Chapter 1: Just an ordinary day
Unlike many girls of her chawl, Madhubala
Shamsher Malik rose with the sun. This day was
just like the rest in that respect. She woke up,
did pooja, and helped her mother, Padmini, cook
breakfast for the rest of the family. What was
different today was that her engagement to
Mukund had finally been fixed. Her friend has
finally managed to overcome the strenuous
objections of his mother, who protested his
choice of a chawl girl.
Letting her mother's soothing chatter wash over
her, Madhu thought over her relationship with
Mukund. He was a salesman, with hopes of
attaining a promotion soon. They had met in a
bus stop, where Madhu had initially thought he
was a stalker and maced him. Lucky for her,
Mukund had laughed the incident off. The two
had become friends afterwards, and the thought
of more had never crossed her mind. So her
surprise when Mukund proposed had been
genuine, and her doubts were made worse by his
mother's attitude. But Mukund had been
persistent, and Madhu knew she wanted a life
partner who she respected and liked. Mukund fit
the bill.
Sometimes though, Madhu's thoughts wandered,
and she dreamed of more. The type of passion
that was so popular in the films Trishna
obsessed over, the type of madness that caught
a person and...
"Madhu? Madhu? Where are you today, beta?"
Padmini's voice broke through her thoughts, and
Madhu startled, turning towards her smiling
mother.
"Sorry Ma, I was just thinking about..."
"Mukund and your engagement?" Padmini
finished. Madhu nodded, smiling weakly. Quiet
descended in the small kitchen as both women
continued to make breakfast for the family. After
a few minutes, Padmini decided to broach the
subject again.
"He is good boy, Madhu." She said gently, "And
he loves you, anyone can see that. I'm sure he'll
make you happy. And I'm happy for you...such a
good rishta, so quickly too!"
Madhu paused, struggling to articulate her
thoughts.
Ma...what did you feel for my father? Before
marriage? Did you...care for him? Did he
change? Will Mukund?
"Ma, what was the relationship between you and
my biological father. Did you know him before
marriage?" Seeing Padmini's raised brows, she
added hastily, "I only want to know because
really, how well can you know a person before
you marry them?"
Padmini remained silent for a few moments,
gathering her thoughts.
"Madhu, all I want is for you to respect your
husband, and for him to respect you. That is the
most important thing. You and Mukund have
that. You'll have a happy, strong marriage as a
result."
"You're not answering my question." Madhu said
quietly.
"Our situations are different, beta. It doesn't
apply to you and Mukund at all. Please, let us
not talk of unpleasant things early in the
morning."
The remaining preparations were finished in
silence, both women absorbed in their thoughts.
XXX
Like Madhu, RK, one of the most sought after
actors in the film industry, also got up
frequently in the morning. Unlike Madhu, pooja,
and making breakfast was typically not his goals.
Moans echoed through the room as he reached
his peak, the body beneath him arching in
pleasure as well. The moans of the model he
was with...what was her name? grated his ears,
and he wished he had gagged her before.
After taking a few minutes to get his breath
back, he withdrew from the arms of the girl,
making his way quickly to the shower, wanting to
get rid of the scent of her perfume.
"RK, where are you going?" She called. He didn't
answer, too busy cleaning himself. She huffed,
putting on her clothes from the night before. A
smile made its way to her face. Surely all her
dreams would come true now? RK had chosen
her! A role in his upcoming way was sure to
come!
Thinking these happy thoughts, she finished
dressing, sitting on the rumpled bed, waiting for
his arrival. His face when he came out of the
bathroom and saw her, though, sent chills up her
spine.
"Why are you still here?" RK asked her
derisively.
"Where would I go? Shouldn't we discuss our
relationship? Where we go from here?" She
stuttered.
"What? Are you serious? Don't you understand
the concept of a one night stand? This is what
you are. A relationship? Don't make me laugh."
He sneered.
She shook her head in denial. "No, you like me.
Please don't play coy now."
RK rolled his eyes. "Bittuji!" he bellowed. In a
few moments, his faithful assistant was in the
room.
"Chief, breakfast is waiting downstairs for you.
I'll take care of things here."
"Good. Please make Trina understand..."
"My name is Sangam!" The model broke in
offended.
RK scoffed. "As if I care." Blowing a kiss at the
shaken woman, he sauntered out of the room.
Bittuji and Sangam stared at each other for a
few moments.
"Who are you?" She finally asked.
"I'm Chief's personal assistant. I take care of
everything for him. Including taking out the
trash." He sneered. Sangam paled, finally
understanding that there was nothing to be
gained for her here. Defeated she gathered her
belongings, and walked down with Bittuji. RK was
breakfasting alone, as the rest of the family had
not woken yet.
"Sangam." He called to her. She turned back,
hopeful that he had realized his mistake.
"I pick my actress on how well they can act, not
on how well they do...other things. Remember
that next time, sweetheart."
Humiliated, she turned around and walked out.
After making sure Sangam had left, Bittuji went
back into the house. RK was just finishing his
breakfast and reviewing his script for shooting
that day.
"Bittuji," He asked rhetorically, "why are women
so stupid?"
"Your presence must sap away their brain cells,
Chief!"
"Humph! Only two categories- stupid or selfish."
As he said this Deepali entered the room, hoping
to get some time alone before everyone else
came down.
"Stupid left, now selfish makes her appearance."
RK groaned, getting up as she neared the dining
table.
"RK..."
"No. Too early to deal with you. Let's go,
Bittuji!"
Both left the room, leaving the woman fuming at
another missed opportunity.
"Today is the auditions for the new heroine,
right?" RK asked as he and Bittuji made their way
to one of his various luxury cars.
"Yes, Chief. The director is looking for a fresh
face instead of an established actress."
"Hmm...maybe I'll peek in to get an idea of who
my new leading lady is going to be." RK mused
with a smirk.
XXX
"So what are everyone's plans today?" Padmini
asked as she and Madhu cleared the table.
"Well, I have some appointments, then as you
know, Mukund's mother is coming over to
discuss arrangements." Madhu said.
"And you, Trishna? Roma?" Malik asked both
women who were smiling excitedly.
"Today are the auditions for RK's new movie!
We're going there so Heroine can bag the role!"
Roma said.
Trishna blushed, "I don't know."
"Don't lose confidence, Dido! You are beautiful
and such a good actress! You will definitely be
the winner!" Madhu encouraged.
"I hope so." Trishna answered, smiling finally.
Padmini also smiled, though hers was, as always,
tinged with worry. Fear of discovery from Balraj
was always on her mind, and Madhu's questions
had not made the matter easier.
"Well, I'm off." Madhu said, picking up her bag
and slinging it over her shoulder.
"Good luck today Dido!"
And so both Madhu and RK made their way to
their respective jobs, little suspecting that today
would be the day that their lives would
intersect, and thus change, irrevocably.
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