A Tale Of Schemes... #1,#2,#3

Chapter 27

*Anitha Pov*

"Again?" I asked Keerthi in confusion and she nodded sighing.

At present we are waiting for the shooting to start but turns out another important character artist has changed to a new actor last weekend but the news didn't spread out.

Today is going to be the last day Keerthi joins me for shooting or any other schedule as she trained the new assistant of hers which was Vikranth's idea after hearing her words.

She already stretched it to two weeks even though Manoj and I were behind her to stop stressing herself like this for the past one week as we let her be for the first week after she told me the news.

But she was adamant that the new assistant need to be trained properly and one month is nothing at all.

"Last time it was because the selected actor backed out but this time it is the new artist who reduced the payment and also has a good fan base compared to the selected one. So, they changed the actor." She explained.

"Well, wouldn't that get the producer into trouble?" I asked and she shrugged as it is better to not involve with all this.

"Is there any information to know the style of her acting?" I added and she shook her head.

"Director said it is a surprise for the whole crew. Anyway, you are shooting with the actress today. So, don't worry about anything else and do what you practiced." Keerthi said smiling and I nodded.

After getting called for a shot, we both stepped out along with her assistant with normal expression but my expression froze after seeing the actress who is talking to the director as of now.

"She looks young and definitely seems more suitable for the role." Keerthi said smiling but she doesn't know how my mind went blank the moment I stared at her.

What is she doing here? I want to ask that question loudly but with a deep breath, I calmed down and continued to walk towards the director.

"Ms. Anny! Are you surprised? Ms. Shalini is a popular model in India and I am sure you already know her. After she worked in my last film, I really wished for her to work in my next but she was not suitable for the lead role unlike you. And she was also not interested in any other role. But now she is so excited to join this film." He said with a big grin and I slowly nodded with a smile covering my face as an act of politeness and nothing else.

"Anitha!" she said smiling at me with no act involved in it unlike me and I gave her a nod.

"You both know each other?" He asked looking at us.

"Shouldn't we start shooting, Director? The scene needs to be shot with needed sunlight and it will be difficult if there is no natural light." I said staring at him and he nodded checking the time before calling up everyone to start the scene shooting.

"It's been a long time, Anitha." She continued while Keerthi poked my back as she is standing behind me.

"What is it?" I asked turning my head.

"You both know each other?" she asked repeating the director's question.

"We were acquaintances in the past." I replied and Keerthi gave me a look of disbelief and she must have realized there is something more and immediately stopped asking the next question.

The scene was simple and somehow I ended up not making any mistakes but inside I was wishing to leave this place right now if possible.

After a few hours, with a lot of incidents involving me ignoring her every time she tried to talk normally like we were friends but responded politely whenever I had to as a co-actor.