Chapter 4

Note- Vikas doesn't get sick in this story.

Vikas hurriedly parked his car near the gate and rushed into the restaurant. Priyank, Siddharth and Sarah were waiting for him at their designated table, and greeted him with smiles. He smiled back and sat down beside Sid. Priyank gave him a meaningful look and he sighed. 'Guys, is it really necessary to do this? It's not doing much good ' he said. They all shook their heads firmly. 'Yes,it is necessary Vikas. This exercise already has generated a lot of buzz and PR. Ur agent also said. Besides, it is benefiting Sarah too. Where's the harm? ' Vikas wished he could tell where the harm exactly was. In a certain woman's perception of him which already wasn't sky high. Shrugging, he nodded and again posed with Sarah. Sid clicked their pic and put it on his story, again sending the BB11 fandoms in a frenzy. Yes, being seen together with Sarah was a well thought out PR exercise by his agents. They thought it would help his image, create publicity,mystery and buzz. It was helping Sarah too in her career and since they were old friends, Vikas had reluctantly agreed. After this was done and over it, they all grabbed something to eat and hung out like normal friends. Sarah actually was a  very cool person who knew how to have fun. After eating they then went their ways towards home.

The next day, when shilpa woke up and checked her phone, twitter was on fire with the latest viral pics of Vikas and Sarah. Gulping hard, her heart sinking,she tossed the mobile away. Unfortunately, it hit Ashu on the forehead just as he was entering the room. He gingerly rubbed his head while she stared, horrified. 'I'm so sorry. ' she said,embarassed. He wryly replied 'If u didn't want me to enter the room u cud have just said so! Mobile kyu phek ke mara ' she laughed a little, her mood brightening just a bit. 'Waise why did u throw it? ' he asked curiously. Mortified, she hurriedly said 'Wo galti se chala gaya sorry na.. Waise yaha kaise? ' He shook his head and looked at her pointedly. 'Ready Ho jao, Pune ke liye nai nikalna? ' She nodded hurriedly. 'Han, Han. ' and dressed fast. A text from Pradeep informed her that he would be joining her after 4pm due to some hold ups at home. Meanwhile, she and Ashu left for Pune.

The Holi event was spectacularly successful. The mood was festive, the music good, weather promising and the crowd excited and adoring. She thoroughly enjoyed the excitement of it all. Meeting Ranvijay was a great experience. He was pleasant and a thorough gentle man. After they were introduced, he quipped 'Bahut Accha laga aapse milke, Bahut bada fan hu aapka. Big boss mei bahut sundar kheli aap, itna ki mere master mind dost ko bhi hara Dia! ' Shilpa laughed and thanked him. 'Do u want to join us all for lunch afterwards? ' he asked politely. But shilpa's natural reserve took over her. Before she could think of a reason to avoid, her phone rang. 'Hey! Han.. Pahuch gaye tum.. Accha hotel mei ho.. Hum aa hi rahe hai see ya Pradeep. ' She looked at Ranvijay with an apologetic smile. 'Sorry Ranvijay ji mujhe kisi se milne jana hai. ' He nodded and waved her goodbye and she left for her hotel with Ashu. After she was out of his sight, Ranvijay took out his cell and called a number. 'Vikas, I'm sorry. I know u told me to keep an eye on her but she went back to her hotel to meet some Pradeep there. If I get any other information I will let u know. '
The man at the other end fumed hard and punched the wall in frustration. Something had to be done about this Pradeep saga now, he didn't know how much more he could bear.

Shilpa and Vikas reached the hotel, where Pradeep was waiting. He hugged her lightly. 'Hey. ' She patted his back and said 'Let's go grab some lunch to both him and Ashu. They nodded. And so over an enjoyable lunch which was all real bonding, camarerderie and friendships, they talked and laughed over old times. No pics were taken, no insta stories uploaded, no snapchat filters used. No fakeness. Only realness. Pradeep noticed that Shilpa was a bit disturbed, but he didn't want to upset her further so he didn't ask. Later, towards the end he said ' Actually, Shilpa, Bhaiya, I told u na mai idhar ek kam se aaya tha. Ek chota sa event attend Karna hai. I have to give a speech there and take an award and stuff..from the Maharashtra CM' he said the last bit very low, sounding embarrassed. They had to strain their ears to hear him. 'WHAT!! MAHARASHTRA CM!? HOW! IM SO PROUD OF YOU. OF COURSE HUM AAENGE SATH. ' Shilpa screeched. He smiled shyly 'Utni badi baat nahi hai.. Last year Maine aur mere bhai ne Marathi theater ki sthapna karwai thi.. It gives training to aspiring young actors from poor backgrounds and encourages marathi theater. It yielded positive results. So, we are being rewarded. I will be honoured if u accompany me in the evening ' She nodded gleefully and hugged him. 'I have arranged a dress for u guys, it will be in the room. ' he further added and they all left to get ready.

At around 7:30pm, Shilpa stepped out of her room. She was wearing a royal wine red strapless dress which was full length and hugged her curves. Her hair brushed,straightened and left open. A small diamond pendant and diamond bracelets, her only adornings. In one word, she looked divine. Pradeep looked at her and stammered the same,and she laughed. They walked side by side to the lobby. The event was thankfully being held in the banquet hall of the very hotel they were staying in. Ashu too was properly dressed in a tux. Several eyes were transfixed as they looked at Pradeep. A midnight fitting black suit which looked like it had been tailor made just for him. Wine red shirt which hugged his muscular chest and black trousers which fitted him snugly. Hair parted slickly and dazzling smile in place. He offered shilpa his arm and she hooked her hand through his. Together, they walked. Two friends.Looking like a power couple. Ashu discreetly snapped a picture. At the entrance, the event photographer also stopped them and they had a couple of pics clicked,their arms around each other. They then entered the venue. People from various walks of life were awarded for their contributions to social welfare. It was an enlightening, meaningful evening and Shilpa enjoyed every bit of it. It was also very plush and discreet- media wasn't allowed and people were requested not to put too many pics on social media and even if they did, not mention the name of the event. It felt wonderful to be there. And then, as Pradeep's turn to be on stage came closer, he was nervous so shilpa subtly held his hand in both of her own, close to her heart. He was surprised but relaxed gradually. Ashu loved that scene as a photographer so he clicked it on his phone. It was a stunning shot. Later on, Pradeep went onstage and humbly accepted his award from the CM, who by passing protocol hugged him and congratulated him profusely. Shilpa and Ashu applauded thunderingly.  He gave a moving, passionate speech which earned him a standing ovation from the audience present. He smiled and bowed.

After the event ended, they all were hanging out in the hotel lobby, remembering and committing to memory the wonderful night. Shilpa and Pradeep were sitting together on the lobby couch. At one point, a joked was cracked which made shilpa and Pradeep lean against each other, laughing. He had both his arms around her, hers were leaning on his chest, their heads touching as they laughed away to glory. Another stunning shot captured on Ashu 's phone.  Looking with a satisfied at the two recent clicks, he put them up on his insta story, captioning one with 2 hearts and one with happy nights.Naturally, the pics went viral within no time. Fans lapped it up, going gaga over their idol. Pradeep and Shilpa were still chatting, oblivious to the fire that had begun to form.

Back In Mumbai at his home, Vikas was scrolling through instagram when he saw Ashutosh's insta story. The two pics. One with their hands clutching, second with them leaning against each other and laughing. His eyes saw red. Redder than the color of her dress. This had just gotten way too out of hand. A quick scroll of twitter told him that fans had lapped it up and assumed straight away that they were dating. Even he began to think so. Ranvijay's phone call was still in his mind. Was Shilpa really dating that guy? If so, why not tell him that straight forward? He thought, heart paining. But then again, she owed him nothing. But he had to find out the truth behind this. Had to, had to. Confront her face to face. Grimly, he drove out of his home and headed straight for Pune.