Chapter 22

Varun Dhawan

I was hoping she would change her mind about coming to Newyork next day..but the way she is excited and all worked up since morning I really can't ask her to do it.

Also I kind of owe it to her after what she did for us yesterday..hell she even got badly hurt in the process.  I swear he if that jackass firang shows me his thick face I'll knock his front teeth out so he'll think twice before putting preposterous ideas in Ileana's head.

~~

It's a long flight and I'm happy the girls are sitting together so that I can get good undisturbed nap on flight.

As I'm halfway through deep slumber something wiggles in my nose and I sneeze waking up with jolt. I hear a girly giggling behind me. I snarl at Shraddha and Ileana but to my chagrin they break into hysteria.

"Grow up girls" Really they need to grow up...I had stopped playing such childish pranks long before I turned eight.

~~

Shraddha is surprised when instead of hotel I take her to apartment. 

"It's convenient to live in apartment as we are staying for a week long" I explain to suppress her apprehensions. Now at least she won't be standing behind me like ghost pestering to get her separate room.

Shraddha Kapoor

I'm glad we are staying in apartment instead of hotel. The coziness and warmth of this place is way better than cold desolate grand hotel suites.

It's well furnished with everything in kitchen so one can easily cook. I open the refrigerator and it's stuffed with milk cartons ready to eat packages fruits eggs breads.

"Someone lives here?" I inquire.

"No. It's my friends place but he gives it away on rent basis" Varun paces towards me and bends forward to take a peek inside refrigerator leaving very little space between us. His hand resting on fridge door is an inch away from mine. I wet my dry lips. His proximity always makes me nervous. Always.

"Can you fix something to eat?" He asks meeting my eyes. 

"Sure...but didn't you ate just while ago on flight?" Isn't he supposed to be on diet or something?

"Is that excuse for...let me guess..very bad cooking skills?" He smirks cockily.

"Excuse me..but I'm a good cook" I try to sound convincing. Though I don't get to experiment much in a very Mom-dominated kitchen but I had cooked couple of times whenever I had a chance and the dishes turned out quite palatable if not downright awesome.

"This is your chance, Shraddha! Go..go..cook..prove your mettle..look how these veggies are longing to be touched by your soft hands..waiting to be chopped..swished...fried by you" he hams and I push him away while laughing out.

"Acting is in your genes" I smile while figuring out what to cook.

I decide upon my tried and tested recipe..biryani.

~~

"Mind blowing. You weren't lying when you said you can cook" he sucks his lower lip in..and I turn my attention back on plate.

"If we get time..there is this local place I'll take you around. You should taste their.."

"Local place?" I intervene "You are kidding right?" The wounds of our last local outing is still fresh on my knee.

"Don't worry. Here no one gives a shit about who you are. That's why I love coming here time and again. I can roam freely everywhere without getting worried about being mobbed. I had taken my acting classes from NYU drama school and you know what, not much has changed from than to now" he grins heartily.

"NYU?" My heart races "will you take me there? To check out the campus?" I ask hopefully "that is if you have time"

"Definitely" he assures and I smile "But why NYU of all places? I was hoping you'll say more like 'Varun take me to Central Park...take me to museum...take me to art gallery'" he mimics in a whiny girly voice which doesn't sound teensy weensy bit like mine.

"Are you planning on taking up acting?" His eyes sparkle in amusement.

"No..no acting for me. But I was thinking more about dance programme"

"Oh! But why do you need dance programme? You are such a great dancer that you can teach them some of your moves" he says seriously and I laugh generously "I'm not kidding" he adds.

"Okay" I smile and I'm happy that I decided to join him as he seems to be in best mood since I've met him. He does likes this place a lot it occurs.

~~

Varun Dhawan

I'm taking Shraddha out to Times Square. There's something I want her to witness.

"Hey Donald duck, if you don't come out in next five seconds I'm leaving" I threaten while impatiently knocking on bedroom door where she has locked herself in to get ready since last decade.

"Coming" I hear her panicky voice. There's click on door knob and I turn around to notice her attire.

She is wearing white halter top on red hot pants which exposes the bandage on her knee..there is minimal to no makeup on her face. She looks hot and pretty, wild and serene at the same time.

"I don't believe you took ten hours to ultimately look like that.." I say with disapproval "What will happen when you actually need to dress up and look pretty? I may have to inform you a day before to get ready" I nib at her lightheartedly.

She puts hand on her waist "you just wasted thirty seconds of your precious time ranting nonsense" she fumes. I chuckle at her reaction and lead her out.

Once we reach times square Shraddha does touristy things clicking pictures and all. When I refuse to click any with her she takes-most annoying invention of mankind-selfies.

My eyes dart on various billboards and I jump in excitement when I see myself on one of it with Ileana in my arms.

"Look" I point towards the billboard displaying our movie ad. Shraddha stares at it with open mouth admiration "What are you staring at? Your boyfriend is on freaking board. Click the pictures!" The word boyfriend slips from my mouth and I pray Shraddha didn't catch it but I know she did as suddenly her ears have turned pink. Geez. She gets so instantly affected by my simple words that it makes something ache inside me.

"Congrts!" She formally extends her hand..the blush is still present on her cheeks.

I take her hand sportingly. We stand in middle of square shaking hands when something terrible happens.

The billboard right across us changes to some soap cream, hair colour, I'm not sure what shit advertisement, as my eyes have frozen on pouting face of Sonam Kapoor.

All the excitement joy fun whizz out of me like a bursting bubble.

Shraddha's eyes follow mine and her features mimic the exact sourness on my face.

"Let's go" she doesn't leave my hand as we glide through the pedestrians.

~~

With very heavy heart I have agreed to watch a musical Broadway tonight with Ileana and her group of friends.

Ileana had told me about her plans of watching the play long before we ended in NY. But I didn't knew I'll be dragged into her plan too. And I can't refuse even if I wanted to as the play is directed by Vishal Bharadwaj, the person whose work I really admire and look forward to.

So after winding up today's work I agree to join Ileana even though theatre is something I have always cringed away from. Some actors state blatantly that true calibre of actor is tested only if he does theatre. Let me tell you, it's bullshit. More than often such actors are out of job and are hence trying to justify themselves. 

Shraddha is pretty excited. Obviously she is. As it's musical play there will be lot of dancing and prancing on stage.

I can tell she is exhilarated as she gets ready within fifteen minutes of me telling her of tonight's plan. Considering she has taken considerable efforts in getting decked up.

My eyes pop out their sockets when I see her dressed into a sequined pink dress which according to me is tad too snugly fitting. She is wearing some metal neckpiece which is drawing more attention to her very visible cleavage. No doubt she is looking hot but I'd much prefer if she would've have dressed in her typical skirt and top covering her maximum snow white skin.

"Woah..wait. You are not possibly thinking of coming in jeans and tee?"she widens her eyes. Oh! So here's role reversal. Donald is being judgemental about my clothes.

"What's wrong with jeans and tee?" I snort.

"At least wear a formal shirt" she requests more like demands.

"We are attending a play not Oscars" I roll my eyes.

But I begin to grow anxious as I take doubtful steps towards the front door. Will I look underdressed? Who cares if I did?

I stop halfway through living room and hustle inside dresser to change into plain white button down shirt. Damn you Shraddha.

~~

I don't remember falling asleep midway through the play.

I wake up when Shraddha nudges her shoulder on which my head was resting peacefully.  I rub my eyes and try to fix them on stage pretending to watch the dramatic hamming going on stage. I really don't get it. Nowhere can I see VB's cinematic sensibilities on stage as actors scamper from one direction to another mouthing more like yelling dialogues. 

I check my watch and mentally calculate time left for first half to end. I think of excuses of bailing myself out of enduring the second half. Maybe I can catch some movie nearby which is any day worth my time or head back to the condo and sleep properly on bed.

The lights illuminate the hall and I heave out a sigh as curtains begin to draw slowly. When I cut a glance towards Shraddha I see her eyes are red shot. Was she crying? Really? Maybe out of torture like me?

I want to ask her what exactly made her eyes water in a heartwarming way...but as I open my mouth I'm cut short by a voice behind me..

"Well...well..look who's painting the town red?"

Air sucks out of my lungs when I recognise the shrill soft cold voice instantly. I can recognise that voice from anywhere as it has been constantly haunting my nightmares since that tragic day of my life.

I turn around to see Sonam Kapoor standing a row behind us in her designer outfit, a designer bag swinging off her elbow.

"Varun Dhawan and..." her malevolent eyes rests on Shraddha for a second longer before she spits

"his Cinderella"

~~~

Sorry sorry for very late update..no excuse really was just being lazy...anyways what did you think of this chapter? the vamp is back..what do you think will happen?