With You ~

"You're kidding me. Right ?" Annika's friend Adithya left stuttering chuckles for her to stare at him blankly. "Okay. You're not kidding. But on a serious note, I'm not worth considering"

"You directed a short film" Annika said nonchalantly while taking the bill from waiter. "You're sounding convincing. But I'm not convinced"

"Okay. I'm leaving" Adithya immediately pulled her hand making her sit back.

"Don't waste my time. I've to inform them since I couldn't keep my words. If I find you incapable, I wouldn't have thought about you. Just remember this"

"Fine. I'm convinced" Adithya surrendered leaving her hand. "This is the script's copy.  Be prepared. We're meeting them tomorrow"

"Them ? Who ?"

"Head of Wonder Management, an—-" Adithya cut in excitedly, "Oh my god! Mister Kaushik. Shivaay Singh Oberoi is under his management, right ? That means he'll be there too"

"He's the main lead, if you remember" Annika said in an almost exasperated tone.

"Yes, he's the main lead. My favourite! Who's the producer by the way ? You have to narrate—-" Annika showed her hand on his face making him quiet.

"Them includes the producer as well. I'm leaving now" Annika stood up and said, "Pay the bill. I didn't ordered anything for myself"

"Hey, you got us here!"

Annika gave him an unbothered look and started walking out. "Ah! This girl!" Adithya chided and hurriedly slurped his juice.

Annika opened the restaurant door and took steps ahead to feel something on her skin. Rain. Her eyelids struggled to stay open in the honeyed rain before the golden sun.

"Hey, why are you getting drench ?! You might fall sick" Adithya got the opened umbrella above their heads.

"Oh my god! Rainbow! Annika hold this.." Adithya passed the umbrella to her and took out his phone to capture the rainbow which sang upon the sky. Annika looked at his phone and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Hey! Annika, where are you going ? God, I'm drenching! Wait! Arre pagal!" Adithya ran behind her as she started walking ahead without bothering about him and the rainbow.

~

Annika looked at Adithya, Kaushik and the producer involved in a casual talk, hooting with laughters. "This series is going to be the young's talent. Isn't it Kureshi ?" Kureshi nodded to him spontaneously.

Annika turned her head away from them and noticed Shivaay turning his head towards her as well. She looked away from him when his phone rang. Then, he excused himself and left the room.

"Hello, Vincent. Did you reached the store ? Did—-did you found something about her ?"

"Sir, I've reached the store. But, it's closed. The owner of the store didn't let apprised of any information. Sorry Sir. We have to wait" Vincent, a private investigator said disappointedly. Shivaay hummed and rested the call.

He ran his hands inside his hair. His hold on the phone was too tight as an air of despondency caught him, yet again.

"Where are you ? Help me reach you. Ho—-just where are you ? Who are you ?" He gulped down the sorrow and looked up when he felt someone's presence behind him.

He turned around to see Annika looking at him. Adithya who came behind her saw them staring at each other. "Adi, you go. I'll come in minutes" Adithya nodded to her and passed a smile to Shivaay before leaving.

He turned around a moment to see them still staring at each other. He shrugged off with a smile and went.

"We will do the screen test tomorrow. I thought of informing you personally before I leave" He silently looked at her as she informed him.

She started walking and halted on her way when she heard him, "Do we..." They turned around, facing each other. And, he continued, "Know each other ? Like from before ? You feel familiar to me"

Annika looked fixedly at him while his eyes wandered in restlessness.

"Sometimes we feel many things familiar even though it's new. Don't stress yourself. Good day"

"Bye" he whispered to himself seeing her walking away.

"What happened Annika ?" Adithya kept his hand on her shoulder. She shook her head and thought to herself - Is he recognising her ? Slowly ?

~

"You performed really well, Prakash. You take the direction well. What do you think Annika ?" She nodded to Adithya.

"Annika, I have to meet his parents and other members as well. I'll be back briefly" Adithya left the room.

"I'd worked in two films before. The both directors were so hard. Both during casting and throughout the shoot. But, Adi uncle is quite cool"

Annika said, "Please don't call him uncle. If he heard, he will cry covering himself in blanket later. You can call him brother" Prakash did thumbs up with a grin and she nodded.

"Hello guys!" Shivaay entered the room. Prakash ran to hug him whilst Annika looked at them quietly.

"Hey.." Shivaay waved at her with a sweet smile and she gave a tight lipped smile in return. He shook his head with a smile and sat in front of her.

"Bhaiyya, I'm so excited. We lastly met in an award ceremony when I was thirteen. It's been two years. We'll have a blast together" Shivaay gave a sure smile and turned towards her.

"You both don't need sometime to gel together it seems. It's good" She said and Prakash nodded with full smile.

"Bhaiyya, you promised me to reveal the country you're leaving after your last project that day. But you didn't" Shivaay smiled and said, "I will. I won't leave without telling you"

"Will you find her by then ?"

Shivaay chuckled in despair whilst Annika took a moment to look at him.

"I hope I will. I seriously hope" Prakash patted his shoulder. Annika gulped and stood up alerting them. 

"I'll take your leave. Good day" She left the room.

"Miss.. Annika. Wait!" Shivaay came running behind her. She turned around in horror and told, "What do you think you're doing ? It's not safe for you. You should go back"

"It's... it's fine. My guards are out there" He panted. "You wont drink lemon water. Wait here" He chuckled and stopped her from moving away to get water.

"What's the matter ?"

"If you're not busy, can we meet tomorrow ?"

"Why do you want to meet me ?"

"I know you'll be busy in the pre-production work for the following weeks. So..."

Annika questioned, "Give me a reason to meet you"

He took two steps towards her and said, "I want to know how does it feel spending sometime with you. Because it's always hi and not even a proper bye between us"

"I'm scenarist and you're an actor. That's all we share between us"

"Why not friends ?"

"Why should it be ?"

"Because when you're a scenarist, all you do is walking away. Maybe as a friend, you'll stay with me a little longer" She stared into his eyes and he added, "I don't want you to disappear from my eyes again"

"Again ?"

"Hmm. I mean our both previous meetings" He smiled and she stared into his expectant eyes. Only if he know it's not twice but thrice she'd disappeared from his eyes.

To be continued ~

~

I thought to end this book in five chapters. But, I don't think it's possible anymore as I keep adding something-anything in between. So, it's not a short story :,)

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Gratitude, Love Comrade