Another update within 24 hours. Hope you all like it.

---***---

"Why?" Shubha asked Ramesh, her uncle. "You said you don't have any problem." 

"Shubha. You have to understand. This research is all I have. If you want to stop working with me, I will do everything in my power to stop you from taking it away." Ramesh spoke without a hint of regret.

"I started it with Rukhsar. You joined only after Dr. Gupta was impressed with our work and agreed to provide more funds to our research. You can't take away what's rightfully mine." Shubha yelled, sobbing.

"Rightfully yours? You forget your place. You have no rights here. I am the one who took you in after your parents' death. Is this how you repay me? I should have left you to die. You would have been reunited with your father" said Ramesh.

"YOU HEARTLESS MONSTER!" Shubha pushed him. He fell down on the floor. His wife, Veena, rushed to help him. 

Shubha picked up the nearest thing available, which happened to be a hammer. "No!" Veena shielded her husband. "Shubha. Please. I beg you." 

Shubha was brought back to her senses. She put the hammer down. She packed whatever she could lay her hands on, and walked out of the house without looking back.

"Shubha" Dhwani knocked the door.

"Two minutes please. I have to change." 

"Okay." Dhwani tried hard to keep their quarrel a secret. She knew Latha would punish Vikram for being rude. She decided not to tell anyone what happened.

On the other side of the door, Shubha changed into comfortable clothes and dried her hair. She felt angry. She hated herself for being weak. She hated herself for not punishing her uncle. She hated the fact that she loved him though he backstabbed her. 'Love makes people weak.'

She decided not to be weak anymore. She opened the door. Dhwani walked in. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I am fine." She lied. 

"You should have a peaceful discussion with Vicky." Dhwani suggested.

"I need a break. I will stay at my friend's place for a few days." 

"Are you sure?" 

"Yes"

"I will drop you." Dhwani offered.

"No. It's okay. I will drive." Shubha declined the offer. Bur Dhwani didn't agree. She insisted. Shubha finally gave in. She called Latha to let her know that she won't be coming home for a few days. She carefully avoided telling her the reason.

They walked out of the room. They saw Vikram standing at the entrance. He looked like he wanted to say something. But the moment their eyes met, he understood that she won't listen. He decided to wait for sometime.

He went to collect his belongings and leave for home. He heard a knock on the door. "Two minutes Subbu. Go, wait by the car--" He realized what he spoke. He shut his eyes tightly.

"Vicky boy. It's me." Chris punched him on the shoulder. Vikram didn't speak. 

Chris observed him carefully as he packed his things in his backpack. "Talk to her."

"Why should I talk to her? Who is she? She's not important to me."

"Is that why you were shivering when her friend told you she left hours ago?"

"It's because, you see, it's because she is my colleague. She stays at my house. If something happens to her I will have to answer to her relatives. And mom likes her. She will feel sad if the girl is hurt. It's not like I share a great bond of unbreakable friendship with her." Vikram struggled to look like it doesn't bother him.

Chris smiled at the him. He finally understood. 

"What? Why are you smiling?"

Chris's smile grew wider. "You love her." 

Vikram didn't contradict. He stayed silent for a few minutes before saying, "You are right."

"Then go, talk to her. Wait. Don't tell me your ego is more important to you."

"It's not ego Chris. I want her to be safe and happy. If I could help her get back to being a scientist, I would. But there is no way. Life has given her another chance. I want her to be successful. I want to make everyone who insulted her, feel ashamed of themselves. She deserves to be happy. She deserves to be respected by everyone." Vikram let his emotions flow.

Though Chris didn't know Shubha's story, he understood bits and pieces. "Your concern is justified. Her anger is also justified. Making this film is your dream. Being a good scientist is her dream. She loves her work as much as you love yours. If someone tells her that she can never live her dream again, it will definitely hurt."

"I never meant to say that. I was just mad at her for not informing. I was so worried. After dad's death..."  

Chris ruffled Vikram's hair. He always felt protective of Vikram though he never admitted it. "Express your feelings clearly. Tell her that you love her."

Vikram shook his head. It wasn't that easy. Several times he considered telling her the truth. But he remembered his promise to Dhwani. He couldn't make things difficult for his friend by being selfish. "You are right. I should talk to her. I don't know where her friend lives. Or else I would have gone and apologized."

"Let's make you feel better. Get up. We are going--"

"To eat Pani Puri?" asked Vikram, with a twinkle in his eyes.

"No, you idiot. Come with me." Chris dragged him along. "I know someone who knows her friend's address."

"Dhwani will kick me if I ask her." Vikram remarked.

"Not her. Him." Chris pointed at Naveen, who was watching TV. They approached him. 

"I'm not talking to him." Naveen refused to look at Vikram.

"Then talk to me. Come. Let's go and have a cheeseburger." Chris made him stand up.

"My trainer doesn't allow me to--"

"Forget the trainer. It doesn't matter if you don't follow your diet for one day" said Vikram.

"Am I dreaming? Did you really ask me to break the rules?" Naveen was shocked.

Vikram started praising Naveen. "You work out for so many hours each day. I have never seen you eat what you desire since the day we started shooting. A dedicated actor like you is allowed to have a cheat day." 

Naveen understood. "What do you want in return?"

"What are you saying? That's what you think about me? Can't I praise my friend? I'm hurt. Why will I ask anything in return?"

Naveen punched Vikram. "Worst actor ever." 

"Okay. I want Rukhsar's address." Vikram demanded.

Naveen refused. "I can't let you hurt her more."

"I don't intend to. I want to apologize. I want to make her feel better. Please." Vikram said sincerely. 

Naveen nodded. "Okay. I will take you there. But I want three cheeseburgers. I won't be sharing. I want all the three for myself." Chris and Vikram agreed. 

---***---

"I still can't believe that Dhwani garu dropped you in her car. She is so sweet." Rukhsar looked at the picture she took with Dhwani. She lived alone. She would have gladly shared her flat with Shubha. Several times Shubha considered staying with her. But it was far from the film city. "Get some sleep. You look tired."

Shubha didn't seem to listen to her. She sat down hugging her knees. "Shubha" Rukhsar wrapped her arm around her shoulder and patted her gently. "It's okay. Everything will be fine."

"I should have stayed away from him. I should have known that a rich man like him will never be friends with a normal girl like me." Shubha never felt so confused in her life.

"Does that bother you?" They have been friends since eight years. Rukhsar never heard her talk about a man.

"No... yes.  I don't know. I don't know what's happening. I thought everything will be fine. I don't understand how things got complicated." Shubha drank a glass of water to calm down. "He shouted at me. He said I don't have sense of responsibility. All this for not being there on time. I agree I should have informed him. But who gave him the right to say all these things?"

"Be thankful he just shouted. Had it been me, I would have slapped you" said Rukhsar.

"Why are you supporting him?"

"Because he has been looking after my best friend since the day she has stormed out of her uncle's house with a bag full of clothes. Do you remember? You didn't have enough money to last more than two months. You refused my help saying you will find a new job. I was so worried for you. It was only after he offered you a job, that I felt relieved." Rukhsar sounded angry.

Shubha couldn't argue. Her friend was right. Rukhsar continued. "He never treated you like someone inferior. He always respected you. He is a true friend. And a true friend has a right to scold you if you do something wrong. How will you feel if I do what you did today?"

Shubha finally realized her mistake. "Okay. I agree. I was wrong. But he shouted at me. It felt..." She didn't complete the sentence. When she thought about it again, it occurred to her that it felt good. It felt good to have someone who cared for her so much.

They heard the doorbell ring. Rukhsar opened the door. "Naveen. Please come inside. I've been waiting for you."

"Thank you Rukhsar." Naveen sat down on the couch. He looked around. "You have a beautiful house." 

"Thank you Naveen." They smiled at each other.

Shubha cleared her throat to remind them of her presence. They looked away. "That awkward moment when you realize that there is someone else in the room."

"Shubha, you can't go away just like that. We are so worried" said Naveen.

"And by we you mean..."

"Him and me" Chris emerged from the door. Rukhsar gasped. 

"Hello Rukhsar garu. Nice to meet you." He greeted her. She was on cloud nine. 

He turned towards Shubha. "You know how difficult it was to get your friend's address? Had to bribe Naveen with three cheeseburgers."

Naveen grinned. "Rukhsar. Can I get some water?"

"S-sure Naveen." She went inside. Something told Shubha that they spoke to each other daily. "Are you guys staying in touch?"

"Yes" Naveen grinned without meeting her eye. 

"Shubha. We are sorry." Chris apologized. "Whatever happened shouldn't have happened. I apologize sincerely if I hurt my biggest fan. I request you to return." 

"No. Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault. In fact, when I think about it again, I feel it's my fault. I should have been more careful." Shubha replied. "I agree it was very irresponsible of me to do something like that. It's very nice of you to talk to me even after all I did. I should be the one to apologize. I am sorry."

"Thank God. Someone's finally back from their ego trip." Vikram entered the house and closed the door. He winked at Shubha.

---***---

How will she react?

A. Walk out of the house

B. Wink back without realizing what she's doing

C. Show some attitude

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