Chapter 3

Pradeep sat down next to Vikas and interlocked his fingers, looking at Shilpa. She held his gaze and nodded. Vikas saw the silent exchange between them and fumed to himself, envying the man the bond he shared with the one woman closest to his heart. Pradeep began his narration cheerfully ' Okay so basically this is a story of a 50 year old veteran ghazal singer, Aafreen Sheikh. ' Shilpa raised her eyebrow at the 10 year older role but he held up his hand for patience. 'Aafreen is a beautiful but lonely soul. She has an incredible voice and is trained in ghazals, qawali and folklore,can play the harmonium. She lives in a musical gharana in Lucknow with the main guru and a few other singers. She travels all over the world for her concerts. She is a single child,unmarried and her parents are no more. Her entire life she has dedicated to music and longed for loved. One day, she travels to Italy for a concert. Her passion for music and knowledge leads her to attend an Opera music show. She falls in love with it, a divergent form of music from her own. She sees a man of about 48 named Stefano playing the alto saxophone. She instantly adores his talent. Later on when the show ends she seeks him out, and learns that he is also unwed and lonely like her and lives in an apartment by himself in Italy. They bond over music and their passion for it. The rest of the play follows their journey of falling in love and what happens in their lives. ' He finished with a charming smile and waited for their reactions. Vikas's face was impassive, it gave nothing away. But Pradeep was an expert at reading people, and he could clearly see the grudgingly impressed look that was forming in his eyes, despite the dislike for Pradeep. Along with it, a bit of fear and vulnerability. He smiled inwardly. This man wasn't that bad, if only he didn't dislike him so much. But that was due to another reason altogether -reason being the woman seated between them.

Shilpa, meanwhile processed what she had heard. When she did, a dazzling smile lit up her face. Grinning from ear to ear, she whispered 'That's a beautiful plot, Pradeep. I loved it. I really do want to do this role. Thanks for offering it to me. ' Vikas' heart sank in bitter defeat. Dejected, he was about to get up but she continued 'Can we do this in a while? After I'm finished with Vikas ji 's web series? ' 2 stunned men stared at her at this. Vikas looked ready to spontaneously combust with happiness. Pradeep put his hands in his pockets and considered her, trying to decipher her reasons. She avoided his gaze, knowing he would see too much. She just said 'I promised him, Pradeep. I don't break promises. Plus his plot is great too. And I professionally committed. I don't want to let him down due to unprofessionalism' Again, she whispered to herself. The vulnerability of her tone twisted Vikas's heart. He vowed to himself to make sure she never regretted this decision in her life. She had chosen him and it meant a great deal to him. He WOULD NOT mess this up. Not again.

Pradeep just smiled and nodded. This was the brave and more difficult decision to take, and he had known what she would go for. His best friend was not one to run away from problems,and he was proud of her. 'Alright, Shilpa. We will move on this later. Whenever u r want to do it, just let me know. For now I will work on other projects. '  The words 'Whenever u want to do it let me know ' were a reassurance. An escape being provided, one she could take up anytime she wanted to, during, before or after the web series of anything at all went wrong. Shilpa sensed it and gave him a relieved smile, while Vikas sensed it too giving him a deathly glare, his fiercest yet. This statement had really ticked him. As if he was waiting for an opportunity to torture Shilpa. Pradeep just shrugged. He had a duty towards her, not him.

Just then, Vikas's phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at it and grimaced. 'I have to go.. ' he muttered, not wanting to go and leave her alone with this man at any cost. 'Can I offer you a ride home? You must be wanting to leave too as its getting late? ' he asked Pradeep sweetly. Too sweetly. Pradeep had to laugh, this was a nice move. 'Actually, I have got my car. Thank you, though. ' Vikas 's face fell and he continued standing there, not wanting to leave. His phone buzzed with another incessant message which he ignored. Shilpa wondered who it was. Probably one of his girlfriends asking his whereabouts, she thought. Not that I care. Ha.
*Not that I care..*  In desperation, she turned to Pradeep. ' We couldnt catch up..' she whispered. Vikas cut in 'Oh.. Due to me? I'm sorry to have interrupted a reunion of two friends. ' His voice dripping with sarcasm. Shilpa flushed while Pradeep said 'Actually ,2 best friends. We know each other since 15 years,way too inappropriate to be called anything else. '  smilingly, now thoroughly enjoying goading him. Vikas composed himself with a laboured breath and looked at Shilpa, only at her, burning her with the intensity of his gaze. In a sudden, swift move he was over to her side and had pulled her with a jerk into his arms, burying his face in her hair and inhaling Her fragrance. Surprised, shilpa gingerly hugged him back, confused. He held her tight and for as long as he could, before pulling back and tenderly kissing the side of both her eyes. She blinked, stunned. He grinned at her and winked, pulled back. He looked over at Pradeep challengingly but Pradeep was paying no attention to that look. He looked stunned. Smirking, Vikas walked out the door. Leaving her alone with Pradeep? Nah. He texted Arshi and told her to keep an eye on shilpa and her guest as she was her neighbor, while running to his errand,the reason he had to leave abruptly.
Back in the apartment, Shilpa and Pradeep looked at each other. 'Why are u so stunned? ' She asked him. 'It's just.. U both.. When he hugged u, it looked like time had stopped. ' he whispered, awestruck. Shilpa rolled her eyes. Pradeep chuckled and kissed her forehead before saying 'It really is late I need to leave. See u soon, don't worry I'm gonna be in India for a while. ' 'I'm going to Pune for Holi.. she told him.' 'Oh.. I have some work there too. Can accompany you. ' She agreed. He was walking out as she shouted 'Pradeep! ' 'What? ' He turned back. 'Ur play! How does it end? Do Aafreen and the guy end up together?' she asked. He chuckled. 'Even im waiting to see how it will end. He winked at her and walked out,leaving her apartment. 'This was of course reported to Vikas by Arshi,  who breathed a sigh of relief even as he drove to his destination. Shilpa walked back into her apartment and slept, wondering what life had in store for her next. For now, she had the holi event in 2 days, a web series, a tentative play and an insufferable, incomparable man to deal with.

Precap-Where Vikas went, Holi event, Pradeep accompanies Shilpa, reported to Vikas by his friends,further developments, progression.