Chapter 5
' Have you ever met anyone in life, who is certainly a snob and an incessant talker of his pride but you cannot avoid them because they treat you no different and sometimes even help you? I am exactly sitting with such kind of a person in the corner of a local bar, with broken beer bottles and cigarettes on the floor, blood splattered on the wall.
"It smells like " He groaned.
"Drainage but ah… it tastes good" He finished after gulping the alcohol placed on the table in front of us.
"Cheap quality stuff, Will you be okay?" My friend tried to puke as soon as the liquid reached his gut.
"You know we can meet this pimp guy in my restaurant too, where we can have an imported wine and you do know that I have a personal collection there" He was shifting the front and back unable to ignore the uncleanliness.
"Is that Vomit?" My assistant director was sitting holding his stomach beside my side, and ready to puke anytime.
"Relax Shankar, besides you wanted a real experience, and that's the reason I chose you for this project" I patted his back.
"You don't even have a choice, I am your only assistant at this point. Only God knows! What phase I was going on to decide to be your assistant "He grew red.
"Nope, I can't hold anymore. I have to puke" Shankar ran.
An exasperated sigh is all I could do at this point.
"Are you okay buddy?'' I turned my friend, Rey. I am at this place to look for a guy, who can sneak info about the murders around this place. He is the last chance I have got. The following film is based on a real-life victim, I need some real stories to fill up my script. The only way I can do this is by having interactions with this guy, who I have to pay a huge amount for an hour.
"10,000 per hour? Are you serious Daksha, you are going bankrupt and all you have to do is spend on some information which might not turn your money back" he was angry.
I have my reasons, It seems stupid, worthless for everyone.
Getting such info can risk your lives, I am willing to take the risks, my dreams are worth the risk.
"If you are hell-bent on making money and getting your fame back, invest in a production house babe," Rey said while waving at my assistant who was gawking at a girl in the bar.
"You are talking to the wrong sibling Rey" I sighed.
"You know that leaves me in a stupid question" He looked at me.
"Not again Rey, either he was misplaced or I was exchanged in the hospital, we are total"
"Different" He finished with me, laughing at our coincidence, we gazed at each other for a moment.
Shankar cleared his throat beside us.
"If you guys have done with romance, Can we call that guy or something?" Shankar was irritated.
"What's the matter Pal?, Did we ruin your gawking session?" We teased.
"Tease all you want, you cannot ignore the fact that you guys like each other" He sat searching for the girl.
"Are you kidding, Me and Rey that can never happen" I chuckled?
"Yeah" he hesitated.
"What happened Rey? You know me Rey" I looked at his eyes. Rey is the only human being who knows about my sexuality and he agreed to keep it a secret until I come out.
Clearing his throat he nodded at me.
"Stop it, Sha! She isn't genuine" I pulled Shankar tugging at his arms when he continued to look at the girl.
"I deserve fun" He continued to look for her.
"There is the guy" I informed both the men as soon as I spot the pimpy-looking guy.
"Pink silk shirt, funky smell, crooked teeth with some alkaloid chewing, I am pretty sure he is the guy" Shankar announced.
"Don't behave as you knew him, Play cool" He warned me.
"Hey, Director!" The guy raised his hands above the head and shouted at us.
"Did you just say to act cool to him?" Rey smiled at the guy.
"You delivered the order to the wrong person" Shankar giggled beside me.
After a little chat who I am guessing his companion and shoving him some money, he landed in front of us.
"So info or girls?" he looked at Rey and Shankar.
"Information" I passed on to a paper enveloping the money.
"Ask what all you want, I will give you 10 mins " He declared accepting the money.
"10,000 for 10 minutes Daksha!" Rey glared at me.
"It is insane"
"If so take back and walk, but remember that you will be never able to find the real information" He sat fixing a smirk across his face.
"Rey relax, I can handle"
After switching on the recorder I listened to all the incidents and stories.
He got irritated whenever I interrupted him with a question.
"Who backstabbed him?" He packed all the things and about to leave.
"Hey! Why are you leaving?"
"Time's up Madam, I got a job to do "
Shankar and Rey scoffed beside me.
"Listen, Madam, if you want any information come alone next time, now I gotta go."
"I'll pay more" I was about to make money.
"No, Daksha wait. Stop this craziness" He pulled my hand back.
"Do as your friend says" He began to leave.
I am not letting go of this opportunity if I got more info, more realistic and I can end up with a good script, get back what I have lost.
"Here is the money, just five minutes" Rey walked away from me.
I didn't care. I am the failure here. I have to take the risk.
"Smart lady" He continued the stories.
When we reached my home it was past 10:00 PM.
"Rey thank you for today and I know you are angry at me. You didn't like the fact that I paid him more but I have to Rey, I am falling, I see my dreams being scattered. I don't want this. I don't want to be like my brother. All the fans running behind me, I just want my "
"Want your viewers to feel what you feel, I know" He finished.
We laughed.
"You just exactly end my lines" I smile at him.
In a swift moment, all I know was Rey's lips were massaging my own while I am trying to figure out the swift in his behavior.
"Rey, Rey" I stopped him panting.
"I am sorry, It is just, I got carried away" He chuckled, lowering his head-scratching his neck.
"I can understand, I just need one thing for you to understand, I feel nothing, I was trying to feel something and I feel none. I am sorry" I confessed.
"Don't be, I forced me on you. I am sorry" He turned away.
"See you in the morning" With that, we parted away.'