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**

Soon enough, the door opened and he just scrolled through his phone. He was silencing his rapid heartbeats which were running due to the phone conversation he had heard. He saw Maya who came in with a smile as she closed the door.

"How was the day?" Maya asked while he replied," It was good but a bit boring.. I mean.."

"Yeah, I understand.. So sorry for that.." Maya apologized while he blinked his eyes and said," No problem."

"I don't have a choice as I can't show you the whole shooting! Then what will be a thrill  in seeing the movie?" She finished with a question and he smiled.

She went in front of the side mirror and opened a box to pick a black pin. She held the hairpin between two sets of her teeth while grabbing her open brown and black curls with her hand.

Bunching it together, she clipped her hair and said," I will be back." She went into one of the small rooms of the vanity while Rudra waited until she came out. His heartbeats were calm but there were many questions which he had to keep it for himself.

As he scrolled through his phone, he heard the footsteps and saw dressed in a black kurta without any makeup. She only had lip-gloss. 

"Actually, I have the next one scheduled within a few hours. " Maya informed and he said,"Okay, so I guess I will leave Maya!" He said and she retorted as she said," Even I am leaving since we have 5 hours left!"

"You must be tired after all these right?" Rudra asked while she said," It's not new! It happens in this industry!"

She grabbed a small black bag from the side and asked," Let's go?"

As they walked outside, they were surrounded by a whole set of media. She gave a look to Rudra while he just blinked his eyes in assurance.

"Maya, we have heard that you have given your interview to Rudra! Is that true?" A person asked as they couldn't get out from the thick sudden crowd.

"It's true!" Maya spoke and a person held a phone which emitted a  sharp white light which made her scrunch her nose and close her eyes momentarily as the white light had suddenly done something to her. It was their photos and she gave a smile to Rudra.

"These pictures clearly depict your closeness and relationship status! Otherwise, we haven't seen Maya Jaisingh invite someone to her house and spending these many hours! More than 3 hours for an interview?" One person questioned while all mics were held to them. There was a tint of silence before Maya's bodyguard and lead them to her car.

As she was about to open the door, he said," I will drive!" She just smiled before giving him the keys. As they entered, she said," I am sorry about the photos and whatever questions were thrown!"

"Perks of Being a Star's friend! Never mind!" Rudra said and she nodded as he asked," So dinner?"

"Yeah! I am hungry!" She said in an exasperated tone while he ignited the engine. He asked as they stopped at a signal," How do you cope up with these hectic schedules? How is one day in your life?"

"Hectic schedules are habitual and they are in fact, fun when you are excited to do a script which you haven't discovered. If I have no early shoots, My day starts with a cup of black coffee and my workout before breakfast. After breakfast, there will a call most probably for shoots. If there are no shoots, then it's about cleaning. Reading books and taking a nap and all those till the day ends. Dinner depends on my mood to cook.  "

"By the way, when will I get to read the interview?" She asked crossing her arms across her chest while he let out a chuckle and he said," If the interview is approved, then the magazine will be released within 2 weeks otherwise, the personal copy will be given!"

"That's great! All the Best!" Maya wished and let out a small yawn covering her mouth. She tried to stay awake but she was fast asleep by the time,  the car had stopped at a Dhaba.

"May..." He stopped as he noticed her sleeping. She looked tired and he just woke up her by touching on her skin to which she jerked.

" We have reached! I guess it's better if you cover yourself!" Rudra informed Maya who had woken up with her eyes still clouded with sleep. She looked outside to see a Dhaba which was semi-crowded.

Thinking for a few seconds, she covered herself in a black shawl. She opened the dashboard and wore golden round spectacles and said that she was ready. Both of them got out and she felt the cold air hugging her. Rubbing her forearms, they went inside and the couple greeted them. Placing their order in the counter itself, they settled in the corner.

The cold outside was replaced by a heaty yet foody atmosphere inside. There was a fusion of the fragrance of desi ghee and different spices. A heavenly atmosphere that anyone would enjoy if they loved the basics of Indian culture and food. She adored the surroundings and the almost open kitchen. It was modern yet had a woody touch!

"Since I can see this admiration on your  face, I presume that you have liked the atmosphere!" Rudra said formally with a smile and she said excitedly," I loved the atmosphere! It has been so long since I visited a Dhaba."

"One of the best places to have food is a Dhaba!" She just hummed and agreed as she averted her gaze to look around. Rudra noticed that she was happy unlike the Maya he had interviewed and seen before a few hours..

The middle-aged couple served them together. As they served the food, they thanked them with folded hands... The table was filled with the fragrance of a vast of different variety of spices along with garlic and butter! They filled their stomachs with Garlic Naan, Mushroom curry and Panner Makhan. As an addition to the heavy dinner, they were also served Gulab Jamun.  

As she wiped her hands on the tissue with the decision to wash her hands and mouth later, her eyes narrowed to the bowl of Gulab Jamun. He served one for her into her bowl. He saw a certain kind of discomfort on her face and asked if everything was okay to which she said nodding her head," Yeah, everything is fine."

She relished the taste of gulab jamun. With the syrupy liquid around the soaked Jamun, she could confess that it was one of the best! As they had their desserts, their conversations had continued.

After they finished the Jamuns, they washed their hands after a good meal. Rudra had decided that he would pay but Maya being adamant on splitting it, he gave up and they shared the money. They even complimented the food served by the old couple who had magic on their hands.. As they reached the car, Maya initiated to drive the car to which Rudra agreed. 

" Thank you for the day!" She said in a hoarse voice and he asked her in an amused or rather a sarcastic tone,

"Who knew that Maya Jaisingh would be the opposite to arrogance and dark for a few hours! I guess I am so lucky!"

She pressed her lips into a thin line and said looking sideways momentarily," If you had tried for an audition, you would have got the award for Best Debutant!"

She joked while he exclaimed," That's a sarcastic credit from Maya Jaisingh! Anyway, I am happy!"

"Maya, I have heard that Bollywood is associated with drugs. What is your take on it?" He asked occasionally while Maya replied after a few seconds.

"Whatever you heard is true! Not only Bollywood, some of the other industries too take drugs. People use drugs to get ecstasy and for other means! Even if police raid the houses of international celebrities, they won't get anything or they may even close their eyes in front of the whooping money they get! It's kind of common!"

As she drove, she switched the FM radio on and adjusted it to the rarest frequency. Rudra picked his phone and stopped recording the conversation. As the soft music along with a few programmes played, they remained silent until they reached his house.

"So, will we meet again?" Rudra asked to which Maya shrugged her shoulders and spoke with uncertainty," Let's see where time takes us!"

He got outside the car and went towards Maya's window. He knocked the window and she lowered it down after fiddling with the switch. He asked as the window opened," Do you want to come inside and meet my family?"

She contemplated for a few seconds as she played her fingers on the steering wheel," Some other time if we meet again!"

She drove off while he waved his hands.  As he ringed the bell, he was received by questions from all sides.. All of them were sitting on the couch watching T.v.

The news had grabbed his attention. He found it amused. "Maya Jaisingh to be in a relationship with a journalist, Rudra Mittal!"

"Woah!" His brother exclaimed while Rudra sat down on the couch pushing Rishi a bit which made Rishi whine.

"How was the interview by the way?" His father, Ashwin asked while he said," A Wonderful way to spend a day with a person!"

"She has given her life story and events and now it's my turn to put the words in the right place." He ruffled his own hair and gave a tired look. As stretched his legs and hands towards the front, Jhanvi asked," Did you eat anything?"

"Had a wonderful dinner with Maya from Dhaba! " He said being in 'Aww'. His expressions had to be watched. 

"Rudra, it's good to be in the news and I respect that. But it should be for your works not for roaming with someone!" Ashwin spoke in a serious tone while he questioned,

"Dad, what can I do if someone captures our pictures? I was with her as part of my internship programme! If I don't do it, I won't have a job." He justified himself as much as he could while Ashwin raised his voice a bit and stated,

"Rudra, there are photos and articles which blames you to be a gold digger! We know that but people can manifest their own articles which can sell much more than any genuine news. "

"Rudra, don't let it affect your career," Ashwin said and was about to leave the room when Rudra spoke,

"Dad, I am sure that even people would blame Maya for some other reasons in the name of this assumed relationship. We cant do anything. Only we know ourselves!"

He retorted and said sensing the silence, "Let me take a bath! I am already stinking!" Rudra said as he got up and gave a chaste kiss on Jhanvi's temple.

.. 

"How was the interview?" His brother peeped into the room and asked in an excited voice while he said," So good! It was bad to be missed. "

"So, friends with her?" Rishi asked while he hummed before shaking his head slightly towards left and right.

"Not bad!" Rudra said and he settled on the chair. He scrolled through his phone while his baby brother leaned onto his shoulders and gripped his hand. Even when Rudra tried to pluck him from his body, Rishi snuggled even more to which Rudra smiled. He was still his baby brother.

Swiping through different notifications, he saw that he had received a mail from Maya's website and it was about an article that was recently posted. Clicking on the link, he read it,

Too many questions,
Short yet meaningful lines,

Some emotional answers and reverts,

Coffee was offered,
But
Never knew about the extra addition!
Sweet wasn't my favourite taste bud,
Headaches followed
But,
Exceptions were also marked.
Being one of the best day from 10 years of my career,
Surprises followed,
Tensions drowned,
Moments were nurtured,
Smiles and fake glares followed!
Headache is on,
But,
Sweet whispers are endless
Chiming voices still haven't left!
A day which deviated me from a habit,
A day made me live like a new person,
A day of relief!
A day which can be marked in my calendar!

" A drug-free day right?" Rudra asked in his mind as he read the article. His eyes reminded to the words that he heard a few hours back. 

-The Vanity-

"Maya, let me come straight to the point!" The voice said while Rudra just hummed.

The person from the other side said," Will you forget the way I made you an addict to drugs?"

As silence ringed, the other person knew that his words might have affected the assumed Maya.  Rudra was shocked and he knew that it wasn't Arjun's voice! He had heard this voice somewhere but he wasn't sure to whom it belonged!"

"We are marking 3 years tomorrow since your addiction! The way I made you take it! The way I soothed you! The way I touched you and cheated you! Will you ever forget that Darling?" His hoarse yet husky voice threatened the addressee in a way that would remind Maya of her past.

Soon enough he placed the phone back as he heard footsteps and talking outside.

****

He raked his brain to identify but it flowed through the drains. He opened his notepad in his phone. Adjusting the screen light to the lowest, he typed,

" Addiction was her way to escape! But her way is making her guilty which is making her an auto-sadist. "

" Sorry, Maya. "

A/N: Please do vote if you liked the update. I will be waiting for your comments. Negative criticisms are allowed.