CHAPTER – 3

                                          

Pallavi looked up and was stunned. Pranav Malhotra stood before her eyes. He slowly walked up to her. She had always fantasized this moment, in every possible filmy way a teenage mind could conjure up.  But now when it is happening in reality, she couldn’t react at all. She was looking forward to meet him at today’s event for the first time but this surprise meeting stumped her. She was like any other fan when they meet their idol.

Jasmine joined Pallavi by the time Pranav reached her.

“Hi Sir”

Pranav nodded at her.

“Meet my friend here, Pallavi Nanda; I hope you know she is the leading lady of your new film”

“Yeah...I know. Hi Pallavi”

Pallavi is elated to hear him addressing her by her name. When she didn’t respond for few seconds, Jasmine cleared her throat to get her attention. She gulped down her hyper excitement and addressed him as casually as possible.

“Hi Sir”

Just then his cell rang, it was Janaki’s call.

“We’ll meet in detail at tonight’s event. Bye”

“Bye Sir”

As soon as he left Pallavi swooned and jumped in air going crazy at her fan moment with Pranav. Jasmine couldn’t help but smile.

Who would believe she’s going to be an actress herself?!

                                       

                                          **********

Pranav is unsettled after meeting Pallavi. She stirs something in him. He couldn’t explain the connection, the tug he felt towards her. Now when he met her in real, the tug has intensified. He didn’t want to ponder over such disturbing thoughts but just then he saw her walking graciously on to the stage. They were at the pooja ceremony of Bepannah.

She was an open book. He could read the excitement and nervousness glinting in her eyes. It was then she saw him. She hesitantly smiled at him while she joined Suraj Gupta.

Suraj introduced Pallavi to the audience. She saw her parents in the crowd, beaming with pride and joy at her; she sent them a big smile. She saw Jasmine, who imitated a whistling gesture which slightly soothed her nerves. Pranav was observing her till Viren destroyed his moment.

“Hotness personified right?”

Pranav gave a weird look to Viren who returned an impassive one. Soon the lamp is lit by the guest of honour and prominent team members, thereby completing the official ceremony. Press began their series of questions which Suraj patiently responded to along with Pranav and Pallavi pitching in when addressed.

Pranav and Pallavi are asked to pose for the media together. She felt nervous to stand close to Pranav. He was natural in front of the camera and smiled at the lenses, but he felt more than saw Pallavi’s rigid stance. He tried to ease her by giving a small smile of assurance. She felt stupid of her reactions and soon calmed her nerves and tried to pose well for the flashes.

                                    *******************

Few hours later, the party was slowly winding up. Jasmine is having her drink and watching Pallavi interact with few potential guests when Viren appeared beside her.

“Hello Sweetie! Nice find!” He gestured his glass towards Pallavi.

“Keep your eyes off her” she responded coldly.

“Don’t worry darling, she is hot but I have my eyes only for you!”

“It’s Ms. Elvis for you”

He just smiled at her.

Oh god! How I love riling her up.

Eyeing her head to toe he continued.

“By the way, you are looking incredibly HOT!”

 “Oh please spare me Sinha boy! Try your luck and charm elsewhere!”  she mocked.

“At least you agreed I am charming” he winked at her.

“But I guess I should follow your advice for now” he said that when he saw a barely dressed girl giving him an inviting smile. Jasmine let out a sarcastic smile.

“Get a life Sinha lad”

“I think 'getting a room' would be better option for now!”

“Jerk!”

“What to do, a man has to work hard for his needs Jas!”

He winked and moved towards the other girl. Jasmine was heading to get another drink when she noticed Pallavi smiling at her. She ignored her cheeky grin and headed for the bar. Pallavi has always seen how a certain Viren Sinha could always get under the skin of Jasmine Elvis, a very rare feat! She has high hopes for them despite their reversed age difference. She was smiling to herself when she heard a deep voice addressing her name.

“Hello Sir”

“Enjoying the party?” Pranav asked sipping his drink.

“Feels surreal, but yes, I am glad to be here today.”

He gave a nod and continued to sip his drink letting his eyes wander across the hall. She took his silence as a cue and turned to leave when she heard his next question.

“Why Cinema; I mean what attracts you to it – the fame, glamour quotient, money, the lifestyle?”

Pallavi’s eyes flashed “My passion!”

When she saw the sarcastic glint in his eyes she knew he has heard such fake declarations a lot to believe her.

“My ambition is to perform some unforgettable characters, do some good movies and act alongside legends if I truly get lucky. Cinema is my life and world. I don’t know anything beyond it. I believe this is the only purpose of my existence and has been waiting for it from God knows how long! I’m sure this is my final destination.”

Pranav liked the spark and fire in her; he understood it since he had felt the same when he was starting out.

 “I am honoured then. I’m looking forward to working with you Pallavi”

The way he said her name brought a smile to her face.

“Thank you. It’s a dream to be working with you”

“I am reputed as a tantrum king and a very hard to work with co-star. So I think you will change your statement after this film” he smiled at her.

She smiled. Just then she saw her mother standing a few feet away.

“Sir, this is my mother. Maa, come and meet Sir”

“Hello Sir”

“Oh please. Pranav is fine”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Maya is one of your crazy fans. I’m sure she might be really happy to work with you in her first film itself.”

Pallavi felt a little embarrassed when she saw Pranav’s smirk.

“Feelings are mutual maám. I was just saying that I am looking forward to work with her. Suraj sir has a lot of faith in her potential and he’s rarely wrong. I guess she is here to stay.”

“That’s a big compliment, coming from you”.

Pallavi felt immense happiness within her at his sincere appreciation.

“It was nice to meet you. Pallavi we need to leave to airport. Your Papa is looking for you”.

“Ok. Bye sir.”

 “Hmm”

All through the party Pranav felt his eyes going back to Pallavi. Though busy with the attention she was getting, Pallavi did notice his frequent glances. But she didn’t know what to make of it.

Maybe he’s drunk or it’s normal and I’m over thinking?!But why am I feeling excited?!

In the next few days she got too busy and had no time to ponder over his glances or the warm feeling it gave her.