Raina left his house that day, but it wasn't like any other day. She had known him for months but today she saw him in a new light and that changed so many things. First her perspective of him. He was still the same druggie womanizer, but the new light just diluted his wrongs. He shared the saddest part of his life with her. Don't know what is it about sharing sadness, but it instantly brings two people closer, feel more for the other. Perhaps the fact that the person considered you close enough to share his/her deepest, darkest secrets and pain. She felt a lot closer to him now than ever before.

               "Why did he feel such a connection with her that he told her the things that he didn't even tell to his best friend and not even his father?" Abhimanyu pondered as he filled the room with the clouds of smoke. "Was it because she sacrificed one crore just to follow some suggestion of his," he wondered. He didn't know what consequences these revelations of his life to her can have, but he completely trusted her with the info.

                 Next day, Raina went to his apartment at 9:30 am for the routine rehearsal of the English song they were going to record. Like always, his maid opened the door for her with a big smile and she returned the gesture as usual. She walked to the music room upstairs, and saw him sitting at the piano reading some musical notes surrounded in the smoke rising from his special cigarette which she by now knew was marijuana. She took her seat opposite him across the piano. He was so busy that he didn't look at her, though aware of her presence. She sat quietly and looked around in the room. She looked at the curtains that were always close and the tubelight that was always on. She hated how those dark curtains gave the feeling of night even during day and won't let any natural light come in. They rehearsed in man-made light when they could use the sunlight outside. Just then she heard the door slam downstairs, and she knew the maid has left. The sound brought Abhimanyu's eyes from musical notes to her. She gave him a smile, and he smiled back.

Abhimanyu: So...

Raina: So, can I ask you something?

He gazed at her for few seconds.

Abhimanyu: You ask a lot of things these days.

Raina: Can I pull these curtains open?

Abhimanyu: Why? He asked calmly as he went back to his notes.

Raina: We can rehearse in natural light and save electricity. Shouldn't we be the responsible citizens of our country. Save Water. Save Electricity.

He laughed a little,"Really?"

After a moment of pause

Abhimanyu: The thing is I like it dark. You know, darkness is my thing.

Her mouth agape a bit and he noticed.

Abhimanyu: It helps my creativity. What about you?

Raina: What about me?

Abhimanyu: What helps you think better?

Raina: I think nature. I like sun. I like light, and everything bright. I love greenery. I love plants and everything green..... I love the color green. It signifies life, health and goodness. Everything that's safe is marked green. See, even the green light on the road means it's safe to go and red ..well danger and unsafe. Green represents everything nice and safe.

Abhimanyu: Do you feel safe with me? He abruptly threw the question at her.

Raina: Yes. She replied without taking time though  she was taken aback a little by the unexpected question.

Abhimanyu: You should not.

He pulled out a revolver from one of the drawers with key in the the computer table behind him. She stared him in shock.

Abhimanyu: How can you see green in red? I see everything red here. Drugs check, alcohol check, anger check, gun check, multiple women check- they all scream red. How can you feel safe all alone with a womanizer who is never in complete senses, under the control of alcohol and drugs with spurts of anger and in possession of a gun. You should not see green. You should see red. You should not feel safe because even a good man cannot be trusted under these circumstances.

She stared him without moving as she listened to him. He literally scared her for a moment.

Abhimanyu: Well, you can blink your eyes now. He flashed his infectious smile that reached his eyes,and she saw green in them. She smiled.

Abhimanyu: We should start now. And if sunlight is conducive to your performance, you can pull back the curtains.

Happily she rose from her chair, turned off the light and walked to the window in a fairly dark room. She pulled back the cutains allowing the sunlight in.

Raina: I like to see how sunlight slowly fills in the darkness and brings everything to life and energy. He looked up at her. She was standing at the window looking out into the terrace.

Raina: This terrace is my favorite place in your house.  She continued. The view of the jungle behind it is so beautiful. But from your window it looks so empty. Some green plants and flowers in pots can make it so much better.

Abhimanyu: Are you a gardener?

She smiled,"No. I don't have space for it. My balcony is too small. Still, I have somehow fit a small Tulsi plant there".

He smiled a little.

She walked back and took her seat and they rehearsed the song. The class came to an end.

Abhimanyu: Today was the last day of this class. We are recording tomorrow! He declared.

Raina: So, no more classes from tomorrow?

Abhimanyu: Not with me..., but you continue your classes with Mr. O' Brien. He said checking his cell.

After few minutes of silence in room, Raina broke the silence.

Raina: Remember, you told me that I should learn some instrument after this. I have zeroed on guitar, but am unable to pin on a good coach for it.

Abhimanyu looked up at her from the cell.

Abhimanyu: I can take guitar lessons for you. Then after a thought, he said," but now I'm going to be get very busy with the planning and the arrangements for the video of this song. May be we can start after we have shot the video."

Abhimanyu: When is your college starting?

Raina: In twenty days.

Abhimanyu: Okay, so we stick to this same time for your guitar lessons and you know when to come.

Raina: Yea, after the shoot of video.

Abhimanyu: Alright then. Raina, can you please pull the curtains close now.

Raina walked to the window.

Raina: Can we have guitar lessons outdoors, on the terrace?Please!

Abhimanyu: Does that help your learnability?

Raina: Yes, green surroundings do. She told excitedly.

Abhimanyu: Then, where ever you learn fast. After all it's you who has to learn, not me. I want you to learn it quick.

Abhimanyu: But now don't change your mind and pick piano because I can't move it to terrace. His lips curved slightly and his eyes smiled brightly.

She smiled.

Raina: When I come for the lessons next time, can I get some plants and flowers for your terrace?

At first he wanted to tell 'no', but then he thought of her love for gardening.

Abhimanyu: Okay, but you only will have to take care of those plants. They will solely be your responsibility.

Raina: Thank you, Abhimanyu. He nodded his head.

                                                                            ***

                 Raina returned home after recording her first English single in Kulshan's studio. She was sitting idle in living room. Her mom passed by and noticed her tired face.

(The conversations between Raina and her family members are always in Marathi)

Mom: You went for the recording of songs today?

Raina: Haan( Yes), aayi(mom).

Mom: But you said you were going to sign a contract to shoot more videos to the songs from your album. Have you signed your next album?

Raina: No, aayi. It's not an album. It's just a single. An English song for which we'll shoot a video also.

Mom: You will sing English songs?

Raina: I already recorded it today.

Mom: And what about those videos that Kulshan Kumar was to sign you for?

Raina: I refused that offer since I had to do this.

Mom: Refused! So, you will do it later?

Mom: No, mom! I don't think Kulshan will ever sign me for any of his projects now. I think I have offended him.

Her father who was hearing to their conversation from bedroom came rushing to the living room.

Dad: Oh Wow! Great! She managed to offend the music industry giant in just one album. How great is that!

She looked at her dad who looked angry.

Dad: I have never seen anyone as foolish as her. She refused hindi songs for one English song. Who listens to English songs sung by Indians in India. I have not heard of Indian singers singing English songs, forget about making a fortune from it. I thought she will become like Ashaji one day, but no.

Dad: Arrey! How are you going to survive in music industry by turning Kulshan Kumar against you. She has finished her career even before it could take off. How are you now going to pay the rent, bills and maintain this lifestyle lifelong. From this English single which no one will listen to.

Dad: Hindi gaane gaaye nahin angrezi gaane chal diye( Haven't sung few in Hindi and moved to singing in English). How much you got for this English single?

Raina: 20 lakhs.

Dad: Huh! Twenty is nothing these days. It will not last you even two years. The way she is going, we will have to return to slums. Why did we even bother coming then?

Raina: Don't bother me with these tensions. This field of entertainment is risky, okay. Just spoiled my mood. She walked to her bedroom and slammed the door shut.

Dad: Toh tension waala kaam karne ke pehle sochna tha par tab toh sar par angrezi sawaar thi ( Should have thought before doing the thing that can cause tension, but then English was ruling her head).

Dad: Send more to convent school and church. This is what happens. He told her mom. Two videos what she did, few people started recognizing her or what, she has started getting wings. He continued with his murmur.

Mom: Enough now. Our daughter knows what she is doing.

Dad: I never even ask her- what she is doing, where is she going. Nothing. He murmured.

                                                                           ***

                 Sahil was busy with the pre-production of the music videos when he received a call from Abhimanyu.

Sahil: Finally you remembered me.

Abhimanyu: You know, I have been busy.

Sahil: Oh Ya, you go missing on me when you are busy with work, you go missing on me when you are busy with girls, and you appear when you have work from me. I have no importance in your life.

Abhimanyu: You don't need me. You have Preeti.

Sahil: Anyways I forgive you. "Subah ka bhoola agar sham ko laut aaye to use bhoola nahin kahte"(hindi proverb that means "All's well that ends well").

Abhimanyu: Ya, use genius kehte hain( Yes, he is called genius). I am genius.

Abhimanyu: Someoneone who finds the lost way back by evening has to be genius. Isn't it?

Sahil: Ha Ha. Isn't funny.

Sahil: So, tell me howz your work going?

Abhimanyu: The song is ready and it's sounding great. You got to hear it. Now, I am all set to shoot the video.

Sahil: All that is good , but have you thought on how you are going to release and publicize this video. You understand you are no Kulshan Kumar, and this needs high visibility to become successful

Abhimanyu: I have plans. We'll release it on YouTube. Raina has substantial number of followers on twitter. She will post it there. Her fans will help it reach to their friends and families in India and abroad. Indians abroad will help reach it to their foreigner friends and from them to their families. I know I went far, but this is also a streamlined channel.

Sahil: You also have some followers on your verified twitter account.

Abhimanyu: My account can be considered dead. I haven't posted anything in ages. I am sure those still following me don't use twitter anymore or may they got new accounts and hence didn't bother to unfollow me. There is absolutely no point posting about it on my twitter. That's ruled out.

Abhimanyu: Social media is just one of the ways. I am in talks with few music channels and radio stations that will play it a few times in a day. I am also trying to get it featured under new international releases of the week on programs that list top ten or fifty of the weak on music channels popular across countries. Let's see how it goes.

Sahil: Not bad. You have quite some strategy already in.

Abhimanyu: Let's see dude! We can't leave anything that's in our hand. We want all the attention in every possible way. I am investing so much.

Sahil: Who told you to have such a retirement plan. He laughed a little.

Abhimanyu: You are right. By the way, I called you to tell that make yourself available this Thursday. You are my co-director for the day. We are shooting from start to finish in a this big, very beautiful farm house in Lonavla that I have rented for a day,and ya it hasn't come cheap. I have paid a huge sum for it.

Sahil: In just two days. Aren't you supposed to inform me earlier. You always take me for granted. You know I have work of my own videos. What if I was shooting that day?

Abhimanyu: So you are not shooting that day. I knew you will somehow make time for me. Difficult was to co-ordinate the dates of all other people I want to work on this video with me. You should appreciate that I co-ordinated everybody's date and made all the arrangements by myself, and let you work on your project.

Sahil: Thank you, but don't you think one day is too short a time to cut your retirement video.

Abhimanyu: Retirement video! Ha, Ha!

Abhimanyu: I'm on a budget. Can't afford to exceed it. Now rain or shine we got to finish it in a day.

Sahil: Signed all the leads and extras.

Abhimanyu: Ya. Besides Raina, one male model, one female model for a very small role , and then one extra.

Sahil: Female model: Hmm..who?

Abhimanyu: A czech blonde, she does some small modelling assignments here and there.

Sahil: Oh! A blonde! So you want a blonde!

Abhimanyu: Nothing as you are thinking.

Sahil: Of course, yes!  Anyways, who is the male model?

Abhimanyu: I am repeating the lead pair of our video 'Nahin Nahin Abhi Nahin'. You said they look great together and have a great chemistry. I think the same. Moreover he has a great body. We need him to show some in our video.

Sahil: I see! What's the video about?

Abhimanyu: I'll tell you in detail about the video on our drive to Lonavla.

Sahil: Alright.

Abhimanyu: Sahil! Can you inform Raina that we are shooting this Thursday?

Sahil: What the hell! Don't tell me she doesn't know about it yet!

Abhimanyu: No, she doesn't.

Sahil: The main artist doesn't know about it yet! You don't keep in touch with her or what? 

Abhimanyu: You are her manager. Not me.

Sahil: I am quitting this job.

Abhimanyu: Bye. Will talk about it later. Be ready. Thursday morning, 5 am.

          Sahil called Raina to inform her about the Thursday shoot. She got all the important details from him. She didn't know how to feel about Abhimanyu. He never called her after the recording and now a piece of information that he could have given himself, he chose to reach her through her manager. Sometimes he made her feel so close to him, and in another minute he put so much distance like this between them as if they are strangers.

*********************************************************************

Green in Red is like seeing good in bad. Like a lot of people see Sidharth's career as red, but I still see it green. I don't think these failures can destroy his career. You may call it my love that I see it green when I'm supposed to see red. Never give up on hope. Big smile.