ARTE MANSION
Arun is seated on his room staring at the laptop in front of him. In his hands are the court order, instructing Kunal Arte to appear for the forth-coming hearing the next two days.
‘Ma, had you not been my mother, I don’t not know what I would have done to you for this.’ thinks Arun angrily.
Mobile phone rings and Arun looks at it irritatingly. He take it in his hands and looks at it. The name flashes as ‘Production Manager’. Arun gets irritated more. He attends the call.
‘Yes, Manav.’
‘Sir, you have not updated any schedule for the Darjeeling shoot. We have only two more days left for the herione’s call sheet to get over.’ Says Manav from other side. His voice shows worried tone.
‘Manav. I am not in a mood to answer you now. I am some in other tension. I will update you soon. Bye’ says Arun and disconnects the call without even waiting for the opposite person to talk. He throws the mobile on the sofa and closes his eyes.
Few minutes later his mobile rings again. Arun’s face turn in anger and he does not attend the call. The ring stops and rings once again. Arun takes his mobile phone and is about to disconnect the call but he glances the caller which flashes as ‘Bank Manager’. He gets shocked and sits straight forward
‘Arey yaar! What is this? Why he is calling so suddenly?’
He attends the call immediately
‘Hello Mr.Mehta. How are you?’ speaks Arun in an forced cheerful tone.
….
‘Yeah. We are in process of scheduling the next shoot’
…
‘Place is yet to be decided’
…
‘Yes. As per script we were about to leave Darjeeling. But due to some last minute changes we had changed the plan’
…
‘Nothing serious. Just an usual thing. We will start the schedule in two days.’
…
‘What?’ speaks Arun in shock. ‘You wanted to watch the shoot?’
…
‘But what is the necessity? It is just the final stage of the movie. Climax part of the shoot.’
…
‘Yeah. Ok. Formality means what can I say then?’ speaks Arun to the person in a dull voice.
…
‘Day-after-tomorrow you are coming?’ asks Arun with a shock
…
‘Yeah. OK. I will share you the schedule timings’ says Arun with irritation which was carefully concealed to not get revealed.
…
‘Yes. See you then. Bye’ speaks Arun and disconnects the call.
‘In two days we have the hearing and on the same day, bank authorities want to see the shoot. I am totally screwed. If bank authorities find about the case, they will not release the next payment. Oh! Bhayya, What have you done? Everything is messing up one by one.’
Arun become tensed and he dials a number in his mobile.
‘Manav, we are scheduling the shoot day after tomorrow. Speak with the director and update the plans soon. Circulate everything to everyone. Got it?’
‘Sir, We are shooting in Darjeeling. Tickets arrangement may take more time.’ Says Manav.
‘Manav. Darjeeling shoot cannot be scheduled right now. Discuss with the director and plan the sequences which we can complete it within ARTE STUDIOS floor. Make it fast’
‘Sir, but…’
‘No Ifs and BUTs. Do it fast. Day-after-tomorrow bank authorities are coming for spot for a formality checking purpose. So no surprises, got it?’
‘OK. Sir’ replies Manav with hesitation
‘Don’t hesitate. Do it’ says Arun in a commanding tone and disconnects the call.
--- --- ---
SAHANA APRTMENTS
Mrunalini knocks the door three times and waits for it to open. The door opens after few seconds and Radha stands beside it. Her face and eyes does not show the friendly expression which she shows usually to her. Mrunalini’s eyes notices it sharply but she smiles at her as if she did not noticed it. Radha lets her inside and Mrunalini comes in. Kannapiraan who was reading newspaper looks at her and gives her a friendly smile.
‘Mrunalini ji, please come. It has been long time since we met.’ Says Kannapiraan with a voice which pretends to be happy. He looks at Radha who does not support his statement. He signs her like ‘no’ and gestures her to smile. Radha pretends to smile at Mrunalini.
‘You please sit. I will bring some refreshments’ says Radha and makes a step.
‘Arey Radha ji, please no formalities. I am fine. I have come here to talk with you both. That is it.’ Says Mrunalini to her.
Radha and Kannapiraan look at each other in surprise.
‘It is ok Mrunalini ji. There is nothing wrong if we talk with some refreshments. Radha you bring that pineapple juice from the refrigerator for her’
‘But…’
‘Mrunalini ji’ interrupts Kannapiraan. ‘Let her go. Only then I can get that pineapple juice to drink. Otherwise she will not think let me. Thanks to my border reading diabetes. You know it is my favorite’ says KP to her with a smile.
Mrunalini smiles at him back and says ‘Ok. Then no problem’
Radha brings some pineapple juice in a glass and serves it to all. She then sits beside Kannapiraan waiting for Mrunalini to finish her drinking and start the topic. Mrunalini finishes her drink in few seconds and keeps her glass on the tray. She looks at both of them uncomfortably.
‘Hey bhagwan! Is what I am doing right now is correct or not? Please give me the courage and be with me until I accomplish my mission’ thinks MRunalini to herself.
‘Where is Rahini? Not at home?’ asks Mrunalini looking at the whole house.
‘She has left home early today. Every Wednesday one of her live programme goes on-air. So she leaves early than usual’ replies Kannapiraan to her.
Radha gives a straight and deep look at her Mrunalini which makes her more uncomfortable. KP breaks the silence.
‘Mrunalini ji, you were saying that you want to talk to us.’
Mrunalini hesitates for few seconds. She then looks at Radha
‘Radha ji, I am very sorry for the way my son behaved with you all that day.’
‘Not an issue Mrunalini ji. Both of them have forgotten that. You don’t feel bad.’ Says KP to her.
Radha gives an angry look at him.
‘Actually I came to know one thing from my son that the court hearing is scheduled tomorrow’
Radha and KP look at each other embarrassingly.
‘What can I say? You cannot imagine how angry I am with my elder son for what he did to my grand-daughter. It is the reason that I did not oppose Rahini when she filed case against him. I thought he should learn a nice lesson for everything which he had done.’ Says Mrunalini.
The other two do not say anything and keep looking at her.
‘But what I have thought now is, instead of punishing him legally we can find some other way where he realizes is mistake and reconciles with his daughter again. Whatever happens, nothing can change a relationship of a father-daughter, isn’t it’
‘Mruna ji. I cannot understand what you wanted to say’ says Radha in an irritation filled tone.
‘Yes. I am coming to that. I want Rahini to reconsider withdrawing this case. I spoke to her about it earlier and she did not answer anything.’
‘Mruna ji. We are very sorry to say this to you. She is a grown-up and we never interfere in her work related decisions. It is her decision to file the case against your son. She will never consent to withdraw it no matter whoever including us recommends to her. I am afraid we will not be in any use for you in this matter’ says Radha to her.
‘Arey! Not really. I knew it very well. I am not asking you to recommend to her rather I have come her to discuss about that some other way which would make my son reconcile with his daughter.’ Says Mrunalini
No reply from the other two. They continue to her speech.
‘A mother is an important person in a child’s life especially for a girl child. She is the gum which fixes the father and daughter together. Unfortunately Trisha is not blessed to get that relationship by birth. May be she would have not faced such a fate had her mother was alive.’
Once again the other two look at each other in wonder.
‘You both might have known that how Trisha and Rahini share a beautiful bonding with each other. No one can think that they are not related unless someone mentions it deliberately.’
Radha’s face gives an expression like she has understood something. KP listens to her.
‘I had thought like why can’t Rahini be such a bond between both of them?’ says Mrunalini and looks at both of them.
Again silence from both of them.
‘I mean to say why can’t we make Rahini the authenticated mother of Trisha. Do you understand what I am trying to say?’ asks Mrunalini in a low voice hesitantly and she turns towards the entrance door and gets shocked.
Rahini stands at the door entrance like a frozen statue with a shocking expression in her face.
--- --- ---
Arun comes to Rohit’s room and gets more angry on looking at him. Rohit is lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. Arun goes near to him and says
‘Well bhayya, you should get practiced to live in a dark room which has no air condition, fan but has only broken brick wall, mosquito bite and has door made of iron bar.’
Rohit gives an irritated look at him.
‘I am not saying anything wrong’ says Arun to him mockingly. ’I know how much sophisticated life you have lived right from your birth. If you are suddenly exposed to such an environment then you will be struggling a lot. So a friendly advice. Your position is far better. At least you will have some place to sleep at night but I don’t know where can I go after I have been thrown out of this house. Mom will surely not accommodate me in her new home as she is angry on me for supporting you. I should be very fast to find a place where I can get at least one meal per day and a small place to sleep’
‘Shut up’ yells Rohit at Arun angrily.
‘No use in yelling at me. You are having your court hearing very soon. Shortly this world is going to find out that how cruel criminal is their Super star Rohit kumar to threaten a small child and abuse her. The very minute the news spreads around the country, the bank loan is going to be stopped. We have mortgaged this house for the loan. So no further payment, no movie completion. Interest is going to swallow us, you be thrown to jail and I will be thrown to the middle of the street’
Rohit gets up from his bed angrily and holds Arun’s shirt. ‘I said shut up or else I will break your tooth into pieces.’
‘Bhayya, do you remember about the your role as a prisoner in the movie ‘Kaidhi Ka Diary’ (a prisoner’s diary). You played the role of a guy who murdered your own wife and facing gallows. The journalist heroine revealed your crime and got you imprisoned. But as time goes on, she finds that you are not guilty and both of you come together to prove your innocence. The journalist heroine in the course falls in love with you. What a coincidence! Same situation, same hero, same journalist heroine but crime alone is different. Crime is done for real. Let me see what is going to be the climax with the journalist heroine.’
Rohit looks at him with anger without saying anything.
‘On the first day of your shoot, the prisoner’s dress designed for you was so tight. You got angry on that day after waiting for a long time to get the dress to fit in your body. Your patience ran out and the whole day the shooting was called off. I don’t believe such things would happen for real. Sure the jails must have free sized uniforms for everyone. Even if they don’t have, you cannot shout and call off anything isn’t it bhayya?’
‘Enough’ shouts Rohit at Arun. ‘Stop your non-sense immediately else I will not be jailed for threatening my daughter but for killing my brother.’
‘It would be better if any such thing happens. I will be free from all the messes which you create.’ replies Arun in frustration.
‘Wait a minute’ says Rohit to him. ‘What did you say? Same journalist heroine?’ asks Rohit to Arun
Arun mockingly smiles at him.
‘What do you mean?’ asks Rohit in a raised tone to him.
Arun gives an handshake to Rohit and says ‘Congratulations bhayya! For the first time ever your photos are going to be published as a criminal in all of the magazines, newspapers, television etc. etc. Super star Rohit Kumar – Hero in reel-life but villain in real life. Title is nice isn’t it?’
Rohit gives a shocking look at Arun.
‘Stop staring like that. I have crossed all types of shocking moments from the time this issue arose. My eyes are paining for repeatedly giving shocked staring like this.’
‘My opinion about these news reporters are proved once again. How cheap they are! They have not changed at all in these many years. Same peeping mentality’ says Rohit in a disgust.
‘Bhayya! Whatever happened cannot be changed. Now the problem is, if you attend the hearing then you are finished. On the other hand, we need to schedule the shoot on the same day. Two different problems need one simple solution. Who can give that to us?’
‘I can give you that’ hears a voice from the entrance of the room.
Gagan is standing near the door smiling at both of them. Arun is literally taken aback not only by her entry but also her unusual appearance.
No comments:
Post a Comment