirtless, he is hot and has better abs than you do." He said pointing to my torso with eyes wide open.

"What's your point?" I asked him as if I didn't care, but it bothered me.

"There is a fair chance that he's her boyfriend." He said disapprovingly.

"Good, now you can stop obsessing about her. Don't you have a missing girlfriend to worry about?" I was curt and walked to the cycling section.

"I am not obsessing about her. You told me, she's here to marry you. I asked him where Nick was and he said she left for some work and shut the door. Don't you think it's too soon for her to move on?" Raj was still on that topic.

I stopped pedaling and looked straight at him and said, "I don't think there is anything going on. I mean yes, I lashed out at her and humiliated at her but I think she is protecting dad from something."

"What do you mean?" Raj was confused.

"After yelling at her, she just gave a one liner and left. That's not something a girl would do unless there is more to it. And then again..." I stopped.

"Again, what?"

"I think our father is hiding something, and Nikitasha is helping him. She's not here to marry me." I said confidently.