Interviewer: Rama
rampoorna

“Are you ready, sunshine?” I winked at Rama. She was still organizing her notes for the interview questions. She seemed absorbed in the process.

“I think I'm ready, my little friend.” She rubbed her hands together.

“Nervous?” I asked.

“Excited too,” Rama replied and took Mickey's seat. “Curiosity is killing me so let's do this.”

“Yup! Let's do it!” I set my camcorder and… “Action”

Rama shook hands with Akram and Melody, a huge grin on her face. Then she started right away.

“First question for Akram: What do you think about Most_Bay?”

“I don't think about Most_Bay. Most_Bay thinks about me.” Akram glanced at me and winked.

I chuckled from behind the lens. “True! He's literally my brain child.”

“Ahh! Good answer. I should've been more specific.” Rama sighed.

“Yes, dear… Maybe next time.”

“Do you have any siblings?”

Akram smiled fondly. “I have a little sister. She's my angel.”

“Aw! So cute,” Rama said excitedly and the audience followed suit.

“What is your age? Sorry guys.” She chuckled.

“I turned twenty one in June,” said Akram.

“Um! Rama. Why are you sorry?” I barged in.

“Because…” Rama rubbed her forehead in annoyance. “Age seems to be a sensitive topic for some guys!”

“Hmm! I see.” I gave her a thumb up “Sorry to interrupt.”

“Enough apologies.” Rama rolled her eyes. “You say 'sorry’ more than you say your name!”

“Actually, I never say my name.”

“Yeah. Whatever.” She waved her hand casually and focused on Akram.

“Tell me about some weird habit of yours... I hope there is one!”

Akram scratched his eyebrow once. “I don't know if this counts but, uh! I'm a junk food junkie.” He made a face. “I could live for days on candy and snacks.”

“Haha. That's cute, you know.” Rama commented.

“It's not good for you,” Mel added with a concerned frown.

Akram narrowed his eyes and pouted. “Look me in the eye and tell me you don't like junk food.”

“I-I don't eat it all the time,” Mel stuttered in defense. “And I feel so guilty afterwards.”

“Speaking of which.” I remembered something and reached to search my pocket. “This is for you, Rama.”

“Dairy Milk! Oh, Bay! You're the best little friend ever!” Rama exclaimed and snatched the Chocolate bar from my hand.

I laughed at her reaction. “You're welcome, dear.”

Without delay, Rama unwrapped the candy bar and took a small bite before asking Akram the next question.

“Do you miss anyone right now? And who is that?”

“I do... I really miss my baby sister when I'm away from home.”  

“Aw!” The audience hummed at his reply.

Rama giggled. “You do know that you're cute, right?”

Akram raised his eyebrows and his ears flushed.

Mel bit her lip and scowled.

“That's not a question, Rama.” I intervened to reduce the embarrassment. “Next!”

“Okaaay!” She rubbed her forehead and checked her notes. “Why are you attrac… I mean, what made you want to know Melody? A reason other than Melody Fair.”

Akram stole a quick glance at Mel. She was biting her thumb again and avoiding eye contact with everyone.

“Melody Fair is not a reason. It's just a nice coincidence.” Akram's face brightened.

“What's the reason then?” Rama urged, curiosity bulging from her eyes.

“It's the first time I saw her.”  Akram inhaled deeply and his eyes twinkled. “When she ran to help that little boy. This… genuine care. The way she held him so protectively like a loving mother was just… stunning.”

“I was a mess,” Mel broke in, her voice almost inaudible.

“No. You were incredible.” Akram turned in his seat to gaze at her for a moment. His eyes said much more than he verbalized.

“Wow,” Rama murmured and sighed. She seemed affected by the exchange. She took a minute to sift through her questions.

“What is it about Melody that you like the most?”

“I like her bravery... She's the bravest person I've ever met.”

Mel snorted and shook her head.

“Akram. Do you have any regrets?”

“Not really.”

“Do you regret coming here to meet your fangirls?”

“Not at all.” Akram laughed quietly and shook his head. “It's nice to meet you, guys.”

The audience cheered and rumbled with applause.

“Last question for Akram.” Rama wiggled her brows suspiciously. “Did sky blue become your favorite color after meeting Melody?”

“Seriously??” I whined when I noticed Melody's red face and Akram's smirk.

“Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!” Rama exclaimed and hid her face. “Can I Ask Melody now?”

I smiled at Mel apologetically. She nodded.

“Alright,” I told Rama.

“You mean 'all right’, Bay!” Rama snickered.

“Ugh! Ok! Just… go ahead.”

Rama giggled and turned to face Mel.

“So, Melody… Do you dance?”

“No… nobody taught me.” Melody pursed her lips.

“Do you have any nickname for Akram? You know, something you'd like to call him.”

“Oh! Not really... I like Akram very much… I mean, uh! His name.” Mel tweaked a strand of her hair and blushed.

My! This girl blushes a lot!

“But there are many nicknames for Akram now. Which one do you prefer?”

“Well... I prefer Superman. I think it suits him perfectly.” She smiled furtively and watched Akram's reaction with the corner of her eye.

Akram narrowed his eyes and gave her a funny expression. “Superman?!”

“Uh! Yeah! Asha used to call you that.” Mel placed her hand over her mouth. Probably to restrain a laugh.

Akram's eyes darted around to catch sight of Asha leaning on the counter and wiggling her fingers at him. “Heya, Clark!”

The fangirls bursted into laughter.

“This question is for both Akram and Mel.” Rama smirked and arched an eyebrow at me. “What do you guys think about Bay writing YOUR story?”

BAM!

“Oops! Sorry!”

The camera dropped from my hand. I picked it up quickly and hid my face behind the lens, waiting for the answers.

Mel tipped her head and looked at Akram, who gave me a side glance. “I've been taught to respect my elders, so I have nothing to say.”

I gulped “What is that supposed to mean?!”

“It means, I don't agree with everything you wrote, especially when it comes to Mel, but I respect you anyway.” Akram smiled and shrugged.

“Okay! Melody?” Rama asked, looking surprised herself.

“I don't know… but I don't think the author could've made my life any better. He's doing his best, I guess.”

“Ahhh! Thank you, Melody!” I let out a breath, holding my hand across my heart. “I knew you'd understand.”

My sweet little girl!

“What are your thoughts on Love, in general?”

“Love?!” Mel repeated absently.  “I...I've never really believed in it. I thought it only existed in books until... Akram shared his views about it. He made it sound like a real thing.”

“Do you believe in it now?” Rama urged the topic. She was trying hard to reach a certain goal , I thought.

Curiosity and determination. The recipe for a disaster!

“I'm... not sure it's for me, but, I've got two amazing best friends and... I think that's as good as it gets for someone like me.”

I noticed that Akram pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't seem pleased with the answer, but he didn't comment.

“What is it about Akram that you dislike the most?”

Taken aback, Mel gaped for a second. “Oh! It's… not exactly dislike… but… I think he's way too trusting for his own good.”

Akram bit back a smile and forced a mock frown, pretending to be offended. “Is this your way of saying I'm naive?”

Mel's eyes widened and she leaned back, facing him. “No!... No! It's just that… uh! You're very kind, Akram. People take advantage of kindness.”

“You didn't,” Akram said.

“Maybe I did.” Mel stared at her tightly interlocked fingers and whispered. “I think I actually did.”

Gently, Akram placed his palm over Melody's delicate hands.

“Even if you did, I don't mind. Because I…” Akram broke off and coughed lightly. He inhaled and looked around at the ogling audience, as if he suddenly remembered they existed.

My jaw dropped for a moment. I knew what he was going to say before he disguised it with the cough.

“May I have some water, please?” Akram asked politely. He wasn't asking anyone in particular, but the whole audience suddenly stood up.

“Whoa! Whoa! Sit down, girls!” I motioned to them with my hand. “I'll go stretch my legs.”

“I'll go with you,” Rama said. “I need to get something too.”

We left the makeshift conference table and walked to the front counter. Asha spotted us and hopped closer. “What brings you here, author and not-so-tall girl?”

“Akram needs water,” I told her.

“Tehee!” Asha uttered in a high pitch tone and handed me another cup of coffee. “Akram doesn't need water. Akram needs Melo and coffee. The guy's desperately shy, Ohmygosh!”

“Wow! Did you see what happened, Bay?” Rama asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement and, of course, curiosity too…

“Yup! He almost slipped and said the L word. I feel sorry for the poor guy.” I sighed and took a gulp from the freshly brewed coffee.

Far from hearing distance, Mel and Akram were whispering to each other. Akram seemed to be consoling Melody again. It was his full time job now.

“Why is it so hard for him to say it?” Rama asked, her voice low and sympathetic.

“I think he's afraid she may not take it very well.” I pursed my lips. “You just heard her thoughts on Love. She denies it for herself. It's so sad.”

“Poor Melody!” Rama sighed.

“But don't you feel a change in them since they had met each other? I feel it but I'm sure you know it better.”

“Definitely.” I took another sip of coffee. “Melody learned how to trust someone. She never felt safe all her life and now she feels safe with Akram. She felt real affection for the first time, even if she didn't know what it really was. She found a ray of hope from both Akram and Asha. She began to open up little by little about her life. That's a real change.”

“What about Akram? This guy seems flawless.” Rama folded her arms loosely and leaned her back on the counter.

“Akram is not flawless. He used to be an outcast. A loner. He basically lived for himself and only focused on what he wanted in life. Now this is changing when he'd met Melody. She gave a new meaning to his lonesome life and now he wants to share it with her. Even giving her the biggest share.” I exhaled. “I could go on forever about these two, but I don't want to spoil the story with poor commentary.”

“That's awesome, Bay. We should talk more often when you're not sleep-texting, you know.” Rama smirked.

“Ha ha!”

“What are you two gossiping about?” Asha suddenly appeared before us, her hands on her hips. “And, Mo! This coffee you just drained was for Akram!”

“Oops!” I stretched my lips into an awkward smile.

“By the way, Asha. Can I ask you a question too?” Rama enthused.

“I thought you'd never ask!” Asha bounced in her place in her famous frisky manner.

“It's a little weird because, you know, I don't want to make you choose, but it's just something that I wondered about and I don't mean it in a bad way so…” Rama went on, waving her hands around.

“Just say it, Rama!” I groaned.

“Okay! Asha, whom do you like the most, Melody or Akram?”

“Duh! Melody's my girl, of course! I can say that again in his face and, guess what? It will 'strike a chord' and be 'music' to his ear. Baa-Dum-Tsss! Oh yeah!” Asha sang and threw a fist up in the air.

Gosh! I really love this girl! Puns and all!

“I'm so sorry, Asha.” I sighed.

“For what, Mo?” Asha scrutinized my face suspiciously.

“Um! Nothing!”

****

Hello dear ones

Hello, Rama
I hope this interview satisfied your curiosity. ;)

-So what do you think?

-Which answers surprised you?

-Which answers made you think of more questions?

-which answers were expected?

-what was your favorite part?

Please, keep the questions coming. I still don't see many of Melody fans posting any questions. Anyway, you can ask whenever and whatever you want.

Much love

Most_bay