Happy reading....

Later that evening, Abhimanyu headed to the set of his new ad shoot for a prestigious jewelry brand. As they drove, Raina filled him in on the details.

"This ad is going to be quite different from your previous ones," Raina began.

"The concept is to showcase modern jewelry that blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary designs. You'll be modeling both men's and women's pieces."

Abhimanyu raised an eyebrow. "Men's jewelry? That’s interesting."

Raina nodded. "Exactly. That's what makes this ad unique. Nowadays, there's no stereotype about who can wear what. Anyone can wear makeup, jewelry, and clothes, regardless of gender. It's all about personal expression."

Abhimanyu smiled, intrigued. He couldn't help but compare the jewelry of this era to what he was accustomed to. In his time, men rarely wore jewelry, and if they did, it was mostly rings or necklaces for specific occasions. Women, on the other hand, had elaborate collections that signified status and beauty. The shift in perception was refreshing; it showed how far society had come in breaking down rigid boundaries. Now, anyone could wear what they liked, expressing themselves freely.

As they approached the set, Abhimanyu noticed a commotion on the street. A young woman, looking extravagantly rich, was having a heated argument with a man. The man's bike had accidentally scratched her luxury car, and she was giving him a piece of her mind.

"You scratched my car, you idiot!" she yelled, her voice carrying over the din of the street. "Do you have any idea how much this costs? You'll be paying for this!"

The man, looking distressed and helpless, pleaded, "Please, ma'am, I can't afford to pay for this. It was an accident. I'm really sorry."

"Sorry won't fix my car!" she snapped, her anger unrelenting.

Abhimanyu turned to Raina, puzzled. "Who's she? And why is she creating such a scene?"

Raina shook his head. "I have no idea. Her hat is covering her face, so I can't recognize her. Let's just ignore it and focus on the shoot."

Just as they were about to move on, the young lady's gaze locked onto Abhimanyu. Her eyes narrowed with a murderous look, and realization struck him. Those eyes... it was Meera.

Raina, hearing Abhimanyu's sharp intake of breath, looked again. "What the fuck! Why is she here on the set?"

Abhimanyu was speechless. Why does she always seem to be causing trouble? Can’t she behave civilly for once? His heart ached seeing her walk away, the pain of their complex relationship weighing on him.

They entered the shoot location, where everything was set up and ready. Abhimanyu changed into his costume and sat in the makeup chair, trying to shake off the unsettling encounter.

Suddenly, the brand manager burst into the makeup room. "Mr. Mehrotra, there's been a change in plans. A young woman will be shooting alongside you."

Abhimanyu's eyes widened in shock. "What? This was supposed to be a solo shoot!"

Raina jumped in, his voice rising. "You can't just change things without informing us! We agreed on a solo shoot, and now you want to add another model? This is unprofessional."

The manager looked apologetic. "I understand your frustration, but the owner specifically requested this woman. It's their family business, and they have a say in the creative direction. I only found out this morning myself."

Abhimanyu clenched his fists, his mood darkening further. "Who is this woman?"

The manager hesitated. "It's... the owner's daughter. She insisted on being part of the shoot."

Raina's face turned red with anger. "This is unacceptable! If they wanted their own family in the ad, why did they hire Abhimanyu? This is not what we agreed upon."

Abhimanyu sighed, rubbing his temples. "This whole thing is giving me a headache. Cancel the shoot, Raina. I'm not in the mood for this."

The manager looked desperate. "Please, Mr. Mehrotra, I beg you. The owner will be furious if we cancel. Just this once, can we make an exception? I assure you, it won't happen again."

Raina crossed his arms, glaring. "This is a huge breach of trust. We can't just overlook it."

Abhimanyu thought for a moment, then looked at Raina. "Fine. We'll go through with it. But make it clear that this is the last time we tolerate such unprofessional behavior."

The manager nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Mr. Mehrotra. I promise, it won’t happen again."

As they prepared for the shoot, Abhimanyu couldn't shake the feeling that this ad was going to be more complicated than he had anticipated. In this modern era, nothing ever seemed simple.

-------

As Abhimanyu stood before the cameras and lights, ready to start the shoot, he saw a beautiful woman approaching. She wore a stunning red gown that hugged her petite frame perfectly. The dress cascaded gracefully to the floor, accentuating her bare shoulders and the elegant curve of her neck. Her wavy hair flowed like a dark river, adding to her ethereal presence. As her face came into view, Abhimanyu's breath caught in his throat. It was Meera.

Why was fate playing this strange game with him? He couldn't understand what was happening. Even in this modern look, she appeared like an ethereal goddess, her beauty both familiar and startling.

Meera's eyebrows knitted together as she recognized him. Her expression quickly turned to one of anger. She shouted at her manager, who was standing a few feet away.

"Why is Abhimanyu here?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

The manager, looking flustered, replied, "He's the one you're going to shoot with."

Meera fumed at this information, casting a withering look at Abhimanyu. Despite his attempts to remain composed, her words stung. What had he done to deserve such animosity? He had given her his shirt out of kindness, seeing a resemblance to his beloved Meera, even though this modern Meera had been rude and impolite.

He watched as the manager spoke to her in hushed tones. Whatever was said seemed to placate her slightly, though she huffed and muttered some choice words before walking towards him. Abhimanyu glanced at Raina, silently signaling him to stay out of it. Raina nodded and stepped back, standing beside the director.

Meera approached with an annoyed expression, positioning herself beside Abhimanyu without so much as a glance in his direction. He felt like an outcast, standing next to her. Why was she treating him this way? What was wrong with her conscience?

He took a deep breath, reminding himself that this Meera was not his Meera. She just looked like her, and he shouldn't get emotional over a stranger who clearly had no manners.

The director clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone, let's get started. Abhimanyu, Meera, I need you both to look at each other with genuine admiration. The theme is timeless beauty, so make it look effortless."

Why?

Does he has to act intimate with her now?

Abhimanyu nodded nonetheless, trying to focus on the task at hand. Meera, however, crossed her arms and sighed loudly.

"Let's just get this over with," she muttered under her breath.

He turned to face her, offering a soft smile despite the tension.

"Let's do our best," he said quietly.

She rolled her eyes but finally looked at him, her gaze cold and distant. The cameras started rolling, and Abhimanyu tried to channel his feelings for his beloved Meera into the performance. He gazed at her with a mix of admiration and longing, hoping to convey the timeless connection the ad sought to capture.

Shit! Why the heck am i losing my senses seeing her?

The director instructed them to pose closely, their faces mere inches apart. Abhimanyu could feel the heat radiating from Meera's skin, her breath mingling with his. The scent of her perfume, a blend of jasmine and sandalwood, enveloped him, making it hard to focus on anything else.

"Now, Abhimanyu, gently take her hand and place the bracelet on her wrist," the director instructed.

What?

Abhimanyu reached out a bit hesitantly, but he noticed she looked unaffected by their proximity.

Am I not good-looking or what?

Shaking his thoughts away, his hand approaching hers and his long fingers brushing against Meera's soft skin.

She tensed at the contact, but didn't pull away.

That simple reaction of hers, made a little satisfied smirk appear on his lips. She noticed his smug look but ignored it as if she didn't see it.

As he fastened the delicate piece of jewelry around her wrist, he couldn't help but admire the way it complemented her elegance. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world around them disappeared. The connection between them felt almost palpable, a blend of longing and unspoken words.

The director called for another pose, this time for Abhimanyu to place a necklace around Meera's neck.

This time a smirk appeared on Meera's face as if she challenged him to not sway by her hot looks.

She turned her back to him, exposing the graceful curve of her neck and the soft waves of her hair.

He gulped down before reaching for her hairs to slide them away to put on the necklace on her slender neck.

How could he forget he's always obsessed with her neck. Those beautiful nights. The memories just made his condition futher worse.

Abhimanyu's fingers trembled slightly as he draped the necklace around her, his touch lingering on her skin longer than necessary. Meera's breath hitched, and he could feel the tension between them growing thicker.

As they moved through the scenes, showcasing the exquisite jewelry, Abhimanyu couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia. The intricate designs reminded him of the craftsmanship from his era, yet they had a modern twist that made them uniquely beautiful. Men and women alike wore these pieces, breaking the old stereotypes and embracing a new era of personal expression.

By the end of the shoot, the tension had eased slightly. The director called for a wrap, praising their performances. Meera immediately walked away, her cool demeanor returning as she headed towards her entourage.

Abhimanyu watched her go, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. He had hoped to find a connection, but it was clear that this Meera was a different person entirely.

Raina approached him, a concerned look on his face. "You okay, Abhi?"

Abhimanyu nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just get out of here."

As they left the set, Abhimanyu couldn’t shake the image of Meera from his mind. She was so alike yet so different from the Meera he knew. It was a painful reminder of the strange new world that he was not belonged to his era. Since meeting her he couldn't help but think about her every damn hour. 

*******

Poor Abhi 😔

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