Junoon - Chapter Two

As soon as Madhu got through the doors of her home, she quickly placed everything down on the table, quickly washed up, and grabbed her makeup kit as well as some clothes.

"Madhu? Madhu, what are you doing," Padmini asked.

"Deedu's got an emergency," Madhu explained, putting Trishna's clothes in her bag, as well as some of her stuff.

"What?"

"Deedu got caught in the rain and is a complete mess, she needs my help."

"Hai bhagwan-! Well where is she now?"

"Still at the studio, ready to panic."

"Okay, well, go there as quickly as possible before she actually starts panicking."

Madhu nodded, slung her bag over her shoulder, and quickly headed out, her makeup kit in tow. She quickly got an auto and headed to the studio, getting there rather quickly as their colony wasn't so far away from it. In fact, the colony was owned by the studios, almost everyone that lived in her colony being members of the filming industry - from crewmen to junior artists, to everything in between. 

Once she arrived, Madhu quickly paid for her trip and headed to the gate where security stood.

"Madhubala! How are you," the security member asked.

"I'm fine uncle, how are you?"

"I'm good! Come on in!"

Madhu smiled at him and went inside. Many of the people who worked at the studio knew her due to her family, given that her mother used to be a junior artist for some time, Roma being a junior artist as well, and then Malik a stuntman, while Trishna an aspiring actress.

She took a glance around, seeing the variety of people wandering this way and that.

All of our lives changed because of this place. Ma got a chance to start a new life because of this place - give me a chance at life because of this place! All because of that Balraj Singh Choudhry....

Madhu's grip on her makeup kit tightened at the thought of her biological father.

That man will always disgust me. The way he treated and tortured Ma and Deedu... the fact that he wanted to kill me just for being a girl... disgusting!

Ma ran away when she was nine months pregnant with me, and she took Deedu with her as well. She came here to Mumbai and of all places, she ended up here. She met Roma and Malik, who happily took her in, became family with all of us. Malik even gave Deedu and I his name!

Several junior artists went walking past Madhu, one of them fixing a fake pregnancy bump she was wearing over her stomach.

It's still crazy that I was actually born here - here, on an actual film set! But of course, being born in such a place resulted with me having such a unique name - Madhubala. And yet, regardless of being named after a legend, I have zero interest of this world- oh my gosh, Deedu!

Remembering why she was even here in the first place, Madhu quickly fumbled to get her phone out of her bag. She quickly reached in to pull it out, but in her rush, she managed to drop it, and it went plopping and bouncing right into a puddle.

"No," she cried out.

Madhu quickly went to pick it up, shaking it to dry. 

"Please work, please work, please, please, please work!"

As Madhu tried to dry it, it began to ring, but the sound was slightly off.

"At least it's working!" She checked the screen and saw that it was Trishna. "Yes Deedu, I just got here, what studio are you in?"

"Thank goodness Madhu, you're here! The auditions are taking place in set 5 okay? I'll meet you by the back entrance so that way we're closer to where the makeup room is. Also, be mindful, there's a lot of people wandering around today. RK is filming in set 6, just try to avoid any of those people cause they've been all about. Okay? Remember, try to steer clear of set 6. I'll see you in a bit," and she hung up.

Little did Trishna realize that because Madhu's phone had decided to take a dip in the puddle, her sister had hardly heard any of what she had said. In fact, all Madhu heard was thank g... Madhu, you... aud... place... et... ay? ...meet... back ent... that w... close.... make... room... be mi... lot of... ing aro.... is film... set... try... any... peop... been... out... remember... to... of set 6... see you...  bit.

Madhu shook her phone and tried to call her sister back since barely of what she had heard had made any sense, but her phone refused to oblige.

"Now what," she muttered to herself. "Deedu is depending on me and yet-! Why did you have to drop the phone for Madhu," she scolded herself, hitting the side of her head. "Think Madhu, think! What was Deedu trying to say?"

She thought about the words she had heard and tried to piece it together.

"Deedu obviously has to be on a set, and every set has a number. Did she say-? Wait, she said the number 6! So she has to be there! But where on the set... wait! She said back ent... so... back entrance? She also said make room... of course! The back of the set because that's where the makeup room is! Ah! Madhu! You are a genius! Now I better hurry!"

Madhu quickly headed off towards set 6, unfortunately unaware of what her sister had actually said to her.

*~*

"Cut!"

The sound of clapping began to fill up the set, the director getting up from his chair.

"That was a wonderful shot RK," the director grinned. "You did it all in one take!"

"Well Mishra Saab, chief is RK the Superstar for a reason."

The director turned around to face RK's assistant. "That's very true, Bittuji-"

"Bittuji..."

Both men looked up at the sound of RK's voice. The five-feet-and-eleven-inches, heartthrob-of-the-nation still stood centerstage, a scowl covering his precious face.

"The shot is done, therefore I want everyone out! Pack up!"

"Yes chief," Bittuji replied, and he looked at everyone. "You heard what the chief said, everyone pack up!"

Mumbles filled up the room, but everyone did as instructed, starting to clear out the area. Bittuji went towards his chief, his three ever-present phones in his hands.

"Chief, I got a call from-"

"Bittuji..."

Hearing his tone, Bittuji could already get an idea of what his chief was going to say.

"Perhaps you should get your ears checked. I said that I want everyone out..."

Bittuji looked away as his chief turned to him, his scowl remaining on his face.

"And everyone means everyone."

"Um... yes chief. I'll wait outside," and Bittuji headed off, clearing out the last of the people that were there.

With everyone gone, the set had been dimmed and it had gone completely silent - which was exactly what RK wanted. With his scowl remaining on his face, RK headed over to his lounge chair and leaned back, shutting his eyes. Ever since he had woken up that morning, memories had been flooding up his mind. They were precious memories - happy memories. They were memories of his happy past, of precious moments that he had spent with his late father, Mohan Kundra.

In his time, Mohan Kundra had not only been an actor, but mainly a producer. RK had always been in awe of his father, going to the studios with him every chance he could. Seeing his father work his magic, it not only inspired him, but gave him a dream - of becoming the biggest superstar ever! 

"Of course you'll become a superstar, Rishu! Just you wait and see!"

His father's words echoed in his mind. Rishabh Kundra had definitely grown and become RK the Superstar but unfortunately, his father never got the chance to see it happen.

Seventeen years... it's been seventeen years since you left me, RK thought to himself.

His fists clenched up by themselves, his anger and rage coursing through him.

Not only has it been seventeen years since you left me but... but its been seventeen years since she... she...!

RK stood up in annoyance, his jaw clenched as he seethed. A memory flashed before his eyes, a memory that he absolutely despised! It was a memory that always angered him, and though he would never admit it, saddened him as well.

How could she do it? How could she do such a thing?! How could she-?

"Is anyone here?"

RK whipped around at the sound of the voice, his jaw remaining clenched as his anger flooded through him.

Madhu walked in, looking around the set, which was oddly dark and empty.

Where is everyone, she wondered. Deedu said set 6 didn't she? So why-!

Madhu stepped into the light and immediately paused, her eyes widening as she looked at the man in front of her. RK looked at the woman before him, and for just a fraction of a moment, he froze, gazing away at her.

No way, Madhu thought to herself. It's.... it's-!

And the fraction of a moment came to its quick end.

"What the hell are you doing here," RK boomed.

It was as if a sudden force had come from his voice, causing Madhu to flinch and step back as she stared at him.

 "I-"

"Get out!"

Madhu's jaw dropped at his rudeness. "But-"

"GET OUT!!!"

She flinched once more, and without wasting another moment, Madhu quickly ran out of the set, running away without even looking back.

Who the hell does he think he is, Madhu mentally exclaimed to herself as she continued to run, reaching outside. That arrogant-!

"Madhu?"

Madhu quickly paused at the sound of her name and saw her sister. "Deedu!"

Trishna came running forward, wrapped up in a towel. "Madhu, where were you? I told you set 5, where the heck did you go?"

"What- set 5? You said set 6!"

"No! I said steer clear of set 6; RK is filming there!"

Madhu opened her mouth to say something, but then stopped herself. "Uh, sorry Deedu, my phone fell into a puddle so I couldn't hear everything clearly, I only heard set 6, not 5."

Trishna looked at her sister carefully; something didn't seem right. "Is everything okay?"

No! "I'm absolutely fine! But let's quickly go get you fixed up! Come on!"

Madhu took hold of her sister's hand and they quickly headed to the makeup rooms of set 5.

Stupid phone! If only it hadn't fallen! Then I never would've ever had to see that arrogant and rude RK!