Chapter 16

Shraddha Kapoor

I have made up my mind to stop being Varun's soft target.

I wear my most inglorious red full sleeved peplum top that I had kept as last spare option which will send Varun in spasmodic attack, I pair it with black leather pants. I put on doses of mascara under thick brown eyeliner, apply bright red gloss on lips, pink shimmer on cheeks to finish my gaudy look. I check my reflection one last time in mirror to make sure I look nothing less than a slut.

I deliberately stand before Varun and see him stiffen in his place as his eyes run over me with disapproval. Mission accomplished. I mentally pat myself on back. 

But he quickly recovers draining himself of emotions by showing disinterest and walking past me.

The flight to Dubai is equally boring with occasional formal nods here and there.

I can't help but miss the scowling frowning teasing Varun.

Varun Dhawan

Either she is doing it on purpose or she has lost her mind to even think she can carry off that horrid red color that is hurting my eyes even under my dark shades.

I stroll two feet ahead of her not wanting people to know who she is or whom she is with. Someone should tell her she already looks like chicken, she need not take extra effort to prove it by painting her face red.

I'm so done with her! Thank God Ileana will be joining us shortly and for time being I'll be spared the debacle of my fate.

~~

"Hey Varun! How was your flight?" Ileana greets me with a hug as soon as we land in Dubai. She flew from Mumbai and is waiting for her boyfriend Andrew whose plane will be landing in twenty minutes (they often travel through separate flights to avoid obvious speculations).

"Isn't she your girlfriend, Shraddha Kapoor?" she gestures at 'Donald duck from Apna Circus' catching up behind me. I nod and hope that will be enough but Ileana literally shoves me away as she spreads her arms wide and steps forward to hug her.

"Hi! Nice to see you" she squeezes her in her thin arms.

"Varun is such a chupa rustam. Four months we spend together shooting but not a single word about you!" She looks back at me accusingly. 

I shrug my arms nonchalantly.. four months ago I was in another hell called Sonam. Crap! I bite my tongue hard chastening myself for thinking of her name.

"You are more beautiful in person! I had seen your pictures in paper. No wonder Varun couldn't keep himself off you before media" she nudges me playfully.  I roll my eyes at them. Girls aur unke sau natak!

"Red color suits you" Ileana remarks.

I scoff out loud at that remark and they both stare at me at the same time.

"You are kidding her" I say pointedly "That thing is giving me headache. I almost got cataract for staring at it for so long" I say in disbelief widening my pupils.

"Stop it Varun! You look gorgeous, Shraddha" Ileana lies to her on face and she buys it. Actors.

"He doesn't like to show his emotions openly. He is very shy and reserved from inside" duckling speaks and it takes a moment for me to realise that she is speaking about me.

"Unlike me. I'm very open about my feelings. Hence I love this color. Red. It's fiery and daring.. almost like wearing your heart on sleeves" she is talking to Ileana but her eyes are on me and I pretend she is talking to someone named 'Red' from another planet.

"Feisty! I like her!" Ileana tells me. Go, marry her then, I scowl.

"You are beautiful in person too. I had only seen you in movies and I loved you in Barfi!!" she compliments her in return as a compulsion. Like they give you return gifts at weddings. Life is full of Give and takes.

"Thank you so much" Ileana manages courteously.

"Are you girls done or is there any more love left to be shared?" I say irritated and leave my manners at door as I strut inside Caffè ahead of girls.

We decide to wait for Andrew and leave together as we are staying in same hotel.

~~

Andrew shows up as we are about to finish our cuppa.

"Hey man" I greet him from my place.

He had dropped couple of times on sets during the shoot to meet Ileana.  I don't know him well enough but what I do know is he should have taken empty seat besides me instead of squeezing between Ileana and Shraddha. 

I pull my chair closer to the table. I know it's stupid but I don't trust this firangi.

"Hello beautiful" He gives a peck on Ileana's cheek and I see Shraddha stir on her chair. How amazing it would be if Andrew and Ileana start making out right in front of her eyes..it will be fun watching Shraddha grow super self conscious.

"She is Shraddha, Varun's girlfriend" Ileana introduces her because I'm too busy observing firangi's arm brushing by Shraddha's side.

"Shraddha. Nice name. What does it mean?" Andrew asks in heavy accent. 

Bullshit. It means bullshit.

If he thinks of flirting with her I'll kick him so hard that he will straightaway fly back to where he came from.

"Faith. Shraddha means faith, belief" she explains in saccharine voice.

"Your name has beautiful meaning to it..just like you are beautiful. Your parents were thoughtful enough to.."

I abruptly get up "We should get going..I'm tired and want to hit bed ASAP" I make a weary face. Andrew looks taken aback while Ileana agrees

"Yeah lets go "

~~

Shraddha Kapoor

"You will be sharing your room with Andrew?" I ask Ileana as we arrive at our destination. 

"Isn't it obvious?" she raises her brow.

"Does that mean Andrew is your..?" I leave my query hanging in air as I believe it is nosy of me to ask such personal questions.

I did feel a warmth between them when they met on airport but never got a chance to clear my doubt of nature of their relationship as we had travelled in separate cars and Varun was busy avoiding me all the time.

She smiles slightly as Varun and Andrew catches with us in lobby. Andrew's hand travels on her waist and I want to take my question back.

"Shraddha was asking me if you're my boyfriend..." she places her hand on Andrews chest, her eyes softening as they meet his "I told her we are just friends who like to share a room together" she winks back at me. I'm not sure if I get it.

"Of course he is her boyfriend" Varun berates and I swear I hear him say 'dumbass' under his breath.

We travel in lift together so there is no way to find out if Varun got me separate room. Though I'm sure he did as he doesn't seem keen enough to even breath same air as mine.

Ileana and Andrew wave us goodbyes and disappear behind the door. Varun stops at exactly opposite door. He unlocks the door with his back to me.

"What about my room?" I demand crossing my arms.

He turns to me and I can't read his face as it's still devoid of  emotions. He grabs my wrist and drags me inside before closing the door.

"Just go with it" he says once inside and starts scrubbing his forehead with his palm while scrunching his nose, his whole body language signalling me I'm the sole reason causing him ill health.

"Don't you understand? I don't want to liv."

"Shraddha please" he cuts me off "I'm honestly tired and I can't argue beyond the point that those two out there are love birds" he says addressing at  door "and they think we are the same. Love birds ought to share one nest, okay?" He looks exhausted.

I don't argue back considering he has been treating me like apparition as it is..so it won't matter much to live with one.

"And please change your clothes" he says in disgust.

What? Why? Where?

"Where are we going?" I freak out.

"Shopping" he says sounding like 'funeral'.

I want squeal right now. Yay shopping!!

"Aren't you tired?" I read his downward drawn lips.

"Yes I am. But soon I'm going to burn your bags with all your derisive clothes in it. So you'll be needing new ones unless you want to roam naked" he huffs "but wait..I can't let you do that either as I'm unable to stand  your face alone, imagine the whole package" he moves his eyes from my head to toe his scrutinising gaze already making me feel naked..

"It will be unbearable" he mutters and scuttles inside bedroom.

Finally, scowling frowning teasing Varun is back. And I can't stop grinning.

~~~