Junoon - Chapter Eight

To no one's surprise, Hero had been a hit! On it's premiere day, it was sold out basically everywhere! Fans were absolutely loving it and the reviews were pouring in from everywhere, all of them good! Trishna was super excited to see it, but unfortunately had to wait two days before she could finally get tickets. She had dragged Madhu along, despite her saying that she didn't want to see it. But for her sister's sake, she went, especially since Roma couldn't go due to a shoot and Trishna had already bought two tickets.

Throughout the movie, everyone in the hall was hollering and whooping! They were all super excited, and when RK first came onto the screen, turning around in slow motion as fire erupted behind him, everyone - but Madhu - went absolutely bat-shit crazy! The guys were hollering away and the girls were shrieking like mad! Madhu could't believe what was going on around her, wondering if she was actually in a movie theater or if she was at the zoo.

Well okay, yeah, it's no wonder why the girls were screaming like banshees. While she did agree that the guy was a jerk, she couldn't help but to admit to herself that the guy was handsome, especially during a shot where RK and his heroine were zoomed in up close during a romance sequence. Yes, he was handsome - but he was still a jerk.

When the songs came on, Madhu had to admit, she liked them. While people in the hall were starting to dance, whether in the aisles or in their seats, Madhu nodded along to the beat. You see, growing up in their colony, both her and Trishna got the opportunity to learn dancing from choreographers that lived there with them. So dancing was a passion that Madhu had, but didn't always get time to focus on, given work and her family. But she enjoyed a few moments to herself whenever she could, now and then coming up with her own choreography. It's not that she was a professional at it - no, makeup was her main profession - but she did still enjoy it as a hobby. And listening to these songs of the film, she couldn't help but to think of a few steps, as well as borrowing some steps from the actual choreography itself.

As Hero continued to be a box-office hit, post-production work on Wednesday was further progressing, and it would only be a matter of time before RK would be gracing the screens of cinemas everywhere with a new movie. Hearing this news of progress from Bittuji, RK was happy to hear it. What he didn't like hearing, however, was news of no progress.

"Bittuji, how long ago did Mishra Saab come to me about this movie," RK asked as he focused on the racing video game he was playing on his TV.

"Chief, he basically told you about Dil Mein Hai Tu around the same time as Wednesday, or something like that; give or take a couple of days."

"So explain to me how we've managed to wrap up with filming Wednesday - it even now going through post-production - and yet a heroine hasn't even been selected for this one."

"Um, I mean what can I say chief? It's a romance movie, and Mishra Saab is trying to find a fresh face for the movie, give someone their debut. Obviously once people knew it was a RK movie, it's no surprise that so many came in for auditions-"

"Auditions happened weeks ago, Bittuji," RK said as he won the race.

He looked over his shoulder, leaning his arm over the couch he was sitting on, the controller dangling in his hand.

"Care to explain why it's taking so long?"

"Chief, because of the massive amount of auditions, they're having trouble choosing a girl. Even I'm having to help them out and going through the auditions." Bittuji held out some papers that were in his hands. "I have this list here-"

RK quickly took hold of the list, snatching it away from Bittuji. He placed his controller aside and looked through the list of names.

"Is this a list of all of them," he asked.

"No chief, this is just a portion of them. Khanna Saab sent me the auditions of these people on a hard drive as well to help go over them."

RK didn't respond, still going through the list. He was about to hand it back and make a snarky remark, when his eyes caught onto a name.

Trishna Shamsher Malik

RK's eyes slightly widened. Isn't that...?

"Oh, before I forget, there was just one thing I needed to quickly take care of. I just needed to make sure I got your full name; for payment purposes."

"Sure, it's Madhubala Shamsher Malik."

Snapping away from the memory, RK turned his attention back to the list before him, and then held it out to Bittuji. "Bittuji, I want you to bring me the hard drive."

Bittuji couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Bring-? Chief, you-?"

"Clearly you people are incapable of getting anything done," RK said, starting up another race as he focused on the TV. "You guys leave me no choice."

Bittuji was truly confused. It's not exactly like this type of situation hadn't happened before with other films. Maybe it had't taken as long as this, but still - his chief had never taken any interest to help before.

"Um... sure chief, whatever you say. I'll go get it for you."

RK didn't respond, focusing on the game before him. Without another word, Bittuji headed off to do as he said he would. Moments later, he returned, holding a hard drive in hand.

"Chief-"

"Leave it on the table."

Bittuji nodded and did as he said, placing the hard drive on the table, as well as the list.

"Bittuji I'm in the mood for Chinese food - go get my usual from my favorite place."

"Yes chief," and Bittuji headed off.

When the sound of his footsteps faded, RK paused his game. He reached over and grabbed his laptop, turning it on and connecting the drive to it. Once it was started up, he had his laptop connect to his TV, mirroring the screen. Matching up the names to the videos, RK went through some of them, and to be quite honest, he didn't really care to see much. But to make it look like he did, he watched a few and for the ones that were actually decent, he marked them off on the list. But watching these auditions wasn't his intention whatsoever, no not at all. 

After going through several of the auditions, he clicked on Trishna's audition. He watched her as she said her lines, but that wasn't what he cared for.

It's too much of a coincidence, he thought to himself as he focused on the screen. Way too much of a coincidence. But I wonder....

He watched Trishna's audition carefully, then made a mark besides her name. He watched several more of the auditions and after some time later, Bittuji had returned with his food. He had gotten the staff to properly put out the food, and he went into RK's room, a staff member following behind as he rolled in a trolley with their chief's meal.

"Chief-"

RK held out the list. "I've made notes besides some of the names that were decent. Have them come in for another round of auditions."

"Another round? But chief-"

"That's all Bittuji."

Bittuji glanced down at the marked list in his hands. "Okay chief," and he quickly took hold of one of his phones to call Mr. Mishra.

Once RK's food was set in front of him, he dismissed the staff member away, leaving him alone. Images of the brunette woman with the very filmy name came to mind again. He noticed one of the fortune cookies from the corner of his eyes, so he picked it up and removed it from its packaging, then broke the cookie apart. He retrieved the small piece of paper that was stuck between the cookie and read the fortune.

Life is about to become very interesting.

A small smirk took over RK's face. "Good... I like it."