Chapter 25: Tensions Behind the Scenes

The morning sun filtered through the large windows of Aman's office, casting long shadows on the floor. Aman sat at his desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood as he thought about the conversation he'd had with Nisha the day before. The rumors had stirred the pot, but they hadn't boiled over. Yet.

He leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. The gossip article had been a spark, but the real fire was still coming. Rajeev wasn't done, not by a long shot. Aman knew how these games worked. You didn't throw out your biggest move first—you waited until the right moment, the precise second when your opponent was vulnerable. That's what Rajeev was doing. Waiting.

A knock at the door broke his thoughts.

"Come in," Aman called, straightening up.

Nisha entered, holding a tablet in her hand, her expression tense. "You need to see this."

Aman took the tablet from her and glanced at the screen. It was an internal message from one of the production assistants. The gossip wasn't just staying in the media—it was creeping onto the set. There were whispers among the crew, and now even some of the minor actors were starting to feel the pressure.

"I thought we had this under control," Aman said, his voice tight.

"We did," Nisha replied, sitting across from him. "But Rajeev's smart. He's not just using the media to get to us; he's working from the inside. Rumors are spreading among the team. People are starting to question whether this project will even survive."

Aman rubbed his temples. "We need to shut this down, fast. If the crew loses faith in the project, we're in serious trouble."

"Agreed," Nisha said. "But we need to be careful. If we push too hard, it could look like we're trying to cover something up. That'll just add fuel to the fire."

Aman nodded. He understood the delicate balance they were walking. The last thing they needed was to look like they were on the defensive.

"I'll talk to the key crew members," Aman said. "Reassure them that we're still on track. We've got a schedule to keep, and I won't let Rajeev's games disrupt that."

Nisha stood, giving him a firm nod. "I'll keep monitoring the media and make sure we stay ahead of anything else that might come up."

As she left the room, Aman grabbed his phone and sent a message to Sameer, asking him to arrange a quick meeting with the department heads. He needed to address this head-on before it spiraled further out of control.

---

Aman stood in front of a small group of the crew's key players, his posture calm and authoritative, though inside, he felt the weight of the situation. The cinematographer, the head of set design, costume, and a few others had gathered in a small room off the main set.

"I won't keep you long," Aman began, his voice steady. "I know you've all heard the rumors going around, and I'm sure there's been some concern about what's happening behind the scenes."

The crew members exchanged uneasy glances, but no one spoke.

"Let me be clear," Aman continued, "we are still on track. This project is bigger than the drama that's trying to take us down. Rajeev's trying to stir up trouble, but it's not going to affect what we're doing here. Our film, this story, it's bigger than all of that."

The cinematographer, a seasoned veteran named Kiran, crossed his arms. "I've seen productions fall apart over less, Aman. You're saying we're just going to keep pushing through, like none of this is happening?"

Aman met his gaze, firm but understanding. "No, I'm saying we acknowledge that it's happening, but we don't let it stop us. We've got something special here. This film is going to be huge. Rajeev knows that, which is exactly why he's trying to sabotage it. He wants us to panic, to lose focus."

The costume designer, Meera, spoke up. "And the actors? Riya and Arjun? They're the ones at the center of this mess. How are they holding up?"

Aman smiled. "I've talked to them. They're young, and this is their first big break, but they're professionals. They understand what's at stake, and they're committed to seeing this through. They've got the talent, and I'm making sure they've got the support they need."

There was a murmur of agreement among the group. Slowly, the tension in the room began to dissipate.

Kiran gave a small nod, his expression softening. "Alright, Aman. We're with you. But we need to stay vigilant. If Rajeev's got people on the inside, we need to be careful."

Aman nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. If any of you hear anything, or if something doesn't feel right, I want you to come to me directly. We can't afford any more surprises."

The group dispersed, and Aman let out a long breath. The internal damage control was underway, but he knew this was only a temporary fix. Rajeev's next move could come at any time.

---

As the day wore on, Aman found himself pacing the set, his mind racing with possibilities. He had always prided himself on his ability to think three steps ahead, but Rajeev's attacks were keeping him on edge. The film was progressing, but at what cost? The energy on set was fragile, and any small misstep could send it crashing down.

By the time the day's shooting wrapped up, Aman was mentally exhausted. He grabbed his jacket and made his way to the parking lot, the weight of the day settling heavily on his shoulders.

Just as he was about to reach his car, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Rajeev.

"Enjoying the chaos? You won't be able to clean this mess up. This is just the beginning."

Aman clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around the phone. Rajeev was taunting him, pushing him toward the edge. But Aman wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

Instead, he slipped the phone into his pocket and got into his car. As he drove away, his thoughts began to settle. Rajeev might have thought he had the upper hand, but Aman wasn't going down without a fight.