With great confession comes greater responsibility.
I modify the famous line by a superhero as I hold Shraddha's hand all the way guiding her out of Park and don't leave it till we hail the cab.
Her head rests on my shoulder once inside the cab. She keeps on jabbering incoherently throughout.
"It's dangerous to be with you when you're drunk" I mutter not expecting her to listen. She reels her head at me with disbelief.
"It's dangerous to be with you 24/7!" She states horrified.
"Do you even know how hot you look all the time? Even when you're wearing a simple tee?" She pulls up lower end of tee exposing my abs "or not wearing anything" she bites her tongue out. Gosh..she is totally wasted, I cover my izzat back down.
"No one has the right to look sooooo hawtt! Is it even legit? And as if those killer looks were not enough, you have to pump up sexy bod. I mean look at those muscles..Woaaah!" she exclaims palpating my arm "You know how hard it is for me to resist you?" She cocks her head in front of my eyes "We girls have feelings inside us too. It is as hard for any girl to resist you as is it for guys to say..Megan Fox naked on beach. You are like male version of.." 1
"Okay stop talking" I hold my hand up in protest as her flattery is increasing the blood rush in my body. But sadly it's flowing in wrong direction.
She clam ups looking annoyed and I'm oddly comfortable with the silence between us.
"Will you do something for me if I ask you to?" she breaks the ice after a while whispering softly in my ear, her beer breath rakes my senses. I nod ready to do anything for her at that moment. She brings our entangled hands, which I wasn't aware I was still holding, in front of our faces.
"Just never let this go" she presses on my knuckles tighter. I gulp down the spit in my mouth managing to nod knowing deep down it'll be difficult word to keep. I have sudden urge to withdraw my hand from hers.
"You are so intoxicated" I frown in disapproval.
"You are so intoxicating" she grins at me.
~~
I carry her in my arms as by the time we reach the apartment she has passed out. I carefully place her on bed tucking her in warm blanket. I give light peck on her forehead sitting by her side staring at her sleeping face thinking all the while...
'I love you, Shraddha. I love you so much that I'm scared it might hurt you. And I don't want to hurt you. I don't want anything or anyone to hurt you. Ever'
~~
Shraddha Kapoor
I wake up with dry like Sahara dessert throat.
I get out from my blanket reaching for jar of water and drink directly through it as I'm too jaded to transfer the water to glass.
The apartment is really quite which is good as my brain is working slowly it's way back to my last night adventure. I try to trace all the details but could only remember till dragging Varun to the park. After that I can't recall much of what happened.
Anyways I shrug off what's the point of tracking down past? I'm sure to have behaved myself well, and I trust Varun enough to be with him in my inebriated vulnerable state.
He must have left early for work as it's second last day of overseas promotion and we are flying back to Mumbai day after tomorrow.
Time has flown so fast with him that this trip is already coming to an end. Being with Varun definitely gives you head rush.
Cast
Varun Dhawan as Varun Dhawan
Shraddha Kapoor as Shraddha Kapoor
Sonam Kapoor as Sonam Kapoor
Karan Johar as Karan Johar
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When I open the refrigerator a small stick note on door catches my eye..
'Good morning Donald'
Varun's scribbling on it. I smile despite him calling me that irritating nickname which seem to have stuck on me like glue.
I take out eggs from carton when my eyes fall on a empty plate in fridge with another note on it.
'Planning on breakfast? Do a favour first. Turn to your left and walk five pace to reach dining table'
This is so cute and so unlike Varun. Something happened last night?
I walk near dining table to uncover a plate expecting another note but I'm surprised to see sandwich with drawing of smiley face with ketchup on it. Varun took pains to prepare breakfast for me??? Something definitely happened last night. 6
When I pick up the sandwich there is another note under it.
'Sorry if it tastes bad. As I'm not great cook like you. But still you can thank me later in the evening by cooking....you know what..(evil smile)
Have a nice day.
Varun..
'I'm going to treasure this note. I'm going to laminate this little sheet of paper and preserve it so that I have something to look back to and smile at this loving memory.
~~
As this is my last chance I decide to utilise it. After breakfast I take a cab back to NYU School of art.
This time I manage to meet the officials who direct me towards advisor of art programmes. The advisor promptly hands me admission form asking me to send a audition DVD.
My mouth runs dry when he informs me about fee structure, three fourth of which I'll have to pay at the time of admission. I thank for his time and take my leave.
I knew this was too good to be true. My day had a great start but it has begin to deteriorate. I calculate in my mind how many more years I've to invest in working just to collect course fees excluding living expenditures. The advisor had also updated me that it will be difficult to crack a scholarship that funds a dance programme.
I fan myself as I look out for restroom. I could so use bathroom right now. It's due to amount of water I drank this morning to curb away my thrist from hangover.
When I wash my hands in sink my jaw drops on floor and I could literally hear the 'thud' noise when lavatory door cracks open .
She stops on her tracks equally baffled upon seeing me.
"What a pleasant surprise!" Sonam greets her eyes travelling down my printed palazzos in disdain.
Pleasant? I don't think so. I mask a smile hurriedly wiping my hands off on tissue paper.
"Of all people I expected to bump into I never thought it would be you" she mirrors my thoughts "By the way, what are you doing here? I mean it's University, you know right?" She raises her brow in smutty smirk.
"Of course. I've enrolled for dance programme here" I say overtly confident even though I know it will take me ages to do actual enrollment.
"Uh-huh" she nods warily.
"And you are here because?" I counter "considering this is university and not hair salon where you can sell your hair products" I give it back to her. 3
"Hmm..So Varun did rub some his filthy mannerism on you" she trots near sink besides me "It looks like he has quite a liking for his Alma matter as he keeps on advising everyone to check out courses from here. It was he who suggested me this place like he did to you, I figure" she haughtily peers down on me
"Tad too late for acting classes, Sonam?" I scrunch my nose as her strong putrid perfume is making me puke.
"Script writing" she corrects me.
"Script writing? Why no more acting offers for you?" I snort. I'm not often rude to people on their faces but Sonam somehow gets under my skin. 1
"That's none of your business" she uncorks the tap with unnecessary force "But isn't it funny? We keep meeting in washroom" she turns to face me "Wasn't it you on that award night that Varun accidentally pulled out mistaking it to be me?"
Wait..how did she know it was...
"And all this time I kept thinking he cheated on me. You won't believe how relieved I was when yesterday he told me it was faux pas"
"Yesterday?" My heart misses a beat.
My instinct scream in my head telling me to walk out of room right now but I seem to have lost all the voluntary control over myself.
"Yeah" there is satisfied ubiquitous smirk on her face. So this was something that had kept him engaged whole evening. No wonder he walked all the way out of restaurant to take her call.
"So you.." I fumble to find correct words "have you guys reconciled?"
"Reconciled?" She quizzes amused "That's sort of strong word for a couple who never broke up in first place" she gushes sending tremors through my body.
"Actually it was my fault, as I didn't revert to his repeated attempts to get back to me after that night. He kept calling me, sending texts every third second, doing all possible things a desperate boyfriend can think of doing. The only thing left for him to do was crawl up my building" she laughs a thunderous laugh that rattles my whole existence. 1
"He is going to clear up the mess he created, he has promised me" she continues "But I'm sorry you'll loose your job" she pats on my shoulder and I fling her hand away.
"What job?" My voice cracks no matter how much I try to control it.
"Weren't you hired under contract to be with him?"
"He told you that?" My knees start to buckle loosing it's ground.
"Then who else will tell me? How would I get to know about contract you've signed with him? He even said you were his 'Pretty Woman'"
Tears fill up rapidly in my eyes clouding my vision. The wall come closing down on me from all four sides. If I stay here any longer I'll pass out right before her.
"You know, 'Pretty Woman' is a movie right? It's old Hollywood romcom in which Richard Gere hires a slut.."
I speed out of restroom my shaky legs wilting on the way.
"Hey watcha out!" I hear someone yell as I crash into group of students.
I can barely hold myself together as I struggle on tarmac trying to stop taxi.
Tears flow freely on my cheeks falling on neck of my shirt smearing it wet.
Finally a cab commiserates by obliging to stop. When I step inside I can see why. The cabbie driver is ever sweet Sardarji.
I give him the address and he wheezes away swiftly.
When we stop for signal he changes radio station on the deck. Music booms inside car
"Tune jo na kaha..main woh sunta raha..Khamkha..bewajah.. khwab bunta raha"
Oh no! Not this song please I cover my face with hands as very painfully relatable lyrics assault my ears and what's more weird it's a song from movie called 'New York'.
" Jane kiski hame lag gayi hai nazar iss sheher mein na apna thikhana raha"
"Uncleji, can you please turn off that music" I request sniffing.
"You Pakistani ji?" He asks me through mirror nullifying the volume. Honestly I'm in no mood for causual chat but I can't ignore that affable smile on his face.
"Indian" I reply.
"Oye me too!" He smiles through his thick beard "Ki gall hogaysi? Pareshan lag rahe ho? Exam fail hogaye?" 1
Ha. Love ka exam. I shake my head looking out of window hoping he would take the hint. He does as he doesn't push it further.
But as I get down at my destination, he grabs my both hands when I pay him change. At first I'm shocked and think of screaming for help but he tugs me down to face him.
"Here's little advice girl, since you are from my motherland think of me as your father" he speaks in perfect english "Whatever that is bogging you down, don't let it get you. Life is tough dear but you have to beat it by being tougher" he pumps his fist in air and I agree nodding.
The little pep talk does more good than it could. As I climb up the elevator, I come to one tough decision that I should have taken long back.
~~
I remain static in my place on couch waiting for Varun's return. I'm prepared for this, I have do it, I keep repeating to myself. None of his intimidation or doggy eyed manipulation will make me stagger from my decision, I confirm my firm stance in my head.
There is familiar click on front door and I shift nervously on seat when I hear him enter.
"Shraddha?" He walks in living room and stands in front of me.
"Why are you so quite? Has the hangover not gone yet?" He asks while unhooking the belt of his wristwatch.
"For a moment I feared you paddled back to pond.. quack..quack..quack" he does some ridiculous movement with his hand while giving goofy smile and I wonder if he had hit his head while coming in.
"We need to talk" I say in grave tone to get him out of his levitating mood.
"Aren't we already?" He grins foolishly and I fall in love again. 3
"Varun" I close my eyes drawing a deep breath mustering up all the courage to say..
"I'm ending our contract"