The Ruined Rainbow

CHAPTER 72

Sahil

"So, Sahil, what's your take on the film? What makes you think that the audience will like it?"

I didn't bother to reply when my mind was too preoccupied searching for Ayesha through the crowds, my eyes scanning hastily through each row.

The time was 7:30, and Ayesha was supposed to be here a quarter of an hour before. She had assured me that she'd be here by 7:15.

I felt a nudge from Kumar, and I looked at him irately, for having spoilt my searching quest. Annoyance flickered in his eyes as he motioned towards the crowd of paparazzi. And that's when I realised a question was directed to me and I hadn't answered it yet.

"Um, sorry?"

"Sahil, what makes you think that the viewers will like the film? I mean, you are aware of the clash...that Varun Bahl's film, is also going to release on the same day. So, why should people watch your movie instead of his?" The reporter kindly elucidated.

I sensed Rhea stiffen. She suddenly became interested in her red-black nail art, as if gauging if the colour complimented her dress-an unabashed smirk formed in my lips.

"Maybe, you are asking the wrong person," I answered cheerfully, beaming brightly at a very embarrassed Rhea.

The reporters caught the little hint, and some of them hooted. They turned their cameras from me to her, to capture her reaction. Rhea's face flushed a deep crimson, matching her red, deep V-neck jumpsuit for an amusing moment. She instantly faked a sweet smile, but it disappeared much sooner. She rolled her lips inside and settled with fiddling the black buttons on her outfit, angrily.

I gave an inward chuckle; however, when I caught a glimpse of an amusement-mixed-annoyance on Kumar's face, I hastily proceeded, "Well...I believe the film is magical, and the direction is spectacular. And we both have performed reasonably well-"

"So, are you saying that Varun Bahl's film doesn't have any of the above?" A reporter questioned, interrupting my formulated response.

As much as I wanted to say yes, only, just to irate Varun, I couldn't help but feel a bit irritated. Is there any rule that the media should always interpret the wrong meaning after reading between the lines?

"He didn't say that, " Kumar snarled, saving me from formulating an irritating-nettlesome-yet-polite response. "He meant to say that he thinks that's what makes the film more lovable. "

I nodded accordingly.

As the conversation-questioning shifted to Rhea, on her thoughts and views, I scanned the crowds for the umpteenth time.

I glanced impatiently at the expensive Fossil wristwatch that Nisha had abruptly enswathed on me, concluding that my wrist was way too bare, and un-complimenting my outfit. And how she had jumped to that conclusion is beyond me.

Coming from Borivali to Malad had taken longer than foreseen, because of the unreliable Mumbai traffic. And once we had reached this venue, Nisha had done a last-minute touch-up on my face, like she always does. I had walked down to the paparazzi crowd and had posed for the photos, like usual. Rhea had joined me shortly, wearing a striking red sleeveless jumpsuit with a deep, plunging V-neckline. Her hairs were styled beautifully to a messy bun. We had posed together, trying to bring the best ingenuity in our fake smiles. And then had proceeded to the auditorium and had begun the answering to the questions along with Kumar. He had arrived much earlier.