Chapter 7

“Cecile, I have no idea how he knew about this. All I know is he threatened me in my own house that he will release this. As far as I know, he has something against me, something solid that is not good for us.” I rambled over the phone.

“Daksha, First of all, take a breath and tell me who came to meet you and what he threatened you with” Cecile tried to help me calm down. I couldn’t pull myself from the accusation Pranav dropped on me. If he knew about my habits, he wouldn’t miss the chance to stay on top of business. He is the same as in the past. A vulture waiting for the opportunity to tear away the flesh never caring about the pain.

Where did he learn about my habit?

How long he had about this?

Why is he keeping it a secret and why does he want to release it now?

Why is my damn brother is unbothered by this?

“Daksh now tell me who visited you?” I narrated the entire situation to Cecile. As a good friend, she listened to the entire situation.

As I am slowly narrating the situation, I got flashes of memory of my dark days and the sins I drowned myself with. I am not proud of this part of my life, a horrible mistake I made myself which I am trying to get away from. One way or other I stuck up with it.

Now, Pranav holds the most power to destroy my entire career and the entire struggle and hard work I have gone through to be happy and healthy again. If I lost now, I am not sure I will be able to resist my dark desires and stop myself from falling into the trap again.

I am not sure I am strong enough to withstand this.

This is why I had to stop Pranav from exposing whatever he has against me.

“D, listen to me. We have time we can stop him. All you have to do is arrange a meeting with him and speak for compensation. He is indeed a media person but that doesn’t he won't have a conscience” It is hard to grasp everything Cecile is putting me through with this growing anxiety and fear of losing.

God! For once I thought I was happy.

“ Pranav and conscience never a good match C. But why do you think he is doing this to me? How did he get it?”

“I have no idea how he got it but something like that with him uncompensated is dangerous. Maybe the club has to do something with this.” Cecile warned.

“Okay fine. I..I will arrange a meeting with him and propose compensation and one second hold on” Cecile paused the conversation. Silence is nothing but killing me.

“ Cecile please say something”

“Daksha did he made this statement in presence of your brother?”

“No! Why?”

“Didn’t you say that he came to talk to you about You and Rey ?”

“Yes! Can you please say where are you going with this?”

“Then why not pursue with that but accuse of drug abuse”

“Cecile I am sorry my brain isn’t working properly due to these nerves working rapidly sending thousands of possibilities of my destruction. Can you kindly-” I continued to ramble.

“Daksha! Daksha What if he lying? What if he has no proof? What if he is just baiting you?” Cecile temporarily stopped my panic. I moved towards the nearest chair and with a few deep breathe I held onto the phone and spoke.

“What do you mean? Is he just blackmailing me with empty hands? But how in the hell why drug abuse? That doesn’t seem random to me. And why now?”

My mind is spiraling with too many questions. I am unable to form a coherent thought or a reason behind his actions.

“Your ex-boyfriend is just jealous. Do you think it is a coincidence that Rey and your intimate photos come out and your ex visits the next morning bawling to your brother accusing of the easiest thing you can blame on rich and popular people?”

Honestly, a part of me wants to believe her but there are large chances Pranav is just waiting for an opportunity to strike when he knew about the photos and Rey’s late success he is striking to bring both of us down. I have no idea why I feel like a part of me believes that Pranav know about this for a while and using last night's photos as an opportunity he came to warn me Or expect something from me.

Pranav and I had been together for one year I may not love him as he loved me but I know enough about him. He wouldn't threaten me with empty hands or make a deal with any celebrities with empty hands.

" Cecile... I don't think so "

" Daksha listens, I am coming to India in two days don't do anything stupid in these two days. We will sort this once I reach there. Maybe meanwhile talk to your so-called best friend, Rey"

I rolled my eyes at her comment and nodded anyway even though she can't see.

" Moreover he said he would come up with a deal. Wait to hear it from him. We can solve this. I've got you, babe. Don't lose hope. Everyone makes mistakes, we are human, but what makes us better is that we realize and work through them. You worked through it. I will not let your dumb ass ex ruin it. Now don't waste time on him, go and write. You will feel better" Cecile ended the call.

Sometimes amidst all the chaos and struggles, I am really grateful and happy I have Cecile. Yes I have Rey and I am not entirely honest with her and she knows that. But she never complains about it. Accept me as I am and support and love me as I am. I am not sure how will she react if I came out. I really hope that she supports me the same as she has been doing all these days.

Bidding her goodbye I climbed the stairs to the study room, I sat for nearly 2 hours fiddling with paper and pen with lack of inspiration. Every minute passing by me only remains me of the mistakes I made in the past. If I hadn't done something stupid like that in the past, I will concentrate on something for my future or have a peaceful present.

I began my career as a scriptwriter for some tv shows, my brother went to film school he wrote his first film, climbed various production houses, unforgettable insults and humiliation and there had many days where he would knock on my door at midnight feeling hungry and despair.

We used to sit all night talking about how we would make movies and how we would treat our parents with money and cherish them with all success we gain. We used to sit there laughter about cringe dialogues I used to write for shows and discuss a lot about filmmaking and movies. We decided that one day if we both had enough money we would open a production company for people like us.

Everything came true when my brother got his first movie chance as a director after working as an assistant director for three years. His very first film was a blockbuster and with many chances few successes and few failures he made his unique identity in the cine world.

Whereas, my first film wasn't exactly a blockbuster as I mentioned above my movies are quite critically acclaimed. My first didn't pay for my banks but earned me awards. Two years break after my first movie. These two years I was back to square one. I continued to write for Tv shows to fill my stomach. After so many struggles I got my second movie chance and the film got dropped right after pre-production. Never made to sets.

Rejection after rejection I gave up on the hope and that's how I got addicted to this dark habit. I slowly took some illegally then I found a club where I can get them frequently did some dangerous level addictions. There have been days I couldn't differentiate between dusk and dawn.

Losing the hope to live and achieve something we have dreamt of since childhood is more painful than any breakup.

Cecile was my first film heroine, which was her debut movie. We stayed in touch to help each other with our chances. I am not sure with chances, Cecile saved my life.

Rey was a supporting character in the TV show I used to write. Observing my changed and shading behavior Rey one day followed me to the club and found me unconscious on the floor when I didn't return from the club for more than 3 hours.

Cecile paid my hospital bills and helped them hidden from my family and my brother. Got me a job as an assistant and helped me through the therapy. Rey stayed with me from that day. They both have been my best friends since then.

After working as an assistant director for 2 years I got a movie offer. Surprisingly this movie worked for me. A low-budget, low-scale movie made some good money put me in the business. From then I was able to get chances quite often. There will be days when I will have nothing and there will be my failure days but I have tried my best to work through it. Sometimes they are difficult than you expect

The urge to drown yourself away from all of this is pretty strong. But I had Rey and Cecile to hold me strong and prevented me from falling again. These two saw me both in my highest and lowest.

I wonder how they stuck this long.

Rey made his career slowly from supporting actor to the main protagonist worked with both me and brother, now a national level star.

After her first movie with me, Cecile got her own role had her successes through work-life and terrible failures in personal life.

One she is suffering now.

I have no idea how much I have lasted sitting there thinking about everything I have gone through.

I was brought back to reality when I heard my phone ringing beside me at the table.

"Hey! Rey" I didn't inform Rey anything.

"Pranav came to meet me. What secret he was talking about? He said he wants you to meet him. Was he talking about?" Rey trailed.

"No, no Rey he doesn't know about my sexuality. He is just talking about my habits. I guess he heard about last night's incident and he is trying to use something against us which isn't there in the first place"

"Oh!" That was all he said

Was Cecile correct about both of them?

"Guess where he wanted us to meet?" He spoke after clearing his throat.

"Where?" I sighed

"Where it all began!"