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Abhimanyu was laying down on his bed, his mind replaying the interaction with Meera from this modern era. She was so much like his Meera, yet different in subtle, intriguing ways. Her gestures, her voice, even her laughter brought a sense of nostalgia mixed with the unfamiliarity of this new world. He closed his eyes, allowing the memories of his beloved Meera to wash over him.

He recalled a beautiful memory from their past.

It was a fine day when he was out hunting wild animals that had been destroying the villagers' green lands. He was on horseback, carefully navigating the dense forest, when suddenly, a wild boar charged at him. His horse reared, and he lost his balance, tumbling to the ground. Pain shot through his shoulder where the animal's claws had grazed him.

As he lay there, trying to gather his senses, a figure appeared, descending gracefully from a grand chariot. It was Meera. She seemed to materialize out of thin air, her presence commanding and ethereal. She was dressed in a flowing, ivory silk saree embroidered with intricate gold patterns, a sash draped elegantly over her shoulder. Her long, dark hair was adorned with delicate jasmine flowers, and a thin gold chain rested gracefully on her forehead, accentuating her almond-shaped eyes that sparkled with concern.

For a moment, Vikram forgot his pain, entranced by her beauty. She moved with an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly. Her saree swished gently with each step, revealing glimpses of her anklets that jingled softly. Her bangles chimed together as she approached him, her hands reaching out with tenderness.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice like a soothing melody. She knelt beside him, inspecting his injuries with a practiced eye. He was too captivated by her presence to respond immediately, simply nodding dumbly.

"I am Meera, the princess of the Vajji dynasty," she introduced herself, her cheeks flushing slightly under his intense gaze.

Vikram, finally regaining his composure, nodded in acknowledgment.

"I am Vikram Singh," he replied, though his voice was hushed, almost reverent. Her proximity, the warmth of her concern, made his heart race.

Meera smiled, a delicate blush coloring her cheeks. "Let me help you with that wound. I have some knowledge of medicine."

Surprised and intrigued, Vikram gestured to his men to leave them alone. He noticed Meera also signaling her maids to give them privacy. They were now sitting in a makeshift tent, the afternoon sun casting a warm glow through the fabric.

"You need to remove your jacket so I can treat your shoulder," Meera said, her tone professional yet gentle.

Vikram was momentarily taken aback, his eyes widening. Meera laughed softly, a sound like the tinkling of bells. "Just your jacket, so I can see the wound," she clarified.

With a nod, he carefully removed his jacket, revealing the deep nail marks etched into his skin. Meera's face grew serious as she inspected the injury.

"This will need cleaning and some herbs to prevent infection," she murmured.

She worked with deft hands, her touch light yet assured. She cleaned the wound with water from a small vial she carried, her movements precise and practiced. Vikram winced slightly, but the pain was dulled by his fascination with her.

"You're very skilled," he said, his voice low. "Not many princesses I know can treat wounds like this."

Meera smiled, her fingers gently applying a paste made from crushed herbs. "I was taught by the best healers in our kingdom. My father believed it was important for me to know such things."

Vimram watched her, admiring not just her beauty but her strength and capability. "You are remarkable, Princess Meera."

She blushed again, this time more deeply. "Thank you, Vikram Singh. You are quite impressive yourself, facing such danger to protect your people."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world outside the tent seemed to vanish. There was a connection, a spark that neither could deny. The silence stretched, filled with unspoken emotions and mutual admiration.

"You should rest now," Meera said finally, her voice soft. "The herbs will take effect soon."

Vikram nodded, his heart full. "Thank you, Meera. I will not forget this kindness."

As she gathered her things to leave, she paused, looking back at him with a shy smile. "I hope we meet again, Vikram Singh."

He watched her go, his mind and heart lingering on the memory of her touch, her voice, her grace. Lying on his bed in the modern era, Abhimanyu sighed, the memory of that day a bittersweet reminder of the timeless bond they shared.

-----

The next day, Raina arrived to pick up Abhimanyu. They were scheduled to finalize some pending scripts. Now seated in his studio, Abhimanyu looked around in surprise at the walls adorned with his stylish pictures.

"Never gets old, does it?" Raina remarked, noticing Abhimanyu's reaction.

"It's surreal," Abhimanyu replied, still taking it all in. "Feels like a dream."

Raina handed him a stack of scripts. "Alright, let's get down to business. We have a lot to go through."

Abhimanyu began flipping through the scripts, but nothing piqued his interest. He looked increasingly frustrated until he reached one that left him visibly shocked. He tossed the script onto the table with a thud.

"What the hell is this script?" Abhimanyu exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "The hero is a freaking abuser, and the heroine is an innocent girl who's chasing after him not to report him to the police, but to have sex? Shit! I hate these kinds of stories. Who, in their right mind, wants to make this bullshit?"

Raina raised an eyebrow, leaning in with curiosity. "What's wrong with it?"

"Everything!" Abhimanyu spat, flipping through the pages in disgust.

"He even has an affair with another woman while being married to his wife. It's literally called cheating. Why would we glorify this on the big screen? People's lives are already miserable with shitty relationships, and now movies want to boost their misery by showing all this crap? There's no real story here, just a heap of heavy intimacy scenes with no substance."

Raina sighed. "Yeah, the industry's been leaning heavily on these sensationalist plots lately. It's all about what sells."

Abhimanyu shook his head. "It's irresponsible. Films have a huge influence on society. We should be aiming higher, telling stories that inspire and uplift, not degrade and depress."

Raina nodded in agreement but still seemed worried. "It's tough, though. The market's driven by demand, and right now, this kind of stuff is what's pulling in the money."

As they continued sorting through scripts, Raina handed Abhimanyu one titled "Love Traveller." Abhimanyu's interest was immediately piqued. He quickly turned the pages, his eyes widening with each paragraph.

"This is amazing," he said, his excitement palpable. "It's literally about a man who travels through time, discovering love in different eras. There's depth, emotion, and a sense of wonder. Who wrote this? They're incredibly talented."

Raina looked skeptical. "It's a good script, no doubt. But fantasy genres like this don't sell much. Audiences prefer more grounded stories, or the sensationalist ones we just talked about."

Abhimanyu shook his head. "Someone has to change these stereotypes, Raina. We can't keep catering to the lowest common denominator. This story has potential. It's intriguing and offers something different. We need to take risks to evolve."

Raina bit his lip, thinking it over. "You're right, but it's a gamble. If it doesn't do well, it could be a setback."

"Every great change starts with a risk," Abhimanyu countered, his voice resolute. "I'm willing to take that risk. This script deserves a chance, and so do the people who crave for meaningful cinema. If we don't push the boundaries, we'll be stuck in this loop forever."

Raina finally smiled, seeing Abhimanyu's passion. "Alright, Abhi. Let's do it. We'll sign for 'Love Traveller' and see where it takes us. Maybe this will be the start of something new."

Abhimanyu nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "It will be, Raina. I know it."

The two friends shared a moment of silent agreement, knowing they were about to embark on a journey that could change not just Abhimanyu's career, but possibly the industry itself.

******

👀 It's going to be interesting 🧐

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