CHAPTER – 6

2014: Shimla

Reception of Mr. Akash Kumar and Mrs. Nisha Kumar

Loud music played in the background. Akash and Nisha are on the stage receiving greetings from guests. Nisha and Akash are introducing their friends and relatives to each other. After a while Nisha sent for Pallavi who was busy dealing with guests.

“You’re ok?”

“No. It’s so hot here with all the glaring lights and camera flashes. To top it my cheeks are aching from all the smiling”.

Pallavi giggled.

“Don’t you dare laugh at me!”

Just then their mother called out for Pallavi.

“Enjoy sister”

She winked at Nisha and went to her mother who is standing with Viren.

“Pallavi, why aren’t you dealing with your guests properly? Take Viren to buffet area. Make him comfortable”.

“Oh it’s okay Aunty. I am just walking around. After all this is my first time in South India”

“Yes Maa, he must be checking out South Indian girls!”

“Pallavi”, Laxmi reprimanded.

“She is right Aunty. I was checking out the girls here. I had heard that south Indian girls are really beautiful. But after seeing Pallavi, I was not so sure; so just checking out to confirm!”

“How dare you?”

Laxmi laughed with Viren while Pallavi made faces at him.

“Pallavi”

“Yes Papa”

“Pranav Malhotra is outside. But there is huge crowd. Let’s go and help him inside”

“Ok Papa”

She walked with her father towards the entrance. It has been almost a year since they have seen each other. After their first film they had met during few functions related to it, award nights and some common parties but lately they got really busy with their respective careers. But they did talk often. But the thought of seeing him after long did make her feel excited for some reason.

She raised her eyes towards the entrance just in time to clash with Pranav’s eyes. He strode in his stylish grey suit with his aviators on; a tirade of people still hurled around him. But his eyes were only on her. Veer Nanda greeted him and asked his daughter to lead Pranav to the stage to wish the married couple.

She introduced Pranav to Akash. They shake hands passing pleasantries and he acknowledges Nisha with a nod. Nisha smiles and thanks him for making it to the reception. All pose for a photo together.

She walked him down from the stage but just when they were about to talk, one of her relative came asking for something and took her along. Something made her look back at him and she saw his eyes trained on her retreating form. She didn’t feel a good vibe but also couldn’t understand the jittery feeling within her.

What’s happening?

Viren has settled himself two tables left of Jasmine. She is silently sipping a juice, watching the hustle and bustle around her. He took a sip of his drink staring at her. A child stamped her saree pallu accidently; but she gave a cute smile to him and ruffled his hair. Viren smiled.

Pallavi is walking around and talking to the guests;  at the same time stealing glances at Pranav, whose intense eyes did flitter back to her often. He was walking parallel to her at a distance with people around and between them. 

Nisha looks up at Akash when he squeezes her hand. He gives her a warm smile. Nisha forgot her fatigue and smiled. She leaned closer to him while Akash had her hand encased in his.

         

Veer and Laxmi Nanda stood beside each other with a proud, happy feeling embracing them. But when Laxmi whimpered silently thinking about her daughter leaving today, Veer took his wife in a bear hug reassuring her of his presence in her life, always.

Pallavi was talking to someone when Pranav approached her.

“I’m leaving”

“So early, you didn’t have dinner”

“I’m already late for my flight. I have a shoot tomorrow”

“Janaki ma’am?”

“She had a business trip. Conveyed her wishes”

“Oh ok”

“Hey buddy” Viren joined them.

“You’re not coming today?”

“No. I'll be heading back after two days. I'm just fascinated by this place; want to just roam around and find some good locations if possible”

“Not just that, he is busy flirting with my cousins. And half of them were even going gaga over him”

“Oh really, then my stay will be worth. A South Indian bride will be perfect for me”

“I think you didn’t notice my past tense. They ‘were’, but now they are drooling over the Pranav Malhotra!”

She laughed at his expression while Pranav passed him a smirk.

“I think you should leave buddy. Don’t steal my limelight”

Just then Jasmine signalled her that she was leaving and Pallavi strode towards her leaving the two guys together.  

                           

                                                  ***********

She felt a change that day, a change she didn’t want to dwell upon. So did Pranav when he was in the flight back to Mumbai. Thoughts that shouldn’t enter his mind were taking precedence.

It’s just a momentary lapse, he mused.

I’m just over thinking, she mused.

                                                             ***********

2014: Canada

Pranav and Pallavi have come together on-screen once again for Viren’s directorial debut. The film is totally based in Canada and the entire crew has camped there for the coming months. Viren's set presented the same spirit as him – carefree and colourful. But the highlight of the whole scenario was seeing a highly worked up Viren, quite contrary to his cool guy image. The fun bone of any other set is the task master here and made everyone stand on their toes along with him. 

Shooting is progressing and now they were having a confrontation scene between Pranav and Pallavi being shot at a hilltop.

SHOOT.

“Why didn’t you profess your love all those years back? You knew how much you meant to me, you knew.....that I loved you!”

“Yes I knew. But I wasn't sure about my feelings. I wasn't sure if this is an infatuation or more than that. I wasn’t sure if it was just a phase which will fade or evolve. I thought it would wither with time. But it didn't. Hence I'm here”.

She gave a sad smile moving away from him.

“Time never waits Raj. Today.... I can’t be yours”

CUT.

“Pallavi, Pranav, you both were good. So now let's go for a take. Pallavi just apply a little more glycerine”.

“Ok”

“Okay guys, let's go for a take”

Start camera, Action

“Why didn’t you profess your love all those years back? You knew how much you meant to me, you knew.....that I loved you!”

“Yes I knew. But I wasn't sure about my feelings. I wasn't sure if this is an infatuation or more than that. I wasn’t sure if it was just a phase which will fade or evolve. I thought it would wither away with time. But it didn't. Hence I'm here”.

Maya gave a sad smile moving away from him.

“Time never waits Raj. Today.... ”

 Pranav realized she’s standing very close to the edge of the hill and if she takes a step back she might fall. Before he could warn her, she moved behind.

“PALLAVI...”

“Huh.....aaaaaah”

Before anyone could react, she lost her footing.

“Pallavi”

“Pallavi maám”

Viren and other crew members ran to the edge to where Pranav is kneeling. Though she lost her footing and fell, luckily she got hold of a rock; hence she is still hanging in air with a steel grip on the rock.

 For a moment Pranav felt his breath has stopped. Viren is trying to get aids to help her. She is holding onto the rock with difficulty and is petrified of loosing balance any moment. She is trying to hold on while the team ran about to get hold of a rope. Her hands felt slippery and she screamed.  

Pranav lurched forward getting off the shock and bent himself down the edge pushing everyone aside in the process. He offered his hand to Pallavi.

“Pranav, careful”

“Pallavi hold my hand”

“Huh.....what if I ...fall?”

“You won't. I will never leave your hand”

“Pranav it’s risky. You both will lose balance”

“Do you trust me Pallavi?”

She raised her eyes to meet his. It only took her a second to take the risk after looking into his eyes. She raised her left hand a bit forward while holding on to the rock with the other hand. He leaned further to hold her hand. Viren tried to help as he can.

“Now leave the other hand”

“King?!”

“Pallavi, trust me” he nodded reassuringly.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; the next second she left her other hand. The moment she did, Pranav pulled her up with all his might.

“Aaaahhhh”

THUD!

She was pulled up and she landed upon Pranav who was lying on the ground. Viren yelled to get a vehicle and first aid box. Unit members ran to fulfil the instructions. Pranav breathed slowly with Pallavi's weight on him. He tried to check on her and that’s when he realized she’s unconscious. That sent him into panic mode.

“Pallavi? Pallavi?”

“Pranav, the van is here. Let's take her to hospital”.

“Viren, she...”

“It's just the shock. Let's take her fast. She’s bleeding slightly”.

Only then Pranav saw the cut on her forehead. Immediately he got up with Pallavi in his arms. Viren helped them into the van, Pallavi’s manager and Pranav headed for the hospital while Viren tried to wind up things at the spot.

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

Pallavi has twisted an ankle and a cut on her head; she is advised bed rest for two weeks. Since a head injury is involved hospital authorities decided to keep her there for 48 hours for other checkups.  But when her mother got to know about the accident, she immediately reached Canada. Viren’s assistant picked her up from the airport. She was joined by Viren at the hospital.

“Hello aunty, how was the flight?”

“Hello son, all fine. How is Pallavi?”

“She’s fine now. Pranav stayed at night. Sharanya (Pallavi’s manager) will come in the morning. She was constantly at hospital so we told her to go get fresh and catch some sleep”.

“Oh thank you Karan, I was worried. It has been 2 days since the incident and I couldn't reach near my daughter soon”.

When they entered they saw Pallavi sleeping on the hospital bed and Pranav was checking his phone.

Laxmi reached him and folded her hands before him in a thank you gesture.

“Thank you son, thank you for saving my daughter’s life. Thank you so much”.

Pranav shared an uncomfortable look with Viren who understood his awkwardness. He was never good at small talks, so Viren diverted Laxmi’s attention.

“It is not a serious accident, Pallavi will be fine soon, and you just relax aunty. We are all here for her”.

Pallavi woke up hearing her mother’s whimpers.

“Amma?”

“Pallavi”

Pranav and Viren walked out of the room giving privacy to the mother-daughter duo.

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

Pranav helped Pallavi out of the cab and onto the wheel chair with help from Sharanya. Once inside her suite, he helped her onto the bed to rest with Sharanya’s assistance. He had to leave for the sets since they were completing shots which didn’t require her presence. So he quickly bid a farewell and rushed back to the shoot venue. He had made time out for her discharge.

1 week passed. Pranav used to check on Pallavi whenever he can. Laxmi could see the care and concern he showed towards Pallavi and adored him like a son. What she saw in Pranav, was a caring brother figure for Pallavi. As for Pranav and Pallavi, their relationship was changing levels unbeknownst to them.

The shock that he underwent at her accident made all of Pranav’s protective instincts to rise up. The fear of losing her made him realize her importance in his life. Pallavi didn’t know how to define his concern for her. Another way to put it would be, she feared to define it.