Junoon - Chapter Three

 Although her sister had said nothing was the matter, Trishna didn't accept it. She had been watching her sister carefully, as Madhu redid her hair and makeup. A grumpy look remained on her face, no matter what, and Trishna was positive that something had happened.

"Glycerin, why are you so angry?"

Madhu blinked out of her thoughts and looked at her sister. "I-"

"Look, Glycerin, I've been watching you this entire time, and I've seen the way you've been angry and annoyed this entire time. So tell me, what happened?"

With a sigh, Madhu leaned against the vanity. "Deedu, I really have no idea why you or any of those girls like RK."

"Huh?"

Madhu told her sister of what had happened, and while her look of annoyance and anger remained on her face, Trishna's lit up.

"You met RK?!"

Trishna began to squeal with delight, Madhu quickly covering her ears.

"Oh my Glycerin, you're so lucky! Is he as hot as he appears on screen? In his pictures? Is he even hotter in real life? Is he-?"

"He's a jerk," Madhu scowled.

"Glycerin," Trishna frowned.

"Seriously Deedu! I mean what gives him any right to yell at me like that? To a stranger? He-"

"He probably didn't want to be disturbed. You said so yourself that there was no one else there but him. Maybe he just needed to clear his mind and-"

"Oh come on, Deedu," Madhu frowned. "Really?"

"He's a superstar," she shrugged. "If he needs to have everyone out of the set so he can get a moment to meditate-"

"Meditate? Yeah right!"

Trishna rolled her eyes. "Whatever the case is, Glycerin, he can do that stuff cause he's a huge celebrity."

"Like being rude to strangers," Madhu muttered.

"That's not what I meant and you know it! Now come on, come with me to the stage. I could really use your support!"

Madhu let out a sigh and gave Trishna's hand a squeeze. "Of course Deedu. Come on."

Both Malik sisters headed out to join the other auditionees. Seeing the many number of girls, Madhu was shocked. All of them looked very excited and eager, just like her sister, and several of them were fangirling together over RK.

Little do they know how big of a jerk he is, Madhu scowled to herself.

Both Madhu and Trishna sat down together on a side, waiting and watching as more and more auditionees went in.

"Oh Glycerin, I'm so nervous," Trishna said, rocking slightly back and forth in her seat.

Madhu placed her hand over hers. "There's nothing for you to worry about, Deedu. You're an incredible actress, you'll do just fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive," she smiled.

"Thanks Madhu. I wish I could be as optimistic as you, but because this is taking so long... oh I don't know!"

"Well, I mean you do see the number of girls that are here, so of course it's going to take some time, right? They're all blind fans of him, just like you."

Trishna frowned at her. "We're not blind."

At that moment, two of the auditionees started squealing over a magazine, grinning away like total idiots as they fawned over an ad for a watch with RK in it.

"You were saying," Madhu blinked.

Trishna rolled her eyes. "That's not being blind! Clearly they have to be able to see in order to see the ad with RK advertising the watch on his wrist."

"That's besides the point," Madhu said, rolling her eyes. "I-"

"Trishna Shamsher Malik," a voice called out.

Both Trishna and Madhu looked up to see one of the audition hosts, holding a clipboard in her hand.

"I'm here," Trishna said, standing up.

The woman waved her hand over and Trishna nodded, the woman heading back to the main stage.

"Eep! It's actually my turn," Trishna squealed.

Madhu stood up and gave her arm a squeeze. "Break a leg!"

"Thank you!"

Trishna turned to leave, but then quickly turned back. "Glycerin, come with me please? It would mean the world to me and keep me calm. You can just stand on the side; please Glycerin, I would really appreciate it!"

"Sure Deedu," Madhu smiled, and the Malik sisters headed on off to the stage.

*~*

As Madhu stood of on the side and watched her sister give her audition, Bittuji came onto the set, joining the producer.

"Ah, Bittuji! Please, come and join us," the producer said.

"Oh I won't be staying for long, Khanna Saab. Actually, I was looking for Mishra Saab. Is he-?"

"I'm right here!"

Both men turned around at the sound of the man's voice, the film's director joining them.

"Where have you been," Bittuji asked.

"Well after RK had us all leave like that, I thought why not take advantage of the extra time and get myself something good to eat," Mishra chuckled.

"Hmm, and what about these auditions?"

"No worries, that's what Khanna is here for, isn't that right Mr. Producer," he chuckled.

"Right," Khanna grinned back.

"Okay, well if that's the case, then I won't be wrong in thinking that everything is going well," Bittuji asked.

"Don't you worry about a thing," Khanna said. "There's been a lot of actresses that came in for the heroine role, so I'm sure it'll take some time going through all of the auditions. If need be, we can rely on your help?"

"That I'll have to do, especially if it'll help the process."

"Then perfect," Mishra exclaimed. "Once that's done, we can get the dates set and give you the shooting schedule for RK."

"Good! Sounds like a plan," Bittuji said as one of his phones began to buzz. "I'll get in touch with both of you soon, chief is waiting for me," he said, glancing at the text notification.

"Have a great evening, Bittuji."

"You too, gentlemen," and Bittuji headed off.

Both Mishra and Khanna turned their attention to the screens in front them.

"So, what do you think of her," Khanna asked as they watched Trishna give her audition.

"Hmm...."

Mishra stepped away from the screens and stepped over to the side to see Trishna. Khanna followed alongside him, watching along with him as Trishna delivered her lines. Not far away from them was Madhu, watching proudly as her sister auditioned.

"Her makeup is really good," Mishra said.

Madhu turned her attention to him, having heard the compliment. 

"She's got the right look, the softness of the makeup.... I wonder who did her look?"

Without a thought, Madhu stepped forward. "I did."

Mishra and Khanna turned around and looked at her, Madhu realizing then what she had said.

Wait, why did I just-?

Mishra noticed the numerous makeup brushes that were poking out of her bag. "You're a makeup artist?"

"Um, yes, actually," Madhu blushed slightly. "I've been professionally doing makeup at a beauty parlor called Mystique for the past few years."

"Ah, I see," he replied, the name of the parlor being quite familiar thanks to his wife, who happened to be a frequent customer. "Well, how would you like a job for this next movie of ours?"

Madhu's eyes widened. "What?"

"We're still short on makeup artists so we're looking around. Given from what I can see here, and given the rep I know Mystique has, I'd like to offer you a position."

"I... I... I mean... me?"

Mishra began to chuckle, as did Khanna.

"Yes, you," Mishra said. "Actually, for the current film that I'm working on right now, we desperately need some makeup artists to come in to help with the extras. How about you come and do that, take it as a trial run, and take it from there?"

Madhu felt like her jaw was going to unhinge itself from her body. "I... I mean, I don't usually... I don't know-"

"Madhu!"

All three of them turned around at the sound of Trishna's voice, Trishna coming over to them.

"Eep! What did you think, Madhu? I-!"

Trishna then noticed both the director and the producer and straightened her spine. "What...?"

"Oh, um, this is my sister, Trishna," Madhu introduced.

"Nice to meet you," Mishra said. "I wish you the best of luck for your audition; there's been a lot of people here today."

"Thank you, Sir," Trishna smiled softly.

"Uh, actually, we were just offering your sister a job here as a makeup artist."

Trishna's jaw dropped as she gaped at him, turning her attention to Madhu. "Madhu- you- oh my gosh, do it!"

"But Deedu-"

"What are you worried about, Glycerin? You've been working at Mystique for the past three years, and everyone loves you! Everyone loves the looks you create! You should totally take this offer Madhu!"

"But-"

"Not just the offer for this film, but for the other one as well," Mishra said.

Trishna's jaw dropped even more. "Two offers-? Glycerin, you have to!"

"But I can't just abandon my job," Madhu said. "And-"

"We'll pay you 50 dollars per hour," Mishra said.

Both Madhu's and Trishna's eyes widened.

"W-what," Madhu gaped.

"50 dollars per hour."

Madhu couldn't believe what she was hearing.

50 dollars? Per hour? These things take hours and hours, so that would mean.... If I take the job, it would really help Ma and the family out. But I've never done anything like this, I mean I... what-?

Trishna turned to Madhu. "You have to take it Madhu, you just have to!"

Madhu looked from her sister to the director. "I... I mean-"

"Please Miss Madhu, you would be doing me a huge favor," Mishra said. "My team and I have been looking around the past few days for good makeup artists, we've got lots of extras coming in and we need all the help we can get. Given that it's last minute and many people we know are occupied with other jobs, we're becoming quite desperate. Please, consider it."

Madhu once more looked from her sister and the director. Even the producer of this movie was nodding his head, urging her to take the job.

"Uh... well in that case... yes! I'll do it!"

"Wonderful," Mishra clapped. "We're filming the day after tomorrow at set 6, please be there by seven in the morning."

"Sure!"

Madhubala and Mr. Mishra quickly exchanged their contact info.

"Thank you," and he turned to Trishna. "And best of luck to you as well."

Mishra and Khanna walked away and when they were out of earshot, Trishna began squealing.

"Oh my gosh Glycerin, this is amazing!"

"Yeah, and what luck; I have that day off as well as the day after."

"It's all meant to be! Now come on, let's get home and tell everyone the news! We have to celebrate!"

And both Malik sisters headed on home, though Madhu couldn't help herself but to wonder.

Why did I quickly tell him that I was the one to do it? I normally never jump up to take credit, nor would I ever do that, so why...?

Madhu shrugged to herself and followed after her sister, unaware of what fate had in store for her, as well as for a certain superstar ;)