Off-Script

Chapter 16

"Kaash yeh bata pata kitni mohabbat hai tumse....
Yeh dil dhadke har bar tere naam se...
Jab Kismat ne likha tera naam kisi aur ke saath..
Toh phir kyun hamari raahe judd gaye ek dusre k saath?"

(I wish I could tell how much I love you..
Everytime my heart beats, it takes your name,
When you were destined to be someone else's,
Then why even did our paths collide?" )

With each word escaping from his lips, Helly felt her heart skipping a beat.
Her mind jogging hard trying to clear out the confusing mist while eyes unfixed at anything particular.

He is the one who asked her to stop over thinking, and now he is the one pouring his heart out in front of her.
"Did he actually....?"

Calming down her nerves and pressing a thin unknown smile, the  girl took mini steps back before turning around from her place.

Obeying his command to not exaggerate things in mind, she was heading towards her new work station (the little homely corner of her Boss's cabin) when the above mentioned words stopped her.

She turned around wiping her tear filled eye-rims, when they caught a white sheet in the hands of the voice-owner.

His head bent down, while eyes scanning the sheets with full concentration, called as script, one by one. Leaning against the table, he turned the next page with his fingers which then automatically reached his beard to play with them. He nodded his head as if the things he read were quiet appealing.

Rrahul read the remaining script and a small appreciative smile escaped his lips. He assembled the sheets and straightened up to occupy his throne when his eyes fell on his general manager (GM).

"GM Shah? Any problem?" Asked Rrahul bringing the petite girl out of the trance.

A lone tear escaped from her doe shaped eyes, when Rrahul immediately took a step towards her, "Is everything alright Helly?" He asked hesitatingly brushing his fingers against her shoulder.

"Everything is fine" she answered plastering a smile.

"If there's any, you can tell me" he asked softly bending down, to level his eyes with her and then placing his hands on his knees for support.

His sharp looking eyes drooped in softness while eyebrows a little raised in questioning. His lips slowly parted as if trying to find out some comforting words.

Shaking a little no, Helly took back a few steps and then turned around wiping her cheeks to occupy her work station.

"GM Shah?" he called out as Helly got seated comfortably on her place, "...this is the script. I want you to go through and tell me whether it's profitable for launching on TV or not" he said and handed over the script, "... Don't you think, it suits OTT platform more??" He added.

Helly scanned the sheets and nodded her head in positive, "Will do sir" she said without looking at him making the man in front frown.

"Okay I have to go for the look test. I'll leave you now" he said and waited for her to say something, but she simply nodded.

"What suddenly took over her??" Asking himself he walked out taking his phone and from the table.

**********

Turning the pages, Helly tried hard to take in the words of the script, but she failed miserably. She then suddenly slammed the script on the table in irritation and roughly ran her fingers through her hair.