Ajay

" This won't work. How can you suggest such an idea? Too bad." I shook my head vigorously as I plopped down on the sofa. My manager, Amar and our director and producer were all sitting around the sofa in my previous house and what they just suggested to me made my head reel in annoyance. As if the hell I am doing that?!

" Why won't it work? This is a business strategy famous all over. Didn't you hear about PR couples?" Rajiv sir made his point. 

" PR couple strategy works well with the audience. Just show your relationship publicly and after the film, you both can go on your ways. And as far as the rumours are concerned, just ignore those for now. No need to deny or accept." Amar spoke out the facts to explain to me about the thing called, PR couple.

This is not an alien thing. It happens a lot in this film industry. For the sake of film promotions, they bring forward a make-believe love affair story between the leads. But when you have to do this with the girl you hate the most, this thing has a 0.1 per cent chance of actually working.

" We can call Maya and tell her about this," Rajiv sir said as he took a sip from his cup of black tea. While he was being casual the whole time, I noticed Ramesh sir sitting quietly, figuring out the best plan.

" I don't think this will do. I have never done such things. And this whole PR couple thing sounds cheap. I don't wanna create a fake relationship for the sake of a film," I said. I could feel the gazes of the men sitting around but that is not making me change my decision.

Acting for a few hours on set is not enough that I would want this trouble for twenty-four hours? Pathetic. 

" Let's call Maya and ask her," Ramesh sir said after a long silence—," This is a big-budget film and is very important as well. Our last film couldn't make a lot of money at the box office so we need to make this film a super hit." He looked at Rajiv sir who nodded, agreeing with him. 

Having no option of running away, I had to finally call Maya and ask her to come. 

" Yes, let her in," I said to the security guard over the intercom and a while later she was standing in front of us. She was wearing a white tee with blue jeans and covered her hair with a scarf. 

She tied her long hair with a ribbon and her face casually held a kind smile as she greeted everyone. Her eyes met mine and I realized I had been checking her out all this time. She gave an annoyed look before taking a seat on the chair kept beside the sofa. 

Her bag with the keyring jingled as she shifted in her position, making herself comfortable.

" Well Maya, we want to discuss something with you. We all know how your dating rumours with Ajay are spreading like wildfire. Media creates huge drama for a single thing and you are quite aware of this fact. Even the channel you work for is after this dating thing." 

I turned to look at her to see her fidgeting with the keyring as she gulped and kept staring at the floor. Ramesh sir continued, " I know you are having troubles due to this and I also know this is not quite easy for you. This film… is not only important for us but also both of you guys, especially Maya." He looked at us and we both nodded after giving a glance at each other.

" So Maya, we were thinking about a way to promote 30 days. We were considering a PR stunt as an option. What do you say?" As he finished, all the eyes turned towards her.

" PR stunt?" 

My manager and publicist who got excited all of a sudden filled her with all the plans. "Nothing much. You just have to fake that you both are in love. Just say things that show you both are dating. This way people will take a lot of interest in the film to see more about you both. The audience loves drama and that is exactly what we will give them," he casually stated.

So, they want to show our strangling love in HD quality for giving people free entertainment and drama?

That day is not far when this so-called dear love will choke my heart out.

I turned to see Maya looking at me with wide eyes. Evidently, she was having a hard time, thinking about the whole idea. She bit her lower lips and pulled her loose hair strands behind her ear. 

Seeing her hesitate, Rajiv sir opened his mouth to speak, " Maya, give this a thought once. This is about your career and you don't need to feel guilty or something. This is normal. This way you don't have to face all the mean things and you don't have to agree with the gossip as well. Good friends, well that is what you need to say. Leave the whole story to the media. As a reporter, you are well aware of what they can make of that." His voice seemed extra sweet.

I don't know why it felt weird for some reason to see them calmly talking to her when I had been opposing this rugged idea for ages.

She slightly nodded, understanding their words. It was uncomfortable to see her hesitating and of course, who would want to date their enemy even if it is fake? 

" Can we get a little time to think—" I started to speak but was cut off by a voice from my side. 

" I am ready," Maya said in a firm voice as she gave her most determined look as if she had made this decision after a lot of debating with herself.

She looked deadly like she is about to pick her invisible dagger and just divide me in half and shout loud in victory. Her eyes blazed like the sun, ready to burn anyone alive. I shuddered a bit but didn't let anyone notice.

Everyone looked at her with wide-open eyes. They insisted on her thinking once again but she firmly stood by her decision. I gulped, finding it weird for her to agree on this stupid PR stunt thing. "I am going to quit my job at 'Spotlight Horizon' so there won't be any kind of problems with timing on my end and this PR thing… I am ready." 

Everyone agreed to it as I stared at her pale face which had more to say than just those things.

" What do you say, Ajay?" 

I snapped out of my thoughts at Amar's voice. I nodded in agreement as I felt there was nothing to do other than this. 

" Cool." 

A PR couple stunt. Is this going to be alright? 

★★★

" Let's plan this out." Maya crossed her legs and took a piece of paper and a pen as I grimaced at her. 

We both were sitting across the table in my house next to hers (Yes, you are right. The one in Parvati Building). I was reading a book as she ranted about planning the whole PR couple or whatever that thing is.

" Maya, quit this. Anyway, in the end, nothing goes by the rules." She parted her lips and giggled out, covering her face. She acted like a maniac all of a sudden. Is she having mental attacks? Why is laughing like that? Crazy woman.

" You sounded like Pranav just now," she coughed out the laugh and made a deadpan face as she continued, " Listen, this is serious work. Fake dates are not easy and with you… absolutely not. I am not experienced in this so I need a planned out work so that nothing comes as a surprise." 

She is making it sound as if I have a lot of experience. " As if I have."

" You never did it for your films?" 

" Nope. This is my first time as well," I said, without looking up from the book. From the corner of my eyes, I could see her pouting her lips and chewing the end of the pen like in her younger days. 

I pulled out the pen from her mouth in reflex as I tried to avoid looking at her expression. "Don't do that. It's unhygienic." I made a cross with my fingers.

This somehow reminds me of the time when I used to teach her. She used to look at the clock every two seconds to see the time and whenever she would find something too difficult to solve, she would start chewing the end of her pencil or pen as if that would magically solve her questions.

She is still quite the same girl except that now she doesn't have short hair and doesn't wear her blue frock that she would wear almost every other day. 

" You are still the same. Boring," she said, blinking her eyes as she frowned at me. I shook my head as I kept my eyes on the storyline of the book.

" Listen. We need to follow these things. One, we should publicly display our so-called 'love' but keep a distance. Two, we need to make the media believe that everything is true. Three, whatever we do let's keep it on camera. We don't need to interact much off-screen. Or maybe not at all. And last, be careful at every step,"— her voice turned deep as she looked around with narrowed eyes, "Paparazzi and the media can be anywhere. Maybe under this table as well." She pointed at the table in front of us and shouted a little, enough for me to hear. 

I jumped slightly at her urgent shout to find Cookie curled up under the table. "Are you mad?"

I took Cookie and patted her before telling her to play with the ball. She sighed and made a half-smile, rubbing the back of her neck. " Sorry," she chuckled.

I went back to reading my book. " Did you hear what I said before?" I made a 'hmm' sound as I focused on the storyline. 

" What are you reading?" When I didn't reply to her, she quickly snatched the book from my hand. 

" Hey, give that back." As I protested, she turned around the pages and read it out loud as she struggled to keep the book out of my reach.

" It is as complicated and as simple as we look into it. I don't know what this is. But I am sure that it is not hate. Maybe this is what they call 'love'?" 

I pulled the book out of her hand and I noticed her face heated up. Her brown eyes wavered as she stiffened at her position. I felt her uneven breaths tickling my neck. That is when I realized she was in my arms and our legs were brushing against each other, sending chills to my spine.

I awkwardly freed myself and turned around to avoid the embarrassment. A while later, she stood up and straightened herself. " I...I must leave." She avoided looking at me as she quickly picked up her bag. 

She was about to leave when I felt the urgency to say something. " About this...?—" Before I could complete my sentence, she cut me off by saying," I understand. I must go." 

" Why are you leaving your job?" A terrible random thing to say at that point. But anything to make it less awkward.

Her eyes went wide but she dodged the question, saying," No need to know. I have to go." 

I tried to say something but all that came out was a simple "okay". Soon she got inside her house and I couldn't help but feel awkward and embarrassed. 

Opening the book, I tried to read the lines but all I could think of was her blushed-up face. Keeping the book at the table, I walked up to the balcony when my phone buzzed. Maya.

I am sorry about that. My fault, I guess. But that doesn't make you all innocent. Mind it.

My lips parted and I smirked as I could imagine her showing fake anger and flaring up her nostrils in rage.

I am sorry as well. But you should try to act like a human. Are you a monkey for reals? 

The reply arrived soon enough.

Yes and now you have to romance this monkey. Tsk, tsk what a sad, sad life!

I send her the rolling eyes emoticon before telling her good night. Then she replied: 

If you are curious to know about me quitting my job…

My eyes widened to see her wanting to tell me. There was silence on the other end before her last message came. 

You are better off without knowing. 

Good night, homo sapien. The boring one.

I had the sudden desire to throw away the phone or maybe, Maya. But I could do nothing other than switching my phone off.

As I got inside my room and read through the lines of the book, my mind recollected the whole day, even the embarrassing moment.

I covered my cheeks and rubbed the back of my neck as I kept the book aside. Forget it, Ajay. There is something more you need to handle.

~•~