#Audition Halls in Mumbai | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

t-anyasen · 8 years ago

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i. qayamat

general notes; so this is the first installment of the costars au for krish and tanya. basically tanya is a debut actress and krish is much more established. all of the installments will follow the timeline of the films they’ve done together and whatever is in between. this is installment number one, meaning that this is film number one.

Tanya played with her fingers, chewing the inside of her cheek and only stopping with a sheepish smile when the makeup artist sucked a breath through her teeth... again. This was the third time she'd done so, and she could tell that the lady was starting to get irritated with Tanya's constant fidgeting and so she thought back to her conversation with her father the night before, the script in her lap. You can do this puchki, remember how good you were at the narration? But that had been different; she'd been sitting in her apartment in Delhi with her father, and the director of the film. She was safe in that space; she was comfortable there. Tanya had moved to Mumbai the week before, and here she was - debuting opposite Krish Malhotra. The Krish Malhotra. Not only that, but she was the daughter of megastar, Kishore Sen. There had been buzz about her since she had turned eighteen and Tanya had grown used to the different cameras trying to sneak a glance of her as she walked through the hallowed halls of Lady Shri Ram with her friends. This was different; they had uprooted her from college, from her third year to star in this film. Opportunities like this only come once in a lifetime puchki, her father had said and Tanya remembered biting back the remark that they did - if your last name was Sen, if you were related to the one of the biggest stars in the country. She'd only nodded then, her blood rushing through her, the adrenaline pumping through her veins at the thought of a sparkling debut. That had obviously faded away, replaced with jitters. "They're ready for her on set!" She heard the AD call and Tanya was helped out of the chair, her hair and makeup finally done. At least the clothing was comfortable, it too was familiar. She wore sundresses most of the time in Delhi too, pairing them with cozy cardigans and jean jackets. They had put her in a grey cardigan to match with the white dress dotted with pink flowers and a pair of black flats on her feet. Tanya nearly crushed the script in her hand, her grip on it tightening with every step she took towards the set. "Tanya, darling!" The director greeted and she put on her smile, the one she'd been wearing at all her father's industry parties since she was fifteen as she gave the director a hug. "Hi!" Dial it down Barbie, her conscience hissed and Tanya mellowed slightly, staring down at her script. They were waiting for Krish Malhotra apparently. He was a big star so he was allowed to show up late - something she found unfair, but Tanya didn't want to garner the reputation of Kishore Sen's daughter being difficult on her first day at work.

Krish had been typing away on his phone while his hair stylist tweaked at his hair, the costume designer for this film, deciding whether or not to make the character wear a graphic t-shirt with a statement or just a normal v-neck that would keep his look a bit more casual but more mature. But he didn't care, he never got overly involved in his look for a film, only unless it was imperative for the way the character was, or if he really didn't agree with it. But this time he thought whatever they were doing seemed to work and so he finally raised his glance in the mirror, noting his assistant's running around his vanity van, almost as if they were headless chickens. "Where's the fire?" Manish finally looked up from the couch before sighing and shrugging. "Oh nowhere, we're just delaying the shoot by nearly forty-five minutes because you just had to visit Suhasi's set across town." At this, Krish merely shrugged before standing up and taking the shirt being thrust at him. "Calm down Manish, pehla hi din hai, plus that new girl, kya naam hai uska--Tanya Sen, right? Kishore sir's daughter? She must be nervous and going over her lines or something. The time will make it better for her." A little while later, he finally emerged from the van and walked onto the set, smiling at the young AD's who were beginning to blush and giggle at the sight of Krish which really only fueled his ego. He caught the director on the side by the camera set up and held up his hand to wave. "Are we ready?" And that's when his eyes landed on the new member on set, Tanya Sen. Of course, Krish being who he was, walked up to her, his hand out. "Hi--Krish, it's nice to meet you, Tanya."

Tanya had never felt the complexity of her immaturity the way she did on this set, right now. If she was in a film, she could imagine hearing the stylized ticking of a clock echoing in her line of sound. She could imagine all the people moving around her fade into a blur, and she stared down at her script, exhaling slowly. The blur slowly dissipated as did the tick tock tick tock that was torturing her as the words on the script solidified and Tanya returned to mouthing her lines. She was sure that she was going to screw up; it was only the first day and the director would realize the narration and her acting in her apartment in Delhi had been a one off. Tanya Sen actually had not inherited her father's gift for the screen. Breathe puchki, it was her mother's voice this time. A mother who had left both Tanya and her father when Tanya had turned fifteen - arguably the time a daughter needed her mother the most. There was no animosity though, not the way Tanya's character felt towards her mother in the film. It would be hard to channel that. Or would it? Remember when you didn't talk to Amma for weeks because she wouldn't let you see that cute boy from Modern? A small smile burst on Tanya's face and she looked up at the unfamiliar sound. Not that it was really unfamiliar; she'd heard tales of the smooth baritone, of the husky murmurs she'd heard onscreen. She managed a shy smile at the sight of Krish Malhotra, slipping her hand into his. Bad decision. Almost immediately she felt sparks fly through her skin and she felt her cheeks flush slightly. "I'm Tanya-- I mean... You already knew that, you called me by my name and everyone knows my name because of my dad... And I'm rambling." She quieted then, her hand still in Krish's firm grip, looking down. God, that had been a disaster. Suddenly, Tanya felt too young to be on this set. She was only twenty; she hadn't even graduated from college! What was she doing on a film set?

Krish didn't have his script, already having memorized the first day's lines, knowing it was mostly a monologue from his character, followed by a little cute type of banter between his and Tanya's characters. But now when he looked down at Tanya's hand in his, her words rambling out, he couldn't help but smile. She was an absolute fresher and he loved it. He couldn't even remember what his first day on set was like except that he was nervous and he knew right now that she was feeling that way. "You are, but it's okay--we're actors, we're supposed to ramble." His grin grew a bit wider as he looked around the set, thankful that most of the people were already running around getting things ready for their first shot. "Aur tumhe nervous hone ki zaroorat nahi hai. I've seen your audition tape," and it was true seeing as Krish was given the final say in selecting the girl opposite him and he'd liked the honesty and innocence in her eyes when he'd seen the tape. "So--you ready for this?"

Tanya furrowed her eyebrows, lips puckering downwards when he mentioned her audition tape and she nearly cringed at the memory. She knew that she had performed well there, but all Tanya could think of was this polished actor watching her audition tape while her face was greasy, void of any makeup, her hair stuck to her face, pulled to the sides in two braids (the way a teenage girl studying at a convent would wear them) and her dress slightly rumpled. She remember her cheeks being flushed, the way they were now. Except she found him smiling at her, at the way his eyes would crinkle whenever the smile got bigger and Tanya felt her heart relax slightly. There was something about that smile; something that calmed her racing heart, that soothed her jittery nerves. Only nodding, Tanya glanced down at their still joined hands. "Uh Krish ji," her father had told her to give respect to all her seniors in the industry and considering this was her first film, everybody was a senior, "you-- You need to let go of my hand so we can start." She gave a half hearted chuckle then, letting their hands fall and Tanya found that her hand already missed the warmth that had spread through her at the contact. Her heart had starting thudding in her chest again, blood rushing to her ears as she stared at the set in front of them. "I'm not," she mumbled, staring down at the script for the millionth time but unlike the other times, the words were blurry this time, they collapsed into one another and Tanya blinked, watching the words return to normalcy on the page. "Ready I mean." God, what was it about Krish Malhotra that made her so nervous? She was already freaked about this film, and the way her heart was racing around him, the butterflies in her stomach - were only irking her further.

Krish could see the way her cheeks were flushed at the mention of her audition tape and wondered momentarily if he'd said anything wrong. Maybe she didn't want to think about how she got the film, though they both knew that her father's last name was a big selling point, just like his mothers was for him. Still, he was about to say something more when he heard her call out to him, which had him a bit startled. "Please don't call me that again," his nose wrinkled. "I know I'm probably older than you, but no need for the ji at all." He chuckled though when he caught their joined hands which had him let go abruptly. "Oops," Krish watched the director hover around before he heard Tanya's voice. "Oh? That's okay--maybe we'll take a little while and run some lines? Thoda comfortable ho jaate hai ek doosre ke saath?" He looked to her for agreement before telling the director that he wanted to take five minutes to run through the lines with Tanya first and that's when he led her towards her own dressing room, hoping this would work for now.

Tanya tried not to let her eagerness for his suggestion show, although something told her that the way her eyes had lit up and the way she'd nodded her head vigorously had already thrown away that opportunity. Still, she followed him, quick on his heel and entered the dressing room with him. She was comfortable here; it was reassuring, with the warm glow that the room was basked in, or even the way it was just the both of them now which meant that the pressure had lifted off Tanya's shoulders slightly. She wondered why her father thought she would be a good fit for the industry, considering the aneurysm she'd been about to have if Krish hadn't interfered. Shutting the door behind them, Tanya glanced at the couch before deciding against it and hopping up on the table instead, her legs dangling mid air. She could already imagine the lecture she would get from the costume lady for wrinkling the hem of the dress she was wearing, or even the makeup lady considering that Tanya had chewed off most of the lipstick she'd been wearing. She glanced down at the script and then back up at Krish. "Uh... Krish?" She said his name slowly, both to get his attention and to test it out on her tongue, to relish the way her tongue rolled at the r, embracing the name. A flutter ran through her at his name and she exhaled. "It's your line first."

Krish was taking his time as he took in her dressing room, it reminding him of what his first dressing room had looked like. It had been so homely and welcoming--that he'd tried to mimic it completely in his vanity van, of course, he hadn't entirely succeeded but it was still pretty nice. However, he liked how Tanya's was still bare for the most part, a blank canvas for her to make her mark on--much like her career so far. This film was her blank canvas and she was to fill it with whatever she had to offer and though no one had asked for his input, he knew she had a lot to offer if only she could tap into that talent on her own. He watched her sit up on the table while he took a spot on the comfortable couch. He heard her call out to him, and his smile grew. "See, that sounds much better." He nodded at her words and changed from his relaxed position into one of a bit more tension seeing as this was one of the first few moments they were together after being apart in the film. "Tumne mujhe phone kyun nahi kiya? Tumhe pata bhi hai--mujhpe kya guzri hai..waiting for your call..it was torture." He looked at her, almost breaking out of character to see her just staring at him which had him sighing softly. "Come on, it's just us--try it out."

Tanya watched, trying to control the awe spreading in her at how quickly he had turned from Krish to the character on the script; watching him was like watching the character come off the page and to life. Perhaps that was why she hadn't noticed when his line had ended. Of course when he called her out on it (probably assuming that it was her nerves), Tanya looked down, her cheeks flushing. She seemed to be doing that a lot around Krish, and this was the first time she'd ever met him. She coughed, nodding as she stared at her script before setting it away from her and meeting his gaze. "Kaise karti? Sab dekh rahe the. Papa ne mera phone apne paas rakha tha. Off rakha tha unhone ne, maang bhi toh nahin sakti thi. Majboori samjho meri. My brother died because of your brother and you think hum dono ke beech kuch nahin badlega? Already badal chuka hai.." Tanya looked away from him then, staring down at her nails as she rubbed them together, making the irritating noise reminiscent of pebbles scratching against each other. She bit the inside of her cheek, worried that she'd screwed it up considering he wasn't saying anything - either about her acting, or continuing the scene.

Krish took a deep breath, wondering if it would seem too theater like to get up and enact the scene but he did so anyway. He stood, his hands gripping her forearms, rather loosely to make sure he didn't hurt her. "Majboori hum dono ki hai, aur mujhe maloom hai ke hum dono ke parivaar ke beech kya hua lekin in sab mein--humara kya dosh? Mera pyaar tumhare liye khatham nahi hua hai..aur na kabhi hoga." Krish was closer to her now, and he could see the different emotions swimming in her gaze, almost as if she were trying to find her character from somewhere inside her. And he knew that if she could translate this on set when they shot for it--this would be an iconic scene. He wanted to compliment her, but he also wanted them to get through the page, aware that the scene was to end with her refusing him before he quietly wraps his arms around her, a longer monologue continuing once they're parting but he figured she only really needed the help with her part.

Tanya stared down at the way he was gripping her forearms and her eyes shut out of instinct, even if the script hadn't called for it. In fact, the only thing the script said was in a pained voice. This was pain; if Krish had been saying these words to her, with that haunted look in his eyes, that pleading look in his eyes - even her first instinct would be to shut her eyes. She wouldn't have been able to keep her gaze on him. "Yeh pagalpan hai! Tum jaante ho, main jaanti hoon - this entire city knows how much our families hate each other. Tumhe lagta hai ki humara pyar unke koi maine rakhega? Ki woh humein accept karlenge? Nahin... Bhool jao, sab kuch bhool jao. Mujhe, humein..." Her hands pushed away his, freeing her forearms from his grip as she ran her fingers through her hair, pinching the bridge of her nose. It was so easy to forget that they were just enacting parts on a script, especially when there were no cameras trained on them. Perhaps that was why the quivering in her words, the crack in her voice all seemed so genuine - because she wasn't being watched.

Krish was almost sure a look of softness flashed across his face when he caught her close her eyes especially considering the way he worried it was from his grip. But before he could raise his hand to her face, to make sure she was okay, she'd pushed him away as she spoke her lines, almost like a seasoned professional. He half wondered if she had taken some training in theater considering the way she was breathing heavily as if they were truly performing this for an audience. He really did want to break character to praise her but he continued, knowing that there was no way the character of Rahul would do as she asked and he needed to keep pulling that out of himself. "Sab bhool jao main? The way your hand feels against my cheek," and he pulled her palm to his face. "The way your waist feels in mine?" And he carefully raised his hand to her waist, not quite grasping it because he hadn't wanted to make her uncomfortable. "Tumhare liya asaan hai kya? Humara pyaar bhulana? Haan, shayad isiliye tumne hamesha darr dikhaya mujhe--kabhi khud ke liye kuch nahi karogi na? Na dushmaani--aur na pyaar."

Tanya let out a shaky exhale when she rested her hand against his cheek, when his fingers slid across her waist and she forced herself to meet his gaze. She wanted to break out of character, she wanted to desperately do anything to put some distance between them. She could feel her heart beating in her chest; no, beating was the wrong word. It slammed against her ribcage, begging to be let out. She could feel herself falling into whatever this feeling was, the fluttering in her chest, the butterflies performing a well rehearsed ballet routine at their proximity, at the way his big brown eyes were fixated on hers. Her hand dropped from his cheek before it lifted again, this time both hands framing his face as she shook her head. "Asaan? Mere liye isse kuch aur mushkil nahin hai... Pyaar karti hoon tumse, mujhe nahin laga tha ki kabhi hoga mujhse.. Mujhe laga ki mere dad meri shaadi kahin aur karaenge. Kisi rich NRI ladke se, main usmein... complacent thi, phir tum mile" She pushed him away then at his words proclaiming that she didn't love him, proclaiming that she would never love him fully. "Is that how you feel? Ki main tumse pyar nahin karti? Ki main khud ke liye kuch nahin kar sakti?" Tanya bit back the concern on her lips, and the apology at the way he had staggered and hopped off the table, stepping towards him. "Let's run. Somewhere jahan humein koi nahin dhoond payega." She reached up on her toes then, knowing that one line of the script by heart. { JHANVI AND RAHUL KISS } Tanya had leaned in then, her heart racing, hands shaking but the knocking on the door saved her. "Shot's ready!" Tanya pulled away from him, her cheeks flushing and she cleared her throat, every part of her skin crawling, every part of her feeling a strange heat.

Krish felt her stiffen almost under his touch and while that wasn't in the script, he liked it. He would be sure to mention it to the director when they returned on set because he felt like it added an impact in a way they hadn't expected. But it was when Krish felt her hands against his cheeks, framing it so that she could make sure he was always keeping his gaze on her, even though she was a bit higher since she was still seated on the table. Krish listened to her recite her lines with perfection, not missing a beat on the way she delivered them either which had him rather stunned considering she was still a newbie. His character was meant to be listening, still feeling the guilt from what his brother had done to her's and so he tried to retain that in his slumped body language until he felt her push him away so suddenly that it left him surprised and staggering. He felt her reach for him and had to keep himself from showing his surprise while she continued her dialogue. Rahul was meant to not even say anything to her suggestion, answering it in the kiss they were supposed to share--one he assumed they'd only try out when they were on set. But the way Tanya had been leaning in his direction, made him wonder if she was apprehensive to that part of filmmaking as well and was about to show her how it was done until they heard the knocking which drew them both apart. And Krish--was a bit surprised at how shallow his own breathing had become just because he'd been about to kiss her. He'd kissed co-stars before, this wasn't new--and yet he'd never done it in the privacy of their room when they were simply running lines with that purpose only.

Tanya smoothed down her dress, and turned to look at her reflection in the mirror, fixing the bits of hair that had moved from their place - she thought it would be impossible considering how much hairspray Lalita had doused her head in. Tanya had genuinely believed the aerosol would end up damaging her brain cells. Are you sure it already hasn't? Falling for your costar? That's like the dumbest thing you could have done T! Her conscience as per usual was a hundred percent correct but she didn't care. Tanya turned back to look at Krish when she was sure she wouldn't flush at his mere presence. Tanya cleared her throat and sighed. "Shot's ready," she repeated, giving him a sheepish smile. "Thank you for-- for running lines with me. It was really helpful Krish ji," Tanya forced out the term of respect, using it to distance herself, to remind herself that he was her senior in the industry, that she couldn't have feelings for her. Except with the way the butterflies in her stomach had launched into an encore of Tchaikovsky, she wasn't sure that anything would help at this point. Grabbing her script from off the table, Tanya scurried out of the room and to the set.

Krish didn't really understand why he was the one reacting so strangely to almost having kissed Tanya considering it wasn't out of the ordinary, but somewhere reminding himself that she was so new to this world helped him realize. He was about to apologize for getting so ahead of himself when instead he heard her use that silly little ji that he'd told her not to use, but it basically made him assume that he'd obviously freaked her out by being so eager and ready to kiss her if they hadn't been interrupted by one of the AD's. "Sure, no problem," he murmured watching the way she all but ran from her own dressing room while he also headed there but in his own leisurely pace, wondering if he'd just fucked the entire schedule of this film by deciding to run lines with the newbie and actually try helping her.

Tanya shifted uncomfortably in the dress, hopping from foot to foot except that brought her no relief, considering the deathtraps she was wearing on her feet that most people called heels. She wrapped her arms around herself before huffing as she took a seat on the staircase that they'd built for this set of the ball. She could see the costume artist glaring at her but she didn't care. Her feet hurt and there was no way she was going to stand around politely while she waited for the director to get the shot, the lighting and whatnot ready for the first kiss between Jhanvi and Rahul. Tanya had the stage directions for the scene memorized and she found a certain reassurance in the monotony of the words. { RAHUL LEANS IN, JHANVI SHUTS HER EYES AND FOLLOWS HIS LEAD. HIS HAND REACHES UP TO HOLD HER CHEEK, OTHER HAND WRAPPING AROUND HER WAIST. JHANVI GASPS AND RAHUL KISSES HER } . It was certainly easier than reminding herself that sometimes in the next fifteen minutes she would kissing Krish Malhotra; she would be kissing him multiple times so they got the shot just right, so they got all the angles they needed. Her plan to not have a crush on him, to not develop feelings for her costar had failed miserably and Tanya knew that this kiss would be the pinnacle of her existence, to feel his lips against hers - to pretend as if it weren't for camera. Yeah, you're screwed.

Krish had been seated in his little foldable chair. Yes most stars had nicer chairs for waiting around on set, but those would get overly comfortable and that would mean Krish would hate getting out of them. These were comfy enough to sit in until he had to get up for work which made them perfect. He could see Tanya taking a seat on the staircase which had him wondering why none of the spots had taken over a chair for her either. And so he signaled one of his own guys over and directed for him to bring her a chair so that she was comfortable rather than sitting on that strange plaster type thing. They'd been mostly cordial on sets, though he found she still called him Krish ji which irked him but no matter how many times he told her otherwise, she still called him that. He did wonder though, how she was feeling considering this was a scene that had them being a little intimate with one another, something that came fairly natural for him but not for her. Still, he didn't want to risk going up to her and asking about it, not wanting to disturb her process of prepping. Instead, he took his mark when the director called for the shot to begin and at the call for action, he descended them. "Wait! Please!" He ended up standing in front of her, his face scanning hers involuntarily for some expression which he caught behind her eyes, she was wearing her mask, just as he was, but he could see still her emotion. And so he leaned in according to their screenplay, watching her eyes flutter and close while his one hand raised to her cheek, the other wrapping around her waist.

Tanya could feel her heart slamming in her chest, it banged and it roared. The butterflies in her stomach all prepared themselves for their grand finale of jet kicks and pirouettes all serving to remind Tanya of the monstrous crush she had on the man in front of her. They way she addressed him with respect had been whittled down to nothing but a joke, at least from Tanya's end because of the ways she thought of him. Her eyes shut when he leaned in and she let out an involuntary gasp at the way his arm snaked around her waist. She knew that the screenplay demanded it but the sound had come so naturally for Tanya that she had let it out before she could fully think it through. Every inch of her skin was crawling both with nerves and with heat. Tanya felt her own breath hitching as she leaned in even closer; she could feel the cameras moving in closer on them, wanting to capture the kiss, tongue and all, in its entirety. She was nervous, but not for the reason her costar probably thought. Of course it was strange to kiss someone for the cameras but she was nervous because of a very compromising dream she'd had the night before and Tanya knew that this kiss would only egg on her subconscious. So when she felt Krish's lips on hers, Tanya bent into his embrace, kissing him back with the same ease that he was putting on her. Her thoughts did not do the same - they went rampant, reminding her of the dream she'd had last night. The dream which had abruptly ended when Krish had looked up at her with that stupid, intoxicating grip from between her thighs. She pulled away when the director called cut, and stared at Krish, unable to look away from him. "You're a good kisser," she murmured, forgetting her oath to herself of staying away from him.

Krish had seen the way she bent towards him, leaning in just the right amount for the cameras to be able to peel in and capture everything needed. So he kissed her, at first it had felt different as most first kisses would but it was when he felt her reacting to him, kissing him back with that same ease and leisure they needed for a first kiss that wasn't a mere peck on the lips, he knew she had absolutely nailed it. His arms gently pulled her closer though, eliminating any and all space between them until he heard the director call cut, fully aware this scene was going to take a few more retakes. He let go of Tanya and was about to call over his hair and makeup guy to fix his hair when he heard her words. It only caused a wide grin to erupt on his face as he let out a small laugh before leaning closer to her, "So are you," he murmured before giving her a casual wink and turning around to get set up for the next take.

Tanya kept her expression neutral until he turned away from her and then she let her cheeks heat up, flushing her to her very core. That wink should have been banned, as should have the pulsing between her thighs and the friendly reminder of the sex dream she'd had of him. Even now as she shut her eyes so the makeup artist could adjust her eyeshadow and liner, her lips puckered for the lip stain, images flew past her. They came and went in flashes but whatever Tanya saw was enough to frustrate her, enough to make this kiss very awkward. Not for him (he was as oblivious as they came), but for her. Even her makeup artist had caught onto Tanya's little (humongous) crush and she squeezed her eyes shut when she heard Krish's laugh. The dream came back to her, with the way his lips had moved down her neck, the way her hands gripped at his shoulders as he moved in tandem with her and Tanya bit down on her bottom lip, only to get a scolding from the makeup artist. So are you, his words echoed in her mind and she tried very hard not to act like a ten year old at the fact that Krish Malhotra thought she was a good kisser. Now that they were standing in front of each other once again, waiting for the director to call action - Tanya wished that these kisses between them were real. Except they never would be, and it would do her good to remember that.

Krish knew that they two of them had to attempt to recreate the exact same kiss they'd share a few moments ago but standing in front of her again, noting that touched up lip stain that she wore just reminded him of how thoroughly kissed she'd looked a few moments after that first kiss and how he wondered what she would be like if that kiss wasn't for cameras. But no, he had a very strict rule against indulging in anything more with a colleague he was working with. Which was why when he first hooked up with Suhasi it was right after their film's success bash, actually that night, but still they knew they weren't working together and so he was sure it wouldn't bring any awkwardness into their relationship. Whatever he was feeling right now with Tanya was similar to that, she was a good kisser and so naturally it made him wonder how she'd be if they were in private together. Those thoughts had to be pushed from his mind as he once more heard the call for action and raised his hand to here cheek, his arm circling around her waist as he drew her close. The small hitched breath he heard was his cue before he lowered his lips to hers once more, this time feeling more familiar right away.

Tanya shut her eyes when she felt his arm wrapping around his waist, akin to the way vine wrapped around pillars. Her breath hitched when she felt his so close to her face and she leaned in too, meeting his lips halfway. She had reassured herself that the second time around would be better, it would feel more like a job and less like everything she'd ever wanted. Her conscience did not appreciate being lied too, because once again her heart was racing in her chest, it was slamming against its confines, begging to be let out. Except she couldn't let that happen, not if she didn't want to destroy the working relationship that she and Krish shared, not if she didn't want her heart broken. Tanya could hear faint instructions from the director over the blood pounding in her ears, and her arms slowly reached up to wrap around his neck as he dipped her lower, deepening the kiss. Every part of Tanya felt as if it were on fire; every part of her knew that she would spend hours dreaming of this kiss, hours crafting fantasies that would never be true. But in this moment she could pretend. Pretend that she was Tanya not Jhanvi, and he was Krish, not Rahul - that this kiss between them was real.

Krish hadn't expected to feel quite so--aroused especially with the way her hands were winding around his neck, drawing him even closer. Krish badly wanted to break the kiss, allow his mouth to travel south, tasting her and finding all the different ways he could elicit the most sinful sounds from her. But he couldn't. Not only was his rule in place, but they were acting, and had a screenplay to follow. Plus this was Kishore Sen's daughter and while the man didn't continue to act, he still had quite a pull in the industry and if he decided Krish Malhotra was out--well it didn't matter what strings his own Ma would pull, Krish would be out. He leaned closer, his hand on her back supporting her as he arched her lower, kissing her deeply until he heard the director tell him to pull away, instructing for him to tug on her bottom lip with his teeth while she kept her eyes closed. And so he did, almost treacherously slowly though because of how badly he wanted to stay connected because of the strange feelings he was encountering. That's when his own hand raised up to tug at her mask, while she was supposed to do the same in the next moment.

Tanya was unaware at how she managed to contain the moan or the whimper that was bubbling in her chest at the way he tugged at her bottom lip, and only let her lips part slightly, the way she assumed the script would call for. She wondered if the director ever felt uncomfortable at such scenes, or even having to direct them, having to tell people to kiss, and not only that but how to kiss. Of course, if this was awkward she could only imagine how awkward the scenes on page one hundred and twenty through one hundred and twenty four would be whenever they got around to shooting them. She could feel his fingers graze against her cheek meaning that he was about to pull off her mask and she slowly lifted herself up from the position she had been in earlier as her eyes opened, the mask falling to the ground and her own hand undoing his. Why wasn't the director calling cut? Why was he allowing Tanya to get lost in the deep brown that were Krish's eyes, or the permanent crease near his eyes, one which suggested that he smiled a lot. That in turn made her think of his smile, a smile that sparked something in her heart - something that Tanya knew had the ability to ruin this film for them, and possibly Tanya's entire career. She wasn't even thinking of the damage it would do to her heart. It felt as if they'd been staring at each other for years when the director finally called CUT and Tanya broke their gaze, her cheeks flushing. "We'll do that again in fifteen," came the director's order and Tanya bit back her groan. She had to put herself through this torture again? Would she even survive it?

Krish had closed his eyes when Tanya had reached for his mask, waiting for it to be properly pulled away before he looked up at her, surprised at the intensity she was using to stare back at him. For Krish, there was something else in Tanya's eyes--it was a type of longing that he'd never witnessed before, it made him curious to understand what it was for, and why she felt it so strongly. But before he could even dwell deeper on it, he heard the call for cut, and cleared his throat looking away from Tanya, suddenly feeling like he'd bared a part of himself too--and that made no sense. But he heard the instructions and ended up nodding before he looked back at her, surprised at the way she looked almost disturbed to have to kiss Krish again, maybe he wasn't as good as she said he was.

Tanya excused herself off the sets, deciding she needed some fresh air. She needed some place that wasn't tainted by Krish Malhotra and the stupid way he made her feel. Tanya hadn't been a high school girl for three years now (she'd skipped the second grade and graduated early) and yet somehow every time she was around Krish Malhotra, her cheeks would heat up, she'd feel undeniably stupid - like a schoolgirl. Tanya leaned against the wall, smiling with the spot boy came over with some juice. She wrapped her hands around the carton and took a small sip from the straw. She seriously needed to learn how to rein in her feelings if she was going to survive this film. Forget that, she needed to keep a check on her feelings if she wanted to get through the intimate scene they had together. Tanya was sure she would screw it up somehow, either by getting too into it or giving up her secret. Neither of those options seemed like the one she wanted to take. She looked up when she heard footsteps and gave Krish a small smile. "Hey, does he want us back?" But that couldn't be it; it had only been a few minutes since Tanya had stepped out. Unless he was here to join her, give her some 'company.' All things she would over think once she got back to her flat - it wasn't even hers, it was her father's house. She just happened to live on the third floor.

Krish had been about to retire to his own vanity van when he caught Tanya almost rushing off the sets, making him wonder just what was going through that girl's mind. He didn't know what it was exactly, but something drew him towards her. He was always wanting to make sure she was okay, and that she wasn't finding things too difficult or too hard. And this scene, along with the intimate one that was set for shooting near the end of their schedule, had him wondering how she was really feeling because while this movie was going to positively make her career, it was still her first time ever at doing these types of things. Maybe that's what had Krish following her footsteps and heading outside where he spotted her leaning against the studio building with a juice carton in her hand. "Hey," he said when she greeted him before he shook his head. "I just wanted to make sure um--that you were comfortable? I know that wasn't easy," he murmured quietly before taking a deep breath and trying to read her expression the best he could.

Tanya bent the straw as she raised her eyebrows at him, lips puckering downwards into a frown. "Why do you look like you're trying to psychoanalyze me?" Perhaps she needed to work on how blunt she was too, on occasion. She wasn't really that blunt either, it only happened when she was on edge and right now, with the thought of their kiss still imprinted in her mind, the way he had held her engraved into her skin - Tanya was indeed on edge. Even now as he stood in front of her, expressing concern for her and his lips drawn into a small pout, forehead full of wrinkles, Tanya only wanted to kiss him. Except this time she wanted the kiss to be real. Something that would never happen. She wasn't stupid; she read the tabloids (sometimes too obsessively). She'd seen the reports about Krish Malhotra and Suhasi Mehta, their closeness and how he was always leaving her place late at night, or she was arriving at his. Tanya knew that Krish was taken, and that was why she needed to keep her stupid little crush to herself. "And it was-- strange. How do you get used to kissing someone like that? For the camera? I mean," she paused, realizing she sounded childish, or immature, maybe both, "aren't kisses supposed to be y'know real?" She felt her cheeks heat up and looked down. "Never mind," Tanya muttered, staring at the heels she'd been made to wear.

Krish ended up laughing at the words she let out, surprised at how blunt she was being and how thankfully she didn't hold herself back even though she was a newbie and he was well, a very seasoned actor. Still he shrugged before looking up at the gray hazy sky. "Well because you look a bit confused and a bit--I don't know, upset about the whole scene." There, that made it sound like he was concerned about her, both for her well being and for the films. But that's when he heard her express what exactly was bothering her. Krish wouldn't pretend to understand, he hadn't really gotten intimate until his seventh film, never having needed it in the other films considering the audience they targeted. He leaned back completely now so that his back was against the wall while he looked straight ahead at the moving vehicles in the studio lot. "I guess you have to just remind yourself to draw the line between real and fake? Kissing on screen for the camera's is a part of the character, but when you are away from them--that's who you really are and who you're holding onto," he looked towards her before sighing. "The real kisses are the ones that matter, the ones that you give to people who--well, who you care about."

Tanya realized that Krish Malhotra could not have said it any clearer to break her heart. If he had been any more explicit in his explanation, she was sure she would have burst into tears. In fact, even now she could feel a strange hollowness in her chest. Well what were you expecting? He already has someone he can be real with. And its not you, her conscience sneered and Tanya's grip on the juice box tightened. Her conscience as usual was right, but as usual it was blunt and it broke her heart, better than Krish Malhotra could. "That makes sense," she managed once she was sure her voice wouldn't shake. He didn't care about her, not in the way she cared about him. And as for the line? Tanya had those blurred since the first day of shoot when they had been in her dressing room, running lines. Everything for her in this film was real, the way his character would look at her, the way his character held her - there was nothing fake to Tanya's heart. A real problem if she thought about it carefully. Her grip tightened even further on the juice box as she stared at her feet, only to have the box burst and the juice to drip down her hands and on her shoes. "Fuck." Radhika was going to murder her; she could already hear the lecture, and was not looking forward to it. "I've-- I should go... Before anyone goes ballistic." The juicebox (now splattered) was still in her hand as she threw Krish one last glance and bent down to pull off her heels as she walked barefoot through the studio to her dressing room.

Krish he could hear the faintness when she responded to his philosophical attempt and smiled, wondering if she really did make sense of it, or was just saying that considering he was a senior to her and she didn't want to seem like she didn't understand. But she didn't say anything more and Krish wondered if it would appear intrusive for him to ask if she had anyone in her life that she could be real with, not necessarily in that same way, but just generally--because he knew how important those people were at keeping celebrities grounded and still themselves. But before he could, the juice box in her hand burst, spilling the contents on those very expensive heels of hers. The reason Krish knew it? He'd heard one of the AD's telling the director they had to pan a shot of them just so everyone knew what her character was wearing. He watched her as she hurried away from him, her heels in her hand as she looked back at him making him wonder just what it was that had her always running away from him. Maybe he really ought to keep his distance.

Tanya sat in the plastic chair that had been set out for her as she scrolled aimlessly through her Instagram feed, looking up occasionally only to see the ADs still running around set like headless chickens while the director barked orders. The set had been drenched in a flood of torrential rain last night and it was really too bad, not that it made any sense to Tanya why she was even on set today. It was the car chase scene, the one where her brother died. They didn't need her on this outdoor, not when all she had to do was answer the phone, recite a few lines and give expression. In fact, Tanya was ninety percent sure that the director had told her not to come. But then Krish had asked for her to come, to watch him and critique him - not that it made any sense to her. He was her superior in the industry, why would he want advice from her? It made no sense but then again, it was best not to question an actor's method. Her father had taught her that a long time ago. It was only when she heard somebody's voice (that somebody not Krish, and no, Tanya did not have his voice memorized - okay, maybe she did), that she turned to look at them. "Hi, can I help--" Tanya froze, realizing who was in front of her. Abhimanyu Singh. The poster boy for tall, dark and romantic. Or was it handsome? How did it matter? He was both. "Tanya, Tanya Sen right?" Tanya only nodded, putting her hand in his to shake. "I'm actually looking for Krish..." "Oh, he's-- he's getting his shot ready. Was it something urgent?" Of course even as she spoke, she realized she sounded like his damn secretary. From her periphery she noticed Krish walking up towards them and dropped her hand from Abhimanyu's quickly and returned to her phone, pulling her shades over her eyes.

Krish had been glad this entire outdoor was taking place in Pune. He loved how the city was big but still quieter than Mumbai and had so much more greenery surrounding the highway to shoot the chase scene. They'd already shot a portion of it in Mumbai, heading out on the highway, and now it was continuing for the accident to occur in a more expansive place. He'd been in his costume, discussing scenes and expressions with one of the AD's and the actors playing both brothers when he'd seen Abhimanyu's far too pretentious Hummer arrive on set. When the other man had texted him, wanting to know where he was shooting, Krish had assumed he'd come but not in such an extravagant way. Still he was about to head in Abhi's direction when he caught him making what looked like a beeline towards Tanya who he'd asked to accompany them for more insight on how the scene was looking from an audience point of view and for someone who had a vested interest in the film. But watching Abhi turning on his charm for her, was a bit annoying--something Krish didn't want to see on his set, especially when Tanya was still so new. He excused himself from the discussion taking place and began making his way towards them, watching the way Tanya yanked her hand out of Abhi's grip as if he'd caught her doing something she shouldn't have been doing. Not to mention the way her shades came over her eyes as if wanting to hide whatever emotion he'd read in her eyes. "Hey guys, I see you've met? Not that Abhi wastes any time in finding the prettiest girl on a set, do you?" He smacked the taller man's arm, suddenly realizing that if he was being measured up to him--Krish fell extremely short.

Tanya flushed when she heard Krish call her pretty; she'd learned to control her crush pretty well around him and now they even had a solid working equation - one where she did not run away from him. "We were just talking about you," Tanya clarified only to have Abhimanyu interject his own opinion. "Yeah, you didn't tell me exactly how gorgeous your costar is." Tanya flushed an even darker red at Abhimanyu's words and hid her smile behind her phone, her dimples peeking out. Her heart did a strange flopping motion and she wondered what it was about. Perhaps it was the compliment she'd received, especially from someone in the industry. Nobody was saying anything about her debut, and they always shot with high security so nothing would get leaked out. Instructions she was sure that the promotions team and her father had collaborated on. After all, Kishore Sen would want his daughter debuting in a magnificent manner. She turned in her chair, looking at Krish and completely missing the way Abhimanyu was looking at her. "So are you ready for the scene? I heard the ADs talking that you were going to do the stunt yourself. Darr nahin lagta?" Tanya most certainly was; her heart would be in her mouth the entire time.

Krish took a step away from Abhi, as inconspicuously as possible considering he didn't want it to look like he was purposely putting distance between the two of them so no one would end up comparing their height differences. He looked up at Abhi when he spoke about how gorgeous Tanya was and shrugged. "I didn't want you to snatch her up for your next because of her looks. You have to see how amazing she preforms before you steal her away from me," Krish smiled because the truth was right there. Tanya may have been extremely stunning, but it was her talent in acting that he wanted people to notice. He questioned Abhi's reason for being there, to which his friend retorted by saying Krish wasn't happy at seeing him and truthfully--maybe he wasn't--at least not entirely. But before he could say anything more, he'd noticed Tanya turning to talk to him and nodded before shrugging. "Nah, I'll be okay." He was always a little nervous before an action sequence but he supposed it came with the thrill. "And if anything goes wrong, I'm sure the medics will step in--" he chuckled with a shrug, even though a part of him knew ther was always a possibility that they could be too late.

Tanya frowned at that. "These stunts are safe na? Why would there be a reason for a medic? I mean you rehearsed it with the action coordinator na?" Careful Tanya, you're mothering him. Worse, he'll learn of your feelings for him if you keep this up, her conscience warned and Tanya quickly piped down, staring at her phone instead, waiting for it to buzz to life. It didn't, but Abhimanyu seemed to have directed his attention to her, asking her what it was like to be the Kishore Sen's daughter. A question she'd heard many times before; incidentally, never from Krish. Perhaps that's why it was easy to be friends with him. The girl who was meant to be playing her friend (read: the character of the Nurse in the play) in the film was too awestruck by her last name to even hold a proper conversation. It was easier with Krish because they would talk about anything, everything - he even listened to her complain about how she was craving pizza even though she'd already cheated on her diet twice this month. "He's just like a normal dad. I didn't actually grow up with him so I wasn't really... in the limelight much," Tanya explained, relieved when the taller man's attention returned to Krish. She'd heard rumors of a rift in their friendship too, something to do with girls or maybe it was films but looking at them now, she knew nothing had happened the way the tabloids had tried to portray it.

Krish had to smile his crooked grin at her, before slipping his arms around her, "I'll be fine Tanya ji," he joked before shrugging. "Yes I've rehearsed it, but sometimes not everything goes according to plan," he explained before watching the way Abhimanyu tried to hijack the conversation and direct it to Tanya and her lineage. It crossed his mind, that asides from the first day on set, he'd never really referred to her as Kishore Sen's daughter, perhaps because he was one of the few who understood how it could begin to feel daunting when people only knew you because of your parent. He'd initially gotten that a lot as well and trying to carve out his own place in the industry took some time and effort, and maybe this was his way of trying to make it easier for Tanya. He heard her answer, looking back at the AD's who were asking him to come over once more to go over the scene before he heard Abhimanyu call out for him, basically urging him to go ahead and shoot his scene and that he was there to keep Tanya company. "Right, Abhimanyu Singh, rescuer of the ladies," there was a hint of annoyance in his words and he could identify it, but prayed neither of the other two in his vicinty could. "Guess I'll be off then," he directed his attention back to Tanya though, "but do you mind--um, watching for a bit, I just want to make sure it looks believable." He was referring to whenever the camera panned to him when he watched her character's brother's vehicle basically explode in flames due to his character's brother.

Tanya sucked in a breath when his arms had wrapped around her, and how he hadn't even let her go even when she was talking to Abhimanyu, as if having his arms around her this way was completely normal for him. Oh how Tanya wished it was. How much she wished that she was his, and he would be hers. Except when she heard the AD call for Krish, she frowned; why was everybody out to ruin her happy moments? If this kept up, Tanya would have to soothe her poor heart with all the onscreen moments of their love and pretend those were real, even if Krish had very obviously told her he would never feel anything for her, not when all of this was fake. She nodded at his request and stood near the director, not at all ignorant of the way Abhimanyu was standing right next to her, his skin brushing against her bare shoulders. "He's good," Abhimanyu spoke, wrapping an arm around Tanya's shoulders when she flinched. She frowned but didn't discourage the action, continuing to watch Krish on the monitors. It was only when he approached them again, she gave Krish a wide smile, one which showed off her dimples. "That was amazing. I mean-- when I wasn't scared that you would skid the car to your death."

Krish had finished off the scene with a flourish, proud of how the AD's around the track erupted into applause. But only Krish knew how hard it had been. It may look easy and effortless in the final product, but when he had to stop the car, it had felt like he was going to go head first into the side ditch until he pulled the emergency brake and felt the car skid forward just a bit before it stopped and he stepped out, visibly unharmed. But as he approached the director and the camera set up to watch the scene--he noted Abhi's arms around Tanya and cleared his throat, especially considering just how comfortable she looked standing there with him. He nodded at her, "thanks, and um, thanks for coming even though you didn't have to. It was encouraging." He turned away from her then, focusing on what the director was saying to him, about how he'd do it when he was to film it again for another angle. Maybe this time--he would go head first into that ditch. These thoughts were clearly coming out of nowhere and ignoring them, he began to once again get prepped for the same shot again, wondering why he felt suddenly annoyed at how comfortable Abhi and Tanya were with another despite having just met. It had taken Tanya ages to get comfortable around Krish.

Tanya gave him another one of her warm smiles, ones she only reserved for people she truly cared about. She wondered if he knew that; if he knew he was somebody she truly cared about. It was why she hadn't moved away from Abhimanyu's grip because she needed it to keep her grounded so she wouldn't worry her head off about the stunt and how one wrong step could send him into an emergency room, and her in the waiting room of a hospital, her heart in his hands. He probably didn't even know that he held her heart in his hands, in his slender fingers. She exhaled shakily, her hand reaching out for Krish's as her fingers wrapped around his wrist. "Please just be careful," she whispered, giving him a nervous smile, the concern for him reflected in her eyes before she realized it was too much; they were just friends, she couldn't show this much emotion. "It would be hard to find a replacement actor, especially considering we've shot most of the scenes already." Saved it. So why was her heart sinking?

Krish couldn't help it but when he saw that smile on her face, he found himself smiling back, wondering if this could be categorized as sharing a moment. Suhasi had recently ended their arrangement saying she didn't feel Krish present in the moment, and truthfully, he'd also been looking for a reason to end things so this came as a thankful surprise. But now he realized maybe he wasn't present in those moments with her because his mind was always elsewhere, but that was silly and perhaps that's why he nodded at her words, surprised at the tender way they seemed to find their way directly to his heart, reminding him that someone was there and someone cared a lot. He heard her after thought and rolled his eyes before shrugging. "Yeh hai na, tumhare saath mein khada. God knows Abhi would love this type of role, right?" Abhimanyu grinned and nodded eagerly before Krish rolled his eyes and got back into the car. He was speeding after the other two vehicles in front of him when the clouds seemed to open up and let out all the rain they were carrying inside because his vision was completely blurred despite his wipers trying to help clear the windshield. Maybe that's why he couldn't see where he was going and ended up falling directly into the ditch on the right side, the airbag inflating up as his car ended up hitting the ground nose first. His last few thoughts on what Tanya had just said, about being careful--despite him trying to, he wasn't able to,

Tanya knew that something bad was going to happen, especially considering the dark clouds that had shown up out of nowhere. It was only when the clouds roared that Tanya was pulled back under the safety of the equipment, under the umbrellas as they continued the shot. The sinking feeling in Tanya's stomach only grew more dominant and she chewed on her nails, knowing that the scolding from the makeup artist would be worth it. It had taken her years to kick the habit and even now it only surfaced because of the uncertainty of what was unfolding in front of her. She hadn't expected the car to take a nosedive, completely turning over before remaining like that - upside down, Krish still inside. Tanya felt her heart puncture and it felt as if the air had been stolen from her lungs. "Krish," she whispered, her heart thudding in her chest, blood rushing to her ears. "Krish," her voice was a little louder as she rushed to the set, only to be pulled back by Abhimanyu. "They're going to take him to the hospital," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her and it was all she could to burst into tears. She'd told him to be careful and a shot that had gone perfectly the first time had now screwed up, Krish being the cost of her concern, the cost of her being unable to keep her feelings to herself. That was how Tanya found herself in the hospital, sitting in his private hospital room on the couch as she aimlessly flicked through a magazine, her gaze on the heart monitor to make sure it remained the same. Her own heart still hadn't recovered from its shock and Tanya knew it wouldn't rest easy until he opened his eyes, until he said something, until he smiled at her - that stupid crooked grin that had stolen her heart. She could only thank the stars or whoever was watching above that Abhimanyu hadn't questioned her, had chalked up her behaviour to being afraid for Krish's life because they were close friends, because he was her costar - anything but the real reason she'd had a nervous breakdown.

Krish had quickly succumbed to the darkness despite fighting to keep his eyes open. The next couple of hours were an absolute blur to Krish because he'd been awake, and then not--drifting in and out of consciousness, seeing the masks of the doctors and then the faces of the nurses until finally, he opened his eyes to brightness. And Tanya. She looked extremely exhausted and while he was thankful not to be alone, he did wonder what kept her there. Yes, they were friends, colleagues too. But wouldn't you do the same if you knew she was hurt? And the answer was--that yes, he would do the same thing if anything had happened to her. That was just who Krish Malhotra was. But truthfully, Krish had been expecting to see Abhimanyu next to Tanya as well, considering how the taller man had refused to leave her side since the moment he'd come onto the sets, making Krish wonder exactly what was going through his mind. But before he could dig deeper into his own thoughts and assumptions, he began coughing, desperately needing water because of his throat. This of course got her attention and he watched her toss the magazine and quickly hurry to be by his side.

Tanya looked up at the sound of his coughing - if it could even be called that, from her position it sounded a lot more like he was hacking his lungs up. All the more reason for Tanya to be nervous because what if it was something serious? She set down her magazine, standing next to his hospital bed as she poured him a glass of water. "Thank god you're awake, I was worried I would actually have to work with Abhimanyu," Tanya teased, helping him up as she pressed the button on his hospital bed so it would be upright and pressed the glass to his lips. "Baby sips," she interjected when it looked like he was about to inhale the water by the gallon. "Your mother should be here soon, she took the next flight in and she said it would land around," Tanya glanced down at her watch, eyebrows furrowing, "It landed a half hour ago. She must be on her way here." Setting the glass back on the bedside stand, she stepped away from Krish. "Is there anything you need? I sent the crew and all home, so I'll be here till your mom gets here." No matter that her father had called her phone at least a hundred times, wanting to know how she was. The news of Krish's accident on set had spread like wildfire, much like the stunt car that was to go up in flames. But aside from the yeah I'm fine, I'll be home soon, Tanya hadn't said much else.

Krish hadn't been able to formulate a response to her words, considering how badly he needed the water to soothe his dry throat. He felt her help him up before holding the glass in front of him while he drained it within seconds. Krish Malhotra never used to chug, but maybe it was all the fumes and smoke around him during the stunt that had him feeling like he needed the comfort in his throat. He listened to Tanya speaking about his mother coming to see him and he shook his head. "You're not working with Abhi," he narrowed his eyes at her playfully before closing his eyes while he felt the scratchy feeling in his throat return. "I wish y'all hadn't called my Ma, I didn't really want to worry her." He watched her step away before she asked if he needed anything and for some reason it made him wonder how she'd react if he asked to just hold her hand, wanting to remind himself that was still there, and he was okay. "I'm really glad, um that you're here," he gave her a smile before blinking his eyes at her and sighing. "I just--closing my eyes makes me see the flames and how--" he trailed off wondering just how she was feeling because sometimes seeing something so traumatic like that, could really leave an impact on someone--not to mention how this was her first film ever. "How are you? I'm sorry--for delaying the shooting."

Tanya gave him a reassuring smile when he expressed his gratitude that she had stayed. How could she tell him that her heart hadn't agreed to going home? She knew she could have left him in the more than capable hands of his best friend but she also knew that her heart wouldn't rest easy without at least seeing him open his eyes, without hearing his voice. Her attachment to him was grossly underestimated by herself and so when she heard him launch into how he felt whenever he shut his eyes, Tanya's hand had reached out almost immediately to clutch his, squeezing his wrist gently. She'd decided against holding his hand at the last minute, wondering if that would be too intimate and instead settled for resting her hand against his wrist. "I'm-- a little shaken up," Tanya admitted, looking down at her shoes. "Seeing that car, and you... I was so scared," she murmured, but snapped her head up to look at him when she heard the words that followed. "Hey, I haven't been in the industry long but I think I speak for everyone when I say nobody cares if the shoot got delayed, I-- we just care that you're okay." How could you slip up like that? Her conscience wailed and Tanya could only hope Krish hadn't noticed.

Krish didn't know what it was with Tanya, but he felt safe with her. Like there was no reason he had to force himself to stay guarded or anything when she was around because they were friends. But it was when she reached out even though he hadn't asked her to, and had grasped his wrist. Sure, it wasn't exactly the type of contact he was looking for but it seemed to suffice to give him the warmth and reality check he needed. He was okay, and he was alive. He looked up at her when he heard her admittance to being affected and instantly wanted to apologize once more for causing it but instead, he listened before wincing at her chiding him. She may be six years younger than him, and a newbie, but she was still giving it to him like any old friend would. He'd heard her switch her I to a we and wondering if that was her way of still maintaining a distance with him despite the fact that he assumed the two of them had become closer. "Ah, this was nothing. I'm pretty invincible Tanya. Ek baar toh cable hi snap ho gaya tha, but surprisingly I still landed on my feet and made it. Warna, tumhara hero wheelchair mein hota." Making light of a serious situation was the only coping method Krish knew how to use and so he just hoped it worked for Tanya as well.

Tanya giggled at his words, knowing that the joke was half for her benefit. She wasn't blind, she knew the kind of boy Krish Malhotra was. The kind with the big hearts, the ones that beat too loud and were never in time with others. He was the soft angle on a camera lens, one which reminded you of a soft blur around the edges of a shot of a beautiful girl. He was the boy that you could find in poetry, the kind of purity that was too difficult to procure in anything other than words and yet here he sat (or rather lay) in the flesh. She shook her head at him, trying not to let her amusement show too much as she leaned over him on the bed to push the hair falling in his face. "I don't care ki tumhe kya hua tha past mein, yeh serious tha Krish," she chastised gently, wishing he would just understand how much he'd worried everybody. How much he'd worried her. Tanya wasn't sure she wanted to tell her kids the story of her first love and how he'd managed to get himself nearly killed on the set of her first film. "Anyways, the director is saying that we're going to prolong the balcony scene. She doesn't trust you around anything dangerous right now."

Krish smiled at the way she giggled at his words, and couldn't help but wonder if she even knew how beautiful chimed that sound was. It sounded almost like soft bells in the wind, a sound pleasant the ears. But he didn't say it, knowing that would almost be crossing the line he drew for them himself. But he closed his eyes when he felt her reach towards him, the way she smoothed his hair back, almost being so attentive, the way someone with genuine care would be. Krish only nodded at her words before giving her a small pout. "Lekin meri ghalti nahi thi," he murmured before laughing at what Ashiwini, their director had decided. "I suppose I get it, even though it just means more time for our bubble gum romance to blossom?" He meant their characters but explaining it now would just seem weird and so he let it be, wondering again what it would be like--until he remembered Abhi. "Um, did Abhi have to get back? I was thinking he wasn't going to let you out of his sight with the way he was behaving on set," he chuckled forcefully, praying that she didn't notice how hard he had to try to get that light airy sound out.

Tanya shrugged at the mention of Abhimanyu, her heart still reeling from the choice words he'd used earlier. Our bubblegum romance, they echoed in her heart, forcing it to clench as she tried her best not to let the words get the best of her. That was the thing you were never told about boys who were soft, boys who were so pure, boys who you knew would treat you right. They were masters in playing with your heart and emotions; they knew exactly what to say for it to affect you; they knew exactly what they were doing to you and they did it. Without an inch of remorse. To them, you were probably just another girl to write their ballads about, another girl to pour their muse into. It would do Tanya best to remember that; soft boys never stayed long, they used you until you were dry and moved on. It was better to just be Krish's friend. "I don't know. I told him to go home," Tanya answered finally, once her head had stopped spinning at the insinuation of their bubblegum romance, even though she knew very well that he meant their characters.

Krish had noted the way she seemed to be almost lost in thought for a considerably long amount of time. But he didn't draw attention to it, instead he simply stared at her. There was something about the look of pure concentration on her face, mixed with that hint of hurt that he couldn't understand. It was strange, he mused, how much he didn't like seeing her with those frown lines on her forehead, deciding--knowing that she was someone who should always be smiling, letting the world fall in love with her, one person at a time. He just wondered when it would be his turn? Whoa, these were thoughts he was not supposed to be having, especially considering how he knew how wrong it could be. He heard her words, finding them a bit colder than she'd been before and nodded. "Oh okay," he paused, wondering why he was trying to do the right thing, even when he didn't want to. "You can, you can go too. I'm sure you've been here for hours and Ma aati hogi. I don't want to keep you stuck here for so long like I've already done."

Tanya shook her head, squeezing his wrist gently. She knew that his words made sense and it was probably in her benefit to go home but she couldn't. She couldn't go home because her heart did not agree with it, her heart did not agree with leaving him here alone until his mother showed up despite the fact that this man in front of her was twenty six and did not need to be babysitted. "It's not a problem Krish, sachi. I've learned so many interesting things about you from this Stardust magazine," Tanya teased, pushing down the railing of his bed and perching on the edge of the mattress, her hand still on his wrist but his hand was on her thigh and she knew that she would treasure this memory, this touch for as long as she could. She would blur the edges, the context of the story, of this moment to soothe her racing heart.

Krish didn't know anymore what to make of Tanya Sen, mainly because she in herself was a paradox. She seemed distant and then she seemed warm. She ran from him, and then she looked for reasons for them to bond. He wasn't complaining really, he just wished he could understand why she was doing the things she was. But he looked up at her when she spoke about learning things about him and frowned in a playful way. "Oh? And what have you learned--do tell." He watched her fold down the railing before scooting closer to him, his hand now resting on her thigh as her fingers curled around his wrist. If he was thinking straight and not under the influence of his medication, he would realize that this type of thing was incredibly fit for a couple, something they weren't. Yet, he was in no mood to change the situation, enjoying it for what it was because being around her--gave him a sense of ease.

Tanya laughed at his words, at the way he had pouted at her the way a puppy would if he was refused his treats. He was just like one too, warm and comforting - playful too. "Now if I told you what I learned, I would have to kill you," she retorted, giving him a sly wink. "And I don't think that would be very good for the production value of this film." Her fingers released their grip on his wrist as she traced patterns along the back of his hand, fingers brushing over the veins, at the way they seemed to bulge out. If she thought it through, her actions weren't at all like those of a friend. This proximity was not the proxemics that friends had; it was the proxemics of a couple. A much in love couple too, almost like the characters they were meant to be playing in the film. "What made you do the film?" The question had fallen from her lips without a second thought and Tanya regretted it almost immediately. She'd just read something in an article in a dated Stardust magazine (it was from a few months ago), where he'd talked about not wanting to work with newcomers, wanting to do lighter films - and this film was many things, but it was not light. As for working with newcomers, she supposed that he'd done it because of her father. Tanya was slowly learning that most people did things for her because of her father.

Krish couldn't help but laugh out loud at her words, there was something so adorable about the way she was trying to be sly, but failing. He didn't say anything back, his own attention now on the way her fingertips were tracing over his hand, making him almost second guess himself if this was actually happening, or something he was hallucinating thanks to the high medicine dosage he was probably on. But there was still something comforting about the action, something warm and almost--loving. He didn't know why but he felt these things were nature in their bond, even though--a part of him knew it was treading past the line he'd sketched out, a line he'd once been adamant never to cross. Her question thrown at him did successfully draw him out of his thoughts though and he frowned, wondering why it was so sudden and also so heavy right off the bat. "I always wanted to do a film like this," he admitted quietly. "A take on Romeo and Juliet but in the real world. And while yes, I'd been signed on right away, we were looking for the right girl for ages, which is why I sat in some audition tapes looking for the right girl. Because I knew if I wasn't 100% in agreement with whoever they cast, I wouldn't be able to give my best but...thanks to you, that won't be the case anymore."

Tanya kept her gaze on his hand while he spoke, a stubborn cleft in her chin. "So you didn't-- you didn't take me because my dad is Kishore Sen right? Because I'm sure ki un audition tapes main doosri ladkiyan bhi hongi. Girls who aren't newcomers you know?" Perhaps she was taking this too seriously, it was just a comment he'd made in a tabloid. The fact that she was taking a tabloid seriously said a lot about her mental state. Then again, Krish Malhotra had the ability to cloud her judgement, to cloud almost anything and everything she believed in. And yet, she wanted to stay locked in this with him forever; she wanted for them to stay in this limbo forever - a limbo where Tanya could pretend that they were dating. A limbo where she could pretend that he reciprocated her childish feelings for him. Instead, she only sighed and let go of his hand. "It's stupid," Tanya admitted, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I just read some article about you and I-- I don't know," she mumbled, feeling her facade completely unravel in front of her own eyes and she shook her head, taking his hand again. Of course the sounds of footsteps made their way into Tanya's line of hearing and it was only when she turned to see Isha Malhotra at the door that she pulled away from Krish entirely, standing up as if she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't have. "Hi ma'am," Tanya greeted, a nervous smile in place.

Krish frowned at her words before he shook his head. "No, I guess Ashwini might've known, but I only found out after I'd chosen you. And yes, there were other girls who've acted in ads and films before but--at the risk of sounding like a pretentious idiot..tujh mein kuch spark tha Tanya." He smiled at her before shrugged. "When Ashwini narrated the script to me for the first time, I'd envisioned a type of girl as Jhanvi and you fit the bill entirely." He wanted to turn his hand in her grip, wanting to someone attempt to console her this time but found that she dropped his hand. "It's not stupid--what was the article about? And besides you have to know that admist all the filmy magazines--Stardust is the one full of crap." He chuckled before he looked down and noted her taking his hand once more, this time their palms brushing against one anothers. But that's when his door opened and his mother walked in, almost rushing over to Krish's other side. "Hi Ma, sorry ke aapko Delhi se specially aana para. But I'm fine really." He rolled his eyes before feeling Isha's lips against his forehead, giving a look of irritation to Tanya before laughing. "Acha Ma, that's enough. Ma, this is Tanya Sen, my co star in Qayamat, and Tanya this is Isha Malhotra."

Tanya snorted, immediately hiding her smile behind her hand at the way Krish had flashed her an irritated look; it felt like a scene right out of a film. Her entire life felt like a film, apt considering that she was from a filmi family. Tanya held out her hand to shake Isha Malhotra's, surprised by the warm grip that the woman had. "We've met actually, but I think I was probably ten," Tanya introduced, before wanting to groan or shoot herself in the head. Why was she so impaired when it came to talking to people? How did she not know the right thing to say? And then there was Krish, so poised and so collected. He could make anyone believe absolutely anything, he could become absolutely anyone. All the more reason to stay away from him, her conscience hissed and she knew it was right. Tanya was busy here crafting dreams but she knew that he was probably being friendly with her for their costar equation, after the film and the promotions - they would probably never speak again. "But hi, nice to meet you again." Ah well, now that she'd established herself as a geek, it was best to embrace it.

Krish was smiling at the way Isha was subtly sizing Tanya up. He knew she was even if later his mother would deny it. Isha Malhotra did this with all the women in Krish's vicinity and honestly, at this stage, he'd just gotten used to it. "It's very nice to meet you again, Tanya. Batao, how is your father doing?" Ah yes that was right, their parents had been quite a pair in their younger days which was another reason why Krish and Tanya's forthcoming film was such an awaited release. People knew that Kishore Sen's daughter was set to make her big screen debut with Isha Malhotra's already established son. The problem however was all the star kids who'd tried to follow in their parents footsteps and work opposite the child of their parent's co-actor had typically failed misreably. But Krish had seen the stills of the photoshoot they'd done, and he'd watched a lot of their scenes and knew there was something there that would make them a surefire hit jodi. "Thank you, for taking care of Krish as well. Jab Ashwini ka phone aaya tha, tab usne bataya that you were with him from the moment they pulled him from the burning care." Isha's hands were grasping both of Tanya's now, squeezing gently to convey her gratitude.

Tanya smiled at her question. "He's not taking retirement very well," Tanya confessed with a teasing smile. "He keeps watching his old films, and then yesterday he was reading my script and kept trying to direct me. Aap hi unhe kuch boliye, tell him to get back into the industry. To do something, maybe production, maybe direction - anything to get him off my back." She laughed then, before glancing down at the way Isha was holding Tanya's hands so tightly and she shook her head, squeezing the woman's hands back. "Of course I would ma'am, mujhe theek nahin lagta agar main Krish ke saath nahin aati," she wouldn't say anything further than that, considering if she said one more word - her secret would be out and the entire world would know that she was in love with Krish Malhotra. Either that or they would consider it PR, especially considering the first look of the film they had released last week only. It was one of Tanya's favorite shots: one where his fingers had furled around her wrist, grip tight as he stared at her and she had turned her head to look at him. There was something about the shot that drew her in, that made her believe that Krish really was in love with her. Perhaps that was why everyone on the internet was already loving it too, going as far as giving them a couple name - these things made Tanya blush, not out of embarrassment but for the fact that she wished it was real.

Krish wondered for a few moments if the ladies had both forgotten that he was also there in the room with them, not to mention that he was a patient who'd just gone through a major ordeal. But no, they were busy with their own talks which left him to be silent. Isha laughed quietly at Tanya's words, understanding what Kishore Sen must be going through, she'd done the same with Krish for his first two films until her son had sat her down and they'd had one of their infamous heart to heart conversations. She nodded though, "I'll talk to him, tell him to trust that his daughter is just as fine an actor as he is. Besides, that is what my son's been telling me." Isha patted Tanya's hand before taking her to the couch area once more and sitting down with her. "Aisa bahot kaam log karte hai, aur khaas ke jab unke liye koi faida na ho, so thank you. And I hope my son's been also not ragging you on set. He's known at times to be quite the prankster." Krish let out a small outburst at that though. "Hey Ma! You know that's not true, tell her Tanya--have I done anything to rag you?"

Tanya rolled her eyes at Krish's protest before shaking her head. "He's been quite the gentleman actually," Tanya supported on Krish's behalf and she knew that even if it were true, even if he had pranked her on the sets - she wouldn't have minded. It only would have made her fall deeper in love with him. She was genuinely starting to sound like the character in her film now, in the way that Jhanvi loved Rahul even after his brother had killed hers, even after he'd made her defy everything her family stood for. Except he hadn't made her do anything, Jhanvi had done all of those things on her own because she loved Rahul. In the same way, Krish had never made Tanya fall in love with him. He had just been himself and it was all on Tanya's that she'd taken one look into his stupid, brown eyes and fallen heads over heels. Every day was practically torture on set, especially with the end of the shoot coming so close - which meant that their intimate scene would soon be on the chopping block and Tanya would give an acting performance of her life by pretending to be in love with his character but also pretending not to be in love with the real person behind the character. Her phone buzzed again and Tanya glanced at her open purse to see her father's name flashing across the screen before she grimaced. "I really have to go home now. It was nice seeing you," she told Isha before standing up and shouldering her bag. Hesitant steps in Krish's direction, Tanya placed her hand on top of his gently. "And you, take care of yourself. I meant what I said about not wanting to find a new costar." And with that she disappeared from the hospital room, her heart full with new memories of Krish Malhotra.

Krish didn't know why, but this was the first time in a very long time that his hands were constantly gripping his script. He had already memorized it, he knew this scene like the back of his hand but for the first time--he was nervous. He didn't know if it was because he had to enact it with Tanya, or if it was just too much for them to shoot but it had come up quickly as well considering Ashwini thought it'd be easier for them to shoot this before the finish whatever actions portions Krish still had to complete. And so there he was dressed in a white cotton kurta pajama with beautiful work, that looked casual but still comfortable. His character Rahul was modern yes, but he also chose to sleep in a cotton kurta pajama keeping his Indian side alive. He knew Tanya was still getting ready in hair and makeup and ended up wandered onto the set before her this time, noting how few the crew members were in order to keep things comfortable for Tanya. He'd actually also suggested they shoot it in a way that the camera would be on a crane with them in the room, while the entire crew all remained in another room so that she wasn't constantly being stared at even in between takes.

Tanya stared down at the plain colored cream dress she was meant to be wearing and at her hands that rested on her thighs while the makeup artist worked her magic. They were still shaking; they hadn't stopped shaking since she'd set the script down. Continually looking at it would only upset Tanya and she knew that she couldn't let that happen. She couldn't let herself descend into a panic attack over an intimate. Even her father had come on set, wanting fo discuss how the scene was going to be shot with the director. "Relax Tanya," her makeup artist murmured, "most girls would kill to be in a position like this with Krish." Oh, if only this woman knew how much she too was looking forward to it. Tanya stared at her reflection unable to understand why they were putting on so much more makeup if she was supposed to be bare faced. Standing up, Tanya gave her makeup artist a hesitant smile before exiting the room and entering the set. "Hey," she whispered, once she was standing next to Krish, her heart thudding wildly in her chest.

Krish found himself reading over the damn script one more time before he tossed it to the side for easy access in case he needed it once more. But that's when he saw the door open and Tanya step onto the stage. Her outfit wasn't revealing as such but he knew that the more they'd get into this moment--it would get worse for her which was why he'd kept one of his fluffy robes on the side out of the frame so he could hand it to her every breaking moment. "Hi," he whispered before he took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "You okay? Because--I'm nervous." He admitted quietly. Dammit! He was Krish Malhotra, one to never admit to his weakness or shortcomings. And yet in front of Tanya Sen, he knew he could because she wouldn't judge him for it, and instead would hopefully confess that she was feeling the same way.

Tanya gave him a small smile when he admitted to being nervous and her hand automatically reached out for his, fingers slipping into the spaces between his and she squeezed his hand. If he gave her any strange looks, she'd hide behind the excuse that she was trying to slip into character so it would be easier when they did the scene. "Me too." The words settled between them and Tanya found herself staring at the bed on the set. It was the only thing there, and she knew they would shoot the scene leading up to their intimate scene the next day; the crew was minimal too and so as she and Krish stood in the empty studio, she felt a sense of relief. The bed of course was gorgeous, a round thing with white lace curtains around it, golden satin sheets sprawled on the mattress and she chuckled. "At least the bed's pretty." At least it's with you, was what she really wanted to say, what she ended up keeping to herself.

Krish looked down at their intertwined hands, half wondering if he should snatch his own away given that it might give off the wrong impression. But truthfully, Krish liked the feeling of her hand in his, it was calming and the fact that she too was feeling nervous just helped his own mind cope with his anxiety over their scene. He'd wanted it to be perfect, but even more than that--he wanted to ensure it was shot aesthetically. Thankfully given that their director was a woman, Krish was sure that was half the battle won because Ashwini doted on Tanya and would never have her in a position that left her uncomfortable. He looked at the bed when she spoke and ended up grinning. "It's very nice--apt for Rahul and Jhanvi's first and only time no? Make it memorable." He smiled before turning his body so that he was now completely facing her. "Agar tumhe zara bhi uncomfortable mehsoos ho, mujhe keh dena-- I'll tell them it was me and cut the shot okay?"

Tanya nodded at what Krish was saying, only half listening as she stared at the bed and envisioned herself and the man next to her rolling around in the sheets. There it was again; that wretched feeling in her stomach, tugging and pulling. It made her wish that whatever happened between them was real, except now it had translated off screen too. Now that they were friends, and they were getting closer - her heart desperately wanted everything between them to be real. It even wanted the way they were holding hands right now to be real, to be something more than just friends. Except Tanya knew that would never happen. She looked up at his next words, wondering how he'd managed to read the fear in her eyes, how he managed to make her so comfortable without even trying and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Thank you," she whispered, hoping that the one phrase of gratitude really would expression just how thankful she was.

Krish had noticed the way Tanya's attention seemed to have completely diverted from him and wasn't going to call attention to it. He understood that this was a rather difficult moment and that she'd need her own time to prepare herself. But it was when he noted the camera getting into a position that he heard her soft whisper and saw the way she squeezed his hand. He only shook his head, drawing her in slightly before sighing. "Don't thank me, I just want you to be comfortable. Meri jagah koi aur bhi hota toh yahi karta." But Krish knew that was entirely true. He'd heard his fair share of horror stories from people he worked with and how they really never accommodated their co-actresses especially when they were shooting difficult scenes such as this. "You ready?" He asked softly, once he spotted Ashwini at the door, ready to give them a final brief before the shooting commenced.

Tanya let her eyes trail from the bed when the door creaked open, gaze falling on the director. "Ready as I'll ever be," Tanya breathed out, keeping her grip in his as the director slowly approached them. Her fingers tightened around his when she started speaking, needing the physical comfort of another person while Ashwini told them what she was envisioning for the scene. She was only to be topless, covered mostly by the sheets anyways. They wouldn't even be shooting anything below their waist and the focus would be on their faces more than anything once they got down to the nitty gritty of the shoot. She knew that Ashwini was trying to comfort Tanya, in the way she told her the lights would be dim anyways and so they would be playing mostly with shadows until she and Krish would kiss and engage in the intimate act. Tanya nodded, biting down on her bottom lip. Her hand finally dropped from Krish's grip when the makeup artist arrived on set to give her a final touch up before they shot the scene. They were trying to do the entire thing in less than five takes, which was good. It meant that Tanya's humiliation would be minimal. It of course didn't matter how many takes they did because the memory would be imprinted into Tanya forever regardless.

Krish only let go of Tanya's hand when she was being pulled away so that they could do her final touch up in the right lighting. He hadn't wanted to, and he supposed that should've been his first warning sign considering that Tanya was a friend, nothing more--right? Krish successfully ignored those thoughts when Ashwini approached him and told him to ensure that his body would wrap around Tanya's in such a way so that she wouldn't be at all exposed and Krish instantly nodded. "Of course, don't worry--I'll take care of her," he murmured before seeing Tanya turn back towards him when the touch up was done. The two were to start from standing with the lights dimming while they neared each other, their hands being the first point of contact. Krish just had to focus and ensure that he thought of anything but what was happening or else Tanya would get a very rude surprise.

Tanya exhaled when the lights started dimming and they were at their marks, preparing herself for the scene. She shut her eyes and all the stage directions floated in front of her, telling her what it was she needed to do. This was just a scene, it wasn't real. None of this would ever be real, not for her - she was never meant to have him. Maybe someday, somewhere far away beyond all these crowds and beyond this city. Maybe she would have him then, but that day was nigh, it would never approach and so Tanya needed to brace herself, needed to move on. She waited for Ashwini to clap the board before taking a step closer to Krish, her arms wrapping around his neck, reaching up on her toes so she could meet his gaze properly. "I love you." There was a sweet torture in her lines, a torture that nobody else would understand. Tanya could be saying all these things she felt about Krish, and nobody, not even he, would ever know that she really did mean them.

Krish felt her arms slip around his neck, loving how they seemed to fit just right, for Rahul, not him of course. But even he knew he was deluding himself right now because yes while they were the perfect pair of Rahul and Jhanvi, there was also a lot that could've been said about how they were off-screen with one another. Krish had a deep rooted relationship with Tanya, and while the right word would be friendship, somewhere he wasn't sure that the line was still there. They both often drifted in and out of it and he knew right now was going to be a huge test in how he reacted to her. Krish's arms slipped around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. "I love you too, Mrs. Jhanvi Mehra," but the words sounded stale on his tongue, a sentiment he was going to ignore to ensure they didn't have too many takes. He let his lips close the gap between them, their hands taking their sweet time roaming her still covered back while they both tried to make the kiss look as passionate as it felt. Because it did. Krish didn't remember the last time he'd kissed someone on-screen and had it feel quite so real as it did in this moment. Maybe Tanya, during that first kiss as well..

Tanya shut her eyes when he kissed her, his hands roaming her back. She shifted in his embrace, trying to ignore the way the edges of her ears were starting to go red as his lips travelled south of hers. Tanya knew what the script called for next and she slowly moved back, eyes still shut and her fingers running through Krish's hair as he lay her down on the bed. And then she was blank; it was as if she'd gone into autopilot. The instructions from the script were now whispered into her ear and she knew this was the best way to complete this scene, to remain emotionally detached from it all. Except the second his hands began unbuttoning the dress that Tanya was wearing, the line between fake and real was blurred again and Tanya found herself arching into his touch. She bit down on her bottom lip, pushing down any moan that could threaten to fall from her lips. Instead she focused on the script, on what was expected from her in this scene as her fingers undid the buttons to the kurta he was wearing. Never had Tanya wanted for the director to call cut more than she did now, it wasn't that she wasn't uncomfortable; she was the most comfortable she'd been since this film had started - in the arms of the man whom Tanya was sure she was in love with - but she was afraid of what she would say, or what she would do. From her periphery she could see the camera attached to the crane, moving in closer to them and she shut her eyes. This was the reminder she needed; a reminder to not get caught up in the scene.

Krish could feel the way she stiffened slightly in his touch making him scan her face quickly to see if she was comfortable or not but her eyes were shut and he could feel her fingers tugging on his hair making him actually bite back the moan threatening to escape his lips at her touch. His lips were softly pressing against her neck, feeling her pulsing veins under his lips as he felt her arch into him. He knew what was to be done but he was taking his time, attempting to keep the moment looking more romantic than not on celluloid. But he found himself wondering how much he'd have to try to elicit a sinful sound from her, what he'd have to do to unravel her entirely. And that's when he slowly began unbuttoning and tugging her nightgown off, feeling her own fingers on his kurta until one of the buttons got stuck and they'd have to normally call cut but instead, he covered her a bit more, his own fingers hastily undoing it, breaking one off in the process which was undoubtedly going to cause problems when they had to reshoot this moment.

Tanya watched the way he pushed her hands away and undid the button himself, letting out a soft, breathless laugh when he ended up breaking it. The director didn't call cut however as Tanya expected her to, but she didn't question it. Maybe the moment made it seem more real, made it seem as if they really were a couple in love, a couple who were dying to be together, and most importantly a couple who knew their days together would be limited. Just how Tanya knew that her days with Krish on this set, under the facade of being in love, were limited. She slid underneath the sheets before he tugged the nightgown away from her body. She would only have to be topless so the scene where they zoomed in made sense, she was still wearing her panties underneath the sheets. Tanya arched her neck up when she felt his lips against the skin there, shifting to accommodate Krish underneath the sheets. It was only when the director called cut, that Tanya relaxed under the covers, waiting for Ashwini to brief them as the hairstylist fixed strands of her hair that had gone awry, Krish still hovering above her.

Krish hadn't realized when but he'd gotten lost in the moment they were sharing together. There was something so incredibly intimate about the two of them being in that room together sans any crew that made him forget that it wasn't real. This was Tanya Sen, his friend he couldn't be having such thoughts about her and yet with the way her hands moved gently down his torso, allowing him to slid underneath the sheets with her, had him relaxing his body against hers--forgetting everything in that moment but her. He heard the call for cut and backed away slightly before noting how Tanya was clutching the sheets up to her chest and remember the robe he'd brought for her. "Here," he murmured wrapping it around her shoulders, while she got primped a bit more. He relaxed on the bed, taking a sip of water before lowering to the ground to get in some last minute crunches while Ashwini told them the next few shots the camera needed.

Tanya took the robe from him gratefully, wrapping it around herself tightly as she finally sat up in the bed, letting the makeup and hair artists fuss over her. The makeup artist was working on smudging her makeup, the hairstylist trying to give her hair some sort of texture so it looked like she'd been engaging in certain activities. Tanya's hands wrapped around her water bottle, a tumbler she'd gotten online as she sipped at the water from the straw. It was the only way to not aggravate her makeup artist, who complained that every time she drank water - she ruined the makeup. She turned to look at Krish with a hesitant smile, unable to get the image of his lips against her neck out of her head. She knew it would haunt her for days, even weeks to come. Tanya also knew she would revisiting that certain image on the nights she couldn't sleep, alone in her bed. At Ashwini's directions, the girls scurried away and Tanya tugged the robe off, handing it to one of the spot boys as she settled back under the covers, waiting for Krish so they could get the scene over with. The director hadn't said anything yet about doing a retake, and she prayed that meant - this would be a one take scene, never to be repeated.

Krish watched from the corner of his eye as Tanya allowed the stylist to tease her hair, something he could easily do once given the chance. But he knew that wasn't allowed and so he tried to keep his mind off of her. Krish knew it was silly, but he wanted the shooting to commence once more, just so he'd be allowed to be close to her once more, be able to feel her close, feel her heavy breathing but those were all thoughts that were crossing into the red zone. But when he watched her tug off her robe and instantly took his position over her so that she was covered by his body for the most part. "Theek ho na?" he murmured quietly, knowing they only had these few moments together before they were to go back to indulging in one another the way the script demanded.

Tanya looked up into Krish's eyes when he asked her how she was. How was she to tell him that she was pining for him, that every second they were shooting this scene was pure torture for her? It was torture because she knew she would never have him in this way, that this was all for the camera and just like he'd said on that day of shooting, it was fake. They were just playing characters and whatever unfolded between them could never be real for their characters. And yet at his softness, at the hesitant way he was asking her if she was alright only pushed Tanya deeper into his love, leaving her to wonder if she would ever feel different around him, normal. "Y-Yeah, I'm good," she murmured, cursing herself for the stutter. She exhaled when the director called scene and slipped back into character, her hand slowly snaking up his neck to fall into his hair as she tugged him closer. Just a scene. Just a scene. Just a scene, Tanya repeated to herself, reminding herself of what was at stake.

Krish had one hand resting against her cheek after he'd asked her, only to be retracted when she answered and allowed herself to fall deeper into the bed. He heard her answer and smiled before feeling the action call and so he went back to what he'd been doing before their mini break. Krish allowed his hands to be on her naked back, feeling the way her body arched closer to her so that she was hidden from the camera's while his lips began kissing her neck, her collarbone, before reclaiming her lips once more. It was the way though, that her hands dug into his hair that had him pressing her deeper into the bed, while he felt himself getting more and more invested in this moment between them. He knew it was just a scene but his bodywas beginning to react in the very wrong way which he could only pray that Tanya didn't notice.

Tanya went through the motions of the scene until the director called CUT once more. This scene in change had been a lot shorter, and she knew that Ashwini didn't want it to be too long, and in fact the score for the scene was only a minute long. They'd shot this scene in twenty minutes but she knew that there would probably be a retake and so she sat up again, wrapping the robe around herself as the director made her way onto the set to talk to her and Krish. Once she started talking to Krish however, Tanya allowed herself to tune out and instead memorize the feel of his lips against his neck, the way his mouth had moved so expertly along her collarbone before kissing her again. It was the way he kissed her that was the purest form of torture. It was when she clung to the fact that it was only a scene as tightly as she could because Krish Malhotra kissed her as if he wanted to get lost in her.

Krish had been half ready to absolutely lose himself in the moment with Tanya, especially when he felt her body arch into his, heard the soft sounds she was emitting to him except before he could--the scene was cut and he backed away once more. The robe was pulled over by Krish to hand to her, while he took a deep breath, grabbing a pillow to cover himself with because for the first time he was having a problem that would take him a bit to sort through if anyone noticed. He just hoped they hadn't. But he listened to Ashwini who told him this time to have Tanya on top of him, his hands showing off her naked back because they'd only give a glimpse of it before the camera panned back to their faces where Tanya would softly and playfully kiss his nose and his closed eyelids until the camera would once again zoom out and show their shadows continuing what they were doing. It seemed easy enough but Krish was finding it more and more difficult to remind himself that this was just for the film, Tanya was enacting a scene, just like he was.

Tanya stood at the balcony that they'd scouted months ago. It apparently had to be perfect with its expensive looking architecture but still have that romantic charm with the flowers and vines along the side of the walls. She waited for Ashwini to call the shot before she pressed the phone to her ear, reciting her lines. In the original play, Juliet would be giving a monologue, but in this day and age - nobody talked to themselves on a balcony, not unless they wanted to be carted off to a loony bin and so she would be talking on the phone. "Oh but Naina, uska naam Mehra hi kyun hona chahiye tha? Aur koi bhi naam acha hota na! Papa toh samjhege nahin, it's just a name... Just because he's a Mehra uska yeh toh matlab nahin ki woh koi snake hai? Mehra sirf ek naam hai, uski pehchan nahin." It was then she was supposed to hear a rustling and so she pressed her hand to the phone before glancing down. "I'll call you back." They would shoot Krish climbing up the pipe later and so now he was given a ladder so he could climb up to her balcony and sit on the railings. She delivered her dialogue anyway, "Oho, aa gaye. I thought ki tum aane hi nahin wale the, ki tum darr jaoge." Ashwini called cut then and Tanya leaned against the wall, waiting for Krish to ascend the ladder and to her 'balcony.'

Krish had been at the bottom of the latter, listening to her words as she recited her lines, pretending to be on the phone. He smiled to himself--surprised at how this girl was the same one who had been so nervous at performing that first day on set, but then she'd absolutely blown him away when they'd run lines together and now look at her? She was outstanding, the best debut award for next year was hers, there were absolutely no two ways about it and he was just so proud to have been able to find her talent and help nurture it. He watched the AD's begin to rustle the leaves to make it seem like Krish was up there already and watched her peer over and see him there while he winked to get her reaction which happened perfectly. He ended up climbing the ladder, now clutching the balcony as he looked at her and sighed, wondering if he should be sitting on the railing or stay clutching it instead.

Tanya raised an eyebrow at Krish, at the way he seemed to be in two minds about the railing. "You know they're going to pull the ladder out from under you right? So you better have some superior arm strength if you want to cling to the railings," Tanya teased, waiting for him to sit on the railing the way that Ashwini was directing him to do. They were getting the shot ready again, wanting to wait for the sunset to fall over them perfectly, which meant she and Krish had a good ten minutes to waste before they got the lighting that they wanted. It was what she hated about outdoor shoots, but at the same time she loved. Sets seemed almost distant, detached even - though those settings made it easier for Tanya to remember that whatever was happening between her and Krish was a film, that they were just friends. Except when they were here, the cool summer breeze washing over their faces, it was easy for the lines to blur once more.

Krish rolled his eyes at her bluntness before shaking his mind. "I do have superior arm strength, thank you very much but you're right," he murmured before ending up on her balcony, his butt propped up on the actual railing. "This is better, yahaan aao," she'd been standing on the balcony until he reached for her and tugged her close. She stumbled against his legs and if they were in a relationship, he'd have locked her in his arms and held her there, but--they couldn't do such things and so he only held onto her hand before grinning at how she looked in the sunlight with the wind blowing through her open hair. "You know, I'm surprised that Rahul doesn't say cheesy pick up lines to Jhanvi. Main hota toh pata hai kya kehta?"

Tanya stumbled towards him, steadying herself at the last moment before she went tumbling head first off the balcony. "You should really be careful about how you treat a lady Mr. Malhotra," Tanya teased, looking down the balcony. "If you'd tugged me any harder, I would have splattered brains first on the sidewalk." She paused at his words, turning to look at him only to sputter when the hair went into her mouth and she let go of his hand so she could push her away from her face. "Oh? But Rahul is macho," Tanya intoned. "He doesn't do cheesy pick up lines, tumhari baat alag hai. You're an actor." And yet she indulged him, moving to the side so she could lean her arms against the railing. "Tell me, kya kehte tum?"

Krish frowned at her words before shaking his head. "Excuse you, I'd have caught you before you even got closer to the ledge. Itna bharosa nahi hai kya?" He felt her snatch her hand away from his and tried not to let his disappointment show as she fixed up her hair once more. "Are you implying that I'm not?" The answer was simple. Rahul was macho, and Krish was pretty much only macho when a scene or a film required it. He jus hoped that it wasn't what she'd say because that would probably wound his ego a little bit. But he watched her lean against the side and shifted so that he was properly facing her before grinning. Krish took her hand once more for good measure, after all--this was a pickup line. "Is there an airport nearby, or was that my heart taking off?" His voice had switched on the classic Krish Malhotra tone, which meant it was lower and just a bit more huskier, enough to drive most girls mad.

Tanya shut her eyes for a split second as she let the warmth of his voice wash all over her, and let it seduce her before she opened them and stared down at their hands which were now in each other's grasp. "Oh you're good," her voice was still a little shaky, something she hoped that he hadn't noticed; just to be sure, she covered it up with a laugh and shook her head. "So you're telling me that girls like that?" Of course they do, you're practically a mess and he said next to nothing, her conscience sneered and she knew that it was right. She could see why girls fell for him, why she had fallen for him - except those faceless, nameless fangirls were in a better situation than she was. At least the fantasies they had with Krish Malhotra wouldn't be disputed; Krish had told her to her face that it wouldn't be with her, that he wouldn't love her - of course not in so many words, and not with that exact phrasing either. The intent however, was still there. Just friends, Tanya reminded herself and yet her cheeks were slightly flushed, dimples peeking out from their hiding place.

Krish hadn't seen the effect of one of those lines in a very long time but seeing Tanya shut her eyes even for a second, made him realize that despite not using it as much--his charm was still very much intact. He nodded at her words, seeing their hands still connected before shrugging. "Most girls do, lekin tumhara pata nahi," he admitted quietly before inching closer. "You hide a lot of your real emotions from everyone, or maybe it's just me?" He tilted his head wondering if she'd dispute that allegation as well because while he found her incredibly easy to read as Jhanvi; Tanya was a whole different story. "But you're right, Rahul doesn't need to use his charm to win Jhanvi over, or these cheesy pickup lines. Their connection was instantaneous.."

Tanya took his increasing proximity as a go-ahead for her to trail her fingers along the back of his hand, tracing the veins she could see bulging against the thin layer of skin. "Well, my dad told me that the industry is a dirty place. The less the people know of you, the better aur vaise bhi I need some way to see if somebody's worth it. If they're willing to find out more, to genuinely know my real emotions, then they're worth it. Don't you think?" She didn't dispute his claim, the way she was sure he was expecting, expecting her to give a diplomatic it's nothing or a you're imaging things Krish! I'm the same with everyone. Well, she wouldn't but she sure as hell hoped he didn't find the invitation in her unspoken words: the invitation to get to know her better - it would end badly for everyone involved. Tanya laughed at that, shaking her head. "I'm as romantic as the next person but don't you think Romeo and Juliet, and then Rahul and Jhanvi were too hasty? That their love was actually just lust?" Tanya raised an eyebrow at him, watching as the sun's light slowly began to dim and the ADs beneath them were rushing around, trying to get everything set up.

Krish had instantly wanted to retort and say that he was quite willing to find out more, but stopped himself. They were still working together and even if she didn't know of his rule, he couldn't bend it, no matter how intriguing he was finding Tanya to be. But the truth was still there, he did want to know more about her, be someone she allowed to see her real emotions rather than the mask she chose to wore every moment she was on set. "That's true," he finally said, agreeing with what her father said, "but as long as you remember that everyone doesn't have the wrong intentions, and keep an open mind--it'll help." Krish ended up looking down at the way her fingers were trailing over his veins, in a gentle manner that was somehow causing a strange sensation to travel down his spine. He did agree with her sentiment of course but not for Jhanvi and Rahul because personally, he'd tried to keep Rahul at a distance, to show that he wasn't just after her body or her and that he'd fallen in love with her--completely and truly. "Romeo and Juliet yes--but not Rahul and Jhanvi, at least meri taraf se toh nahi tha, but to know that you think they were just lusting is interesting. Is that why Jhanvi always has such longing looks for Rahul?" He grinned before tugging her a bit closer, wanting to get her answer before they were forced to shoot their scene.

Tanya gasped when he tugged her closer so that she was now standing between his legs, his arms around her. Her heart thudded in her chest, warning signs flashing too close! too close! and yet she paid heed to neither of them. It was just like he had said, everyone didn't have bad intentions. Besides, friends could stand this closely. Only if neither of them have feelings for one another, her conscience reminded her, the words dripping with sarcasm and Tanya knew it was true. She had feelings for him, painful, unrequited, one-sided feelings but they were feelings nonetheless and if she didn't keep a tight rein on them, they would slip away from her and create a mess. A mess that Tanya could not afford. She rolled her eyes before shrugging. "I think it's equal parts lust and equal parts love. A relationship only thrives if they both exist in equal measures. If Rahul just loved, maybe that's why they died?" Tanya teased, suddenly perceiving this proximity as comfortable. She hoped that Ashwini never called the shot.

Krish didn't know why he was behaving this way, but seeing that faint redness on her cheeks, the way she bit down on her bottom lip--it was all just urging him on. He liked seeing her nervous, liked knowing that it was because of him and their proximity. He let his arms lock around her as he raised an eyebrow waiting for her answer until he heard them and shook his head. "Okay fine," he did agree with her though, the truth was in the character description Ashwini had read to him that first day when she'd done her reading with him. Rahul's character was attracted to Jhanvi from first sight and that was solely because of how she looked. That was why their entire night at the ball had been about close dancing, trying to make each other acquainted with the other's body and how it felt pressed up to their own. These thoughts were not at all good for Krish right now but he also didn't want to let her go and so he sighed before nodding. "Or maybe Jhanvi only lusted after him and that's why they died." But Krish didn't believe a word he'd said because the fact that they'd both tried to run and had ended up dying had been also because they were willing to take any type of risk in order to stay together, which was a type of love Krish could only imagine--never having experienced an emotion that was so pure and all consuming.

Tanya laughed, throwing her head back when he retorted that Jhanvi only lusted after Rahul. She sighed, leaning back slightly and felt Krish's arms lock around her even tighter, knuckles brushing against the small of her back and once again, she wanted so desperately for it to be real, for all of it to real. Except it wasn't; they were just friends, and it would do Tanya a lot of good to remember that. Even if she had to shove the words down her throat like strong medicine, she would - medicine too after all, was for a good cause. "Or maybe," Tanya started, her voice a low whisper before she realized just how close she and Krish were and she blinked, looking into his eyes. It was his stupid, brown eyes; they had the ability to make her forget whatever it had been that she was about to say. "Ah..." Her throat was dry and she continued blinking, trying to remember what it was she was saying. "You're awfully trusting for someone who's perched on the edge of a balcony railing. I would just have to push you slightly for you to fall." She pressed her hands against his chest before frowning. "Okay, maybe I'd need to put a little more effort into it."

Krish didn't know why but feeling her this closely wasn't at all different than he'd have expected it to be. It had felt like she'd belonged there and perhaps that was why he had made no effort to put distance between them. He heard her start to speak and so he'd neared her, only to hear her trail off, which had him realize that they were too close--they were as close as they'd been with the masks on. And there was only one thing they'd done when the masks had been on. But.. Krish couldn't close the gap between them, no, the gap was very important. But when he heard her words, his eyes showed his surprise until he felt her palms flat against his chest only making him smile. "You know--you're making me wonder if you really do want to shoot the entire movie with another costar considering you're about to attempt murder."

Tanya only rolled her eyes at Krish's accusation. "Ab main kya karoon? There's only enough space for one nepotistic superstar in this industry, and I'd much rather it be me than you. So congratulations Krish Malhotra," her voice had lowered to a whisper near the end as if she were revealing some diabolical plan, "you figured it out. I'm going to murder you." Tanya burst into what she thought (or rather hoped) was an evil laugh, before squeaking when it looked Krish was about to fall off the railing and her hands reached out for his shirt, tugging him back. Her lips puckered into a frown when he began laughing though, and her jaw fell slack. "You were faking?" Tanya's voice was pitchy and uneven as she slammed her fists against Krish's chest. "You are evil Krish Malhotra. I hope all those long lines of girls know that, or I'll have to inform them." She wanted this ease forever, this ease that existed between them, in a place where they both existed in a certain kind of limbo, definitely a little more than just friends but a lot less than a couple.

Krish gaped at her after her little revelation and shook his head. "Maine kabhi aisa expect nahi kiya tha. I'm the one who chose you to be my Jhanvi, aur tum mujhe hi khatham karne wali ho?" He sighed when she launched into her evil laugh and leaned back almost as if he were about to fall when he felt her fingers claw around his shirt using it to pull him forward until he laughed while she looked so terrified which had him almost feeling guilty for pulling such a prank. "I'm sorry," he murmured as she started smacking him with her fists. He held onto her hands then, pressing them against his chest as he smiled at her. "No need to inform them, aisa main sabke saath nahi hoon," he murmured before inching closer, his cheek to her cheek. "Only with the ones who bring out my evil side."

Tanya tried not to make any sound when he moved closer to her, when his hands had enclosed around her fists and pressed to his chest. She bit down on the inside of her cheek when his lips neared her ear, his cheek against hers and she felt her legs starting to turn to jelly. If he turned to press his lips to her cheek, Tanya knew that she would be gone. She would confess to being in love with him and then there would be no movie left to do, or there would and promoting it would be awkward to say the least. Tanya did, she desperately wanted to confess how she felt to Krish. If she kept it in any longer, she was sure that she would explode and all her feelings would come spilling out like lava from a volcano. But she knew she couldn't, so when she heard Ashwini's voice, "We're ready for you two" bursting through the megaphone, she pulled away from Krish. A nervous laugh fell from Tanya's lips and her fingers shook as she twirled a strand of hair around them, tucking it behind her ear. "You ready?"

Krish could feel the way she stiffened in his arms making him wonder once more if he was making her uncomfortable at all but before he could even question her, he heard Ashwini's voice and reluctantly pulled away from Tanya as well before looking back down at the woman holding the megaphone, half tempted to lash out because he'd been eager to see how she'd respond to his words but sighed nonetheless. "Yeah of course," he whispered knowing that was yet another one of those scenes that would end with them being significantly closer; almost about to kiss one another until her brother would call for her and he'd be left to scamper down the side of her wall once more. He heard the call for action, and gave her a grin. "Pyaar karne wale darta nahi hai," he smiled before reaching out for her, waiting for her to respond while his thumb brushed casually over her knuckles.

Tanya slipped into character easily, blushing when he took her hand, and chuckling at the cliche line he had used. "Chee, kya filmy line maari hai," she recited, before taking a step closer to him, her fingers pushing back the hair that was falling in his face. "You know na? Kitna dangerous hai tumhara yahan pe hona? Agar mere papa ne, ya bhaiya ne tumhe dekh liya... Jaan se maar dalenge tumhe," she whispered, finally giving into the script's demands and framing his face with her hands as she sighed, thumb grazing against his cheekbone. "Aur agar tumhe kuch ho gaya, toh mera kya hoga?" Her lines had ended then, and she continued holding that position waiting for him to speak. At least there was one upside of her stupid crush on Krish Malhotra, all of the moments where she was supposed to look at him with love, with longing seemed a lot more genuine. In fact, it was something that Ashwini had mentioned too, boiling it down to great acting and Tanya was more than happy to let everyone assume that. Nobody could know how she truly felt about Krish Malhotra, not if she didn't want to ruin her life, and her chance at a career in this industry.

Krish had sighed when he felt her hands brushing away his hair, an action that hadn't been scripted and yet still felt incredibly natural. But it was when he felt her hands warmth brushing against his cheek that he leaned into her touch, one of his own hands, holding hers in place as he nodded. "I know, of course I know. But--tujhse door nahi reh paaya." He leaned his forehead against her then, an action that had been in the script before he turned his head and kissed her palm--an action that wasn't scripted but just felt natural to him. "The odds are all stacked against us, from everywhere--but Jhanvi, we can't let them win. Inn sab ki dushmani be buniyaad hai, there's no reason left for any of it--we can't let it ruin our lives."

Tanya sighed, shutting her eyes when he expressed the desire to be near her, of how he had been unable to stay away from her and the niggling feeling in her chest was back, the needy one - the one that wished all of these words were true, that they weren't just some lines on a script. "Hum kar bhi kya sakte hai Rahul? Shayad dushmani unki hai par beech main phas toh hum gaye hain. They're going to take one look at our love and kill us. They wouldn't hesitate to press the trigger, not even for a second. Kaun samjhayega unko?" She shook her head, feeling a tear slip down her cheek at the emotion she was feeling. She hated the turmoil Jhaniv's character was in; on one hand there was her love for Rahul, and on the other it was the fear for his life - a constant state of limbo that was stretching Tanya's heart to the extent that it was about to burst at the seams the way an old ragdoll would.

Krish shook his head at the way she sounded so incredibly distraught. His arms wrapped around her, as he sighed before holding her head carefully against his own and smiling. "Koi nahi samja sakhte lekin ek baat toh paaki hai--tere liye toh main ek kya hazaaron goli kha loon." And somehow saying those words of Rahul's resonated with Krish. He didn't realize when he'd grow so attached to Tanya, but it was true. He felt a sense of protection over her--one that had grown since the day he'd met her and now it had reached its full capacity. Tanya was truly someone he cared deeply about and he wouldn't want her to every feel hurt. It was when he heard her sniffling that he pulled away from her and wiped at her tears. "Shaadi karle mujhse.." the words were meant to escape Rahul as if he'd just had the thought and so he prayed it came across in that some way.

Tanya was struggling to remember the stage directions in the script but it was only when Krish uttered the whisper that Rahul had been thinking of that the lines all came floating back to her and she let out a soft gasp, reacting exactly the way Jhanvi would. "Shaadi... Rahul hum-- kaise? Kaun madat karega? Sab darr te hai, mere dad se ya phir tumhare." Her hands had fallen from his cheeks and now were resting in his as she was once again standing between his legs, the way she had been earlier when it had been just them on this roof. She could see the moon starting to chase the sun away as it sank closer and closer to the ocean. That was an interesting love story too, how they both loved each other but every time the moon got close enough to touch - the sun would disappear. To Tanya, that was Krish. He was the sun: radiant, and bright and everything good in the world. It is the east and Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Romeo's words echoed in her mind and she let out a soft chuckle before leaning in closer to Krish, her hands wrapping around his neck as he tugged her into his embrace. "Okay, shaadi karlete hain.." She leaned in then, knowing that Krish would too framing the perfect, almost kiss. It was laughable, Tanya's life had become a series of almosts. She almost told him. He almost loved her.

Krish loved how comfortable and familiar now this position was. Her in between his legs, which eliminated majority of the space between them while he held their hands in his own. He noted how Tanya, or Jhanvi rather stared out at the night sky behind him now, while his gaze remained entrapped by her expression. What was she thinking? What was she feeling? This is Jhanvi, you dolt..not Tanya. And that's when he watched the way she leaned closer to him, her arms around his neck as she spoke and nodded at his request. "Sach?" His voice was a whisper, that they'd no doubt have to get dubbed over because of the way the microphones were out of the frame around them. That's when he followed the stage direction and pulled away from her, his hands framing her face, his fingers caressing her skin before he tilted his hand, their lips only a few millimeters apart until he heard the loud call for a CUT!

Tanya pulled away from the very comforting embrace when she heard the resounding CUT!. Her cheeks were flushed again, and the tops of her ears red as she tried to calm her racing heart. No matter how many of these scenes they did together, Tanya's heart would not get used to it. It would always fool itself into believing that this was real and she would spend the rest of the night trying to convince it otherwise. Why did it have to be so hard? All Tanya wanted was to be in his arms, the way she had been moments ago when they were enacting the roles of their film. All she wanted was to see that smile up close, the one that made his eyes scrunch up, the one that had permanently etched the crinkles by the side of his eyes, crinkles she wanted to kiss. Yet all of these things were things that Tanya couldn't do. "That was a good take," she murmured, even though she knew that Ashwini would make them do it again. "It was very raw, very convincing." Damn right it was, Tanya had been fooled for a good minute that he had actually been in love with her.

Krish reluctantly let her go despite the night getting colder and knowing she had to be cold in that sleeveless outfit of hers. He gestured for one of this boys to come over with a sweater and handed it over to her. "Here," he smiled, wrapping it around her so that subtly she was closer to him once more, this time him able to brush her stray hair out of her face as well. "It was," he nodded clearing his throat. "Um, I know I went off script with the kiss to your palm.." he trailed off, suddenly looking down at his feet, wondering how to tell her that he felt like the moment called for it. Rahul and Jhanvi were madly in love with one another and to him that meant the soft kisses and touches would all be evident in their relationship, especially when they were absolutely alone like that.

Tanya sometimes wished that Krish wasn't so considerate, that he wasn't always looking out for her the way he currently was. It sent her so many mixed signals, it confused Tanya to no end and worst of all, it sent her heart into a downwards spiral as her feelings dug a stream all the way to New York so they could flow freely. She tugged the sweater on, allowing herself to remain in his embrace. They were friends, friends stood this close. Right? This had to be acceptable; she was a dog begging for a bone at this point, starved for any kind of love she could receive from Krish. She shut her eyes with a smile when he brushed the hair out of her face and shrugged. "Well, me pushing your hair back wasn't in the script either. The tears weren't in the script either," Tanya returned, wanting him to know that she didn't care what was in the script. All those things she'd done, all that proximity - it had been Tanya, not Jhanvi. But Tanya. Tanya who was hopelessly in love with him.

Krish had to smile at her words and shrugging. "That's true, but both those moments seemed to fit so perfectly real. Plus, I just--I think if they're truly in love, things like this--this closeness is important," he whispered before drawing her around so that now she was facing the interior of the house while his arms wrapped around her waist and tugged her closer which meant her back was pressed against his chest. "Something like this too, because you know how Rahul is, he hates letting go of her in any way." Much like how Krish was finding it for himself as well. It was strange, but he liked holding her close, it reminded him of something familiar--something safe and comforting. A feeling he'd been terrified of losing lately. "You're truly feeling Jhanvi aren't you?" He asked quietly after a few soundless moments. "That's what made you cry..." And this was his subtle way at telling her that he was noticing the little things about her, as much as he could because in so many ways--Tanya was an enigma.

Tanya shrugged at his words, her breath caught in her throat at their proximity and she leaned back, resting her head against his chest before she sighed. "I just-- I understand her, what it feels like to love someone that much, what it feels like to be able to do absolutely nothing about it." If only Krish Malhotra knew that she was talking about him, about how shooting with him every day was torture for her, because every day the same words bubbled on her lips, etched themselves onto her skin and everyday she would shove them back, every day she would hide herself away from him so that he wouldn't be able to see the love she had for him, the love that was threatening to drown her. "It must be nice," Tanya murmured, turning her head slightly so that it was angled towards Krish, "To know love like that."

Krish couldn't help but smile at the relaxed way she let her head fall back against him. It showed him once more how comfortable she was becoming with him, and how he was also becoming someone she trusted in the way he wanted her to. That closeness that they'd built on these sets would hopefully continue because he knew one thing, and that was that he wanted to keep her in his life. When she spoke about understanding Jhanvi though, that feeling of loving someone unconditionally that way--it made him wonder. Maybe she had someone in her life who she felt this way towards and so when he saw her angle her head to face him he smiled. "I--I don't think I've ever been in love like that before--but jaise tum keh rahi thi, tumne kiya hai--waise pyaar?"

Tanya looked away from him at his question, unsure of how to answer his question without letting him see the love she had for him in her eyes. She couldn't, she knew that and yet Tanya couldn't lie to Krish. This was her only chance, her only chance for some sort of admittance of her feelings for this man holding her right now. Perhaps it would lift some of the weight off her chest; her best friend of course thought it was a terrible idea to even fall for Krish Malhotra in the first place. She thought he was no good for her; she thought that even if he reciprocated her feelings, their love would get lost. It would disintegrate and disappear underneath the weight of the flashing lights, and the headlines splashed across the tabloids. "Haan," she murmured, staring down at her hands, unsure why the atmosphere between them had suddenly gotten heavier.

Krish didn't know what it was but the moment he heard her quiet admittance--he felt like he should let go of her. He couldn't be this close to her when she was in love with someone else. Because he knew that type of love, and it never died. It would simmer and hold onto you, clutching you with the tightest grip until it consumed you. He didn't want her to go through what he'd seen others go through before her and it terrified him. But at the same time, it made him realize that this proximity between them could never be crossed. It was a friendship and even if they met after the film and its promotions--nothing could ever happen between them. He would never be the one to take her away from a love she held so strongly in her heart. "Bahot dard hota hoga na.." he whispered, his grip loosening considerably before he sighed and waved away the man who'd brought him a bottle of water.

Tanya nearly protested at how his grip had loosened around her, and she wanted to scream: to tell him to wrap his arms around her even tighter than he had before and never let her go. It was him; she was in love with him. And yet, just like she'd told Krish - she said nothing. She could do nothing about her love for him except to let it fester like some rotting wound until it gave her an infection that would eventually kill her. "Bahut" she murmured in response, looking away from him. He didn't know how much it hurt, how she lived vicariously through their characters because at least then even if he was playing a character, at least it was his lips that were mouthing words of love to her, words she knew he would never say otherwise. She cleared her throat then, swiping underneath her eyes for any rogue tears that escaped. Her phone buzzed and the spot boy ran up the stairs, handing it to her. "It's Abhi," she explained, staring down at the phone. "I should take this."

Krish saw the spot holding Tanya's ringing phone, knowing that she was still so new that she'd refuse to take the call during their scenes but instead--she'd said his friend's name and had taken it, moving to the inside of the house leaving him in the balcony alone. It was probably him, maybe meeting while shooting a movie like that had caused her to direct her attention to the next available man who for his part was giving her all the right signs considering how Abhi had confessed to Krish during one boys' night how badly he wanted to take Tanya out on a date. Or maybe he already has considering she took his call like that. And Krish cursed himself for getting into that horrific accident--tragic events like that could bring any strangers together--it was no doubt the same thing had happened with Abhi and Tanya too.

Tanya smoothed down the dress she'd been made to wear, twirling it in a little and giggling as her stylist pulled out her phone, probably to snapchat how giddy Tanya was feeling. It was a gorgeous dress, one that Tanya wished she would be able to steal after the shoot but she knew she wouldn't. A shoot that would be memorable regardless. She'd heard the pitch from the marketing team, and how they were to sell the young love vibe or whatever. How the team had managed to convince Filmfare's creative heads to base the theme around the film was beyond Tanya and it was something she wouldn't ask. She just knew that it was the reason she was currently in a ballgown, but her hair had been pulled into a side braid, a small tiara resting atop her head. Krish, her heart thumped at the thought of him, a thought she pushed away. Instead, she focused her attention on the dinner she was supposed to be having with Abhimanyu instead. She'd told him it was strictly as friends, but judging by the fact that Tanya could hear him grinning through the phone she didn't think the message had been clear enough. Stepping out of the dressing room, Tanya made her way to the elevator. The first round of pictures was going to be on the grand staircase of some fancy hotel, one that was reminiscent of certain scenes in Titanic - one of Tanya's favorite movies. She held onto the bannister as she slowly walked down the steps, hoping she didn't trip on her heels or her dress and break her face.

Krish hadn't seen or heard from Tanya in a few months. After they'd danced together and posed for pictures at the wrap party, she'd said bye to him in a way that had left him curious. He hadn't been able to make out whether or not she'd wanted him to approach her. But given the marking team's strict instructions that he and she not be spotted together because it would give her away too easily--he'd been forced to stay away. But now he was going to see her again, for a promotional event which made it alright. He was dressed in a tux, the bowtie undone and resting at his neck while his hair was gelled up as usual. He'd been told to stand at the bottom of the staircase before he'd hear her heels and would look up. This portion would be for the BTS video that fans would no doubt fawn all over. But truly when he did see her descending the stairs, looking every bit the princess they were making her out to be--he was stunned. But Tanya refused to look up, maybe it was due to concentration, he mused considering the way she was nibbling on her bottom lip. But it was when she made it to where he stood that he finally cleared his throat, watching in amusement at how she looked up and met his gaze.

Tanya looked up at him when she heard him clear his throat. She knew that even here they were supposed to be putting on an act, but she stuck her tongue out at him, realizing that despite the months they'd been apart, it had taken her a split second to fall back into that ease of theirs. The same ease that caused her heart to race, the same ease that she could no longer associate with romance - not when nothing would happen between them. She was just glad to be out of the house; the team had given her strict instructions with definite repercussions that she was not to step out of her house and be spotted. Apparently a lot was banking on Kishore Sen's daughter debuting into the industry. Still, she stepped down the last step and put her hand in Krish's. Tanya had so many things she wanted to say, wanted to ask - all the questions from the past few months bubbling to the surface but she couldn't. This was work. So instead, she placed her hand in his, smiling when his automatically went to her waist. "I quite like these heels," she murmured, knowing her statement would make him laugh, "It's multipurpose. It makes me taller, and plus I can always stab you with it, finally complete my genius plan."

Krish couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him when he watched her stick out her tongue. "Careful Tanya, that's not how the actresses around here behave." He knew the statement would irk her because like she'd told him countless times on set, she wanted to be different and honestly, she was--so different than any of the others he'd worked with. He took her hand in his, fingers tightening around her own so that she was secure while his other hand was on her waist, no hesitation this time. Her statement about her heels had him laughing considering she didn't know it but because of her height being slightly on the shorter side--he'd put her name in his phone with a heel emoji. "Of course, now that film is complete--you don't need me. Waise bhi hero ki maut agar hoti hai--toh film is guaranteed 100 crores. Not to mention how it'll turn you into an even bigger overnight star."

Tanya only laughed harder at how he was egging on her fake murder plan. They moved with ease around the set, waltzing even though the only time she was sure either of them had learned how to was the twelve hour masterclass before the ballroom scene for their film. She leaned in then to whisper in his ear, "Do you think I'd be able to milk the grieving costar angle? Add some fuel to the fire about our relationship?" Tanya knew exactly what the magazine was trying to sell, her father had warned her about it. He had warned her to not get caught up in its glitz and glamour, because despite what they were portraying in this shoot, during promotions - it was still fake. Even her father knew the exact words to say that would crush her heart, reminding her that her schoolgirl crush on Krish would bear no fruit.

Krish had to will himself to keep dancing when he felt her breath against his ear. She may be the same Tanya but this one was so much more bolder than he'd imagined and it made him wonder--No..stop doing that. And he forced himself to get rid of the thoughts he'd been having choosing instead to pull back and narrow his eyes at her. "I think you'd be able to put on the best act of your life 'jaan'," he used the rather unoriginal nickname Rahul had given Jhanvi but given their topic of conversation it worked. "But then you'd move on to taller more handsome men, and the world would forget about me." He gave her a tiny pout before dipping her down, his nose touching her collarbone as he gently lifted her up, their faces a bit too close for comfort.

Tanya rolled her eyes at his pity party and had been about to retort when he dipped her. To Tanya, that was one of the most vulnerable positions you could be in: you trusted this person holding you to hold on, to not drop you, and it was their hand on your back keeping you tethered to the spot. She shut her eyes when she felt his nose along her collarbone and cursed out her stylist for giving her such a low cut gown. It was only when she was tugged back up that Tanya realized their faces were practically against each other and her arms moved to wrap around his neck, to further eradicated whatever distance existed between them. She was so lost in Krish's eyes, in his presence that she hadn't realized the camera had been flashing the entire time. "Is that a wrinkle I see Malhotra?" Tanya asked, using the fact that he was distracted to brush her nose against it. Her reasoning? The fans would go wild. The real reason? She didn't know when she would be in such close proximity to him again and be able to use their film as an excuse.

Krish had been just staring at her, not at all surprised by how beautiful she looked but more so by the air of belonging she had around her now. Despite being virtually locked up, she now held the attitude of a star, the way she'd be once the film would release. He allowed her to hold him closer, all under the ruse of the photoshoot of course. But that's when he heard her words and was about to gape when he felt her nose against his skin, just by his eyes where his infamous eye crinkles were. "Aaj tum badi touchy ho rahi ho," he commented before shaking his head and twirling her around. "But no, that's part of my charm, the one you seem to be immune too." This was borderline flirting now, something he'd never consciously done with Tanya before but she was matching him beat for beat which had him wondering if this was the new dynamic they'd stepped into.

Tanya had been about to answer when he'd twirled her away from him; it was only when she slammed into his chest, back pressed against it that Tanya let out a soft shudder. She was well aware of the camera on them as his hand moved along her waist, pausing at her stomach and her own hands came to hold his there. "Well this is for the shoot. We are supposed to be in love," she reminded, turning in his embrace as her hand came down on his shoulder and she raised an eyebrow at his words before she shrugged, hands moving to fiddle with the already undone bowtie. "Well somebody has to be, or else your ego would be out of this world."

Krish let his hands snake around her waist, feeling the way she clutched it as if she wanted it there. Except it was when he'd heard her words that he was brought back down to reality. This was for their shoot. Everything, the smiles, the laughs, the light touches--it was all for the Filmfare shoot. He chuckled quietly before feeling her turn around in his embrace. Her arms were wrapped comfortably around his neck, while his own stayed firmly against her waist. "Oh? And have I really flaunted this so called ego of mine around you?"

Tanya let out another laugh at the way he seemed to be offended at her calling him out on his ego; she was doing a lot more around Krish. She was always laughing, there was always something to be smiling about when she was around Krish even if it was just that he had cracked a dumb joke. "You don't have to," she murmured, her fingers trailing along his cheek. "Your smile seems to do it for you. You know, it's very distinct." She heard the cameraman call the shot and relaxed in his arms, not moving away. The artists rushed onto the set to touch up her hair before the director changed his mind entirely and asked for a costume change, wanting to change locations to the pool at this hotel. "Walk me to my room?" Tanya looked at Krish, an eyebrow raised expectantly. He didn't have an excuse; she knew his room that served as a dressing room was on the same floor. She just wanted to see if he would agree, if they really were friends or if that was just something he'd done to create ease on set, and milk promotions.

Krish couldn't help but smile at the way she laughed. There was something so wonderful about her laugh, the sound just--lit something up in his chest. And really he knew, it was the way she laughed--that he wanted it to be there in his life forever. Krish found himself leaning into her touch when he felt her fingers grazing against his cheek, the softest touch and yet he found himself wondering what this would feel like if it was for real? He shook his head though at her words when she said his smile enforced his ego. "That's unfair--" but it was right when he was about to continue that he heard the cameraman call for a costume change that had him looking at Tanya in surprise at her words. "It would be my pleasure." He whispered before, wrapping her hand around his bicep as they walked back up the grand staircase before heading into the elevator. Krish looked back at her, loving the grin he could see on her face that made him wonder once more, if this could be a possibility--but he knew it couldn't. She had experienced love of the highest kind--and Krish knew that type of love could never die.

Tanya paused when she'd reached her door, her fingers furling around the door knob as she turned to give Krish another wink. "Well this is my stop. I'll see you down there?" It was only once she'd shut the door behind her and the assistants had all buzzed around her like some working bees did Tanya let out the breath she'd been holding this entire time, allowing her heart to finally thud the way she knew it wanted to, the way she hadn't allowed it to around Krish. She had to keep reminding herself that he wasn't hers, that he would never be hers. And whatever she was feeling for him was probably an infatuation, a stupid schoolgirl crush because he'd been there when she had been vulnerable. It was just misplaced feelings, that's all it was. Yet when she looked into the mirror as the makeup artist redid her face to suit the vibe of the pool and the sundress she was wearing, all Tanya's eyes asked her was why she was lying to herself.

Krish had to grin when he watched the little wink aimed at him. It was strange but since they finished shooting for the film, it was crazy but she seemed so different and so much more aware of who she was and how she affected others. It was when she closed the door on him, that he stared at the wooden door and wondered what it would be like to knock on it--wanting to pick her up for a much-awaited date. No, he couldn't think that way. Tanya was happy and he didn't want to ruin the ease in their relationship especially considering that it had taken them quite some time to get to this level of comfort. He made his way to his own dressing room, raising an eyebrow at the royal blue boxers his stylist was holding up for him to wear. "That--that's it? Hum Vogue ka shoot kar rahe hai ya Filmfare?" He still obliged though and changed into them, a bathrobe from the hotel wrapped around him as he padded down to the pool where the setup was still happening.

Tanya had arrived earlier than Krish this time, and she'd heard some of her assistants giggling about the outfit he'd been given for this portion of the shoot so she was quite intrigued. Tanya sat on the pool chair where they were supposed to shoot, wanting this section be more-- what was the word the creative director had used? Scintillating. She'd be able to make good on the promise but not without its own consequences. Not without feeling everything that she'd pushed down the night they'd shot their intimate scene. Still, Tanya lounged in the chair, one hand against her dress to stop it from flying up thanks to the fan they'd placed right out of camera's sight when she saw Krish walk in, wearing a bathrobe. "Is that the look they're going for?" She taunted, in reference to the fluffy white fabric that belonged to the hotel. "Some subtle product placement?" Tanya snickered then; this was good, jokes reminded her that they were just friends - or at the very least, their equation with each other was friendly, nothing more.

Krish scoffed when he heard Tanya's words before shaking his head. "Don't even. Film mein tujhe expose karna para--aur ab meri baari hai." He murmured as he stripped off his fluffy robe and handed it to his stylist. He'd been turned away from Tanya as he listened to the director explain how he wanted this entire segment to be shot. It was meant to be much more intimate than the scene they'd shot for by the grand staircase. That's when he turned back to Tanya and noted the way she was staring at him and couldn't help but give her that ego smile she'd been talking about. "Like what you see?" He pretended to flex before bursting into laughter as he took her hand and twirled her once more. "Waise--aap bhi bahot acchi lag rahi ho inn kapron mein," he murmured before watching the cameramen and lighting boys adjust everything to prepare them for the shot.

Tanya snorted when he flexed, easily covering up the dazed look in her eyes. She had been watching him intently, teething at the handle of the sunglasses she was holding in her hand as the muscles in his back rippled, or even how he was so sculpted everywhere. Was it even possible for anyone to be this ripped? Yeah, actors, her conscience remarked snidely and never had she been more grateful for the interruption. Tanya stood up when he took her hand, and allowed him to twirl her, laughing again when she'd twirled too much and ended having to rest her hands on his chest so she didn't spin into the pool. She could feel his heartbeat underneath her palm and Tanya wanted to capture that feeling, but she wouldn't be able to - she could never tame him, nor his heartbeat. "Main toh hamesha hi achi lagti hoon, tumne hi pehli baar notice kiya."

Krish still had the faint smile on his face when he felt her hands pressed up against his bare chest. Her hands were warm but they were doing nothing to soothe the burning sensation in his chest until he heard her words and smiled. "Notice kiya tha, lekin kabhi kaha nahi." And that was the truth. He'd always been worried to know how she'd react, and how she'd feel if he constantly complimented her. Not only that, but he really did not want her to think that he was always flirting with her or even flattering her to get something out of it. He did want Tanya to stay a part of his life but it wasn't the type of bond where he'd forcefully make her stay. This photoshoot and the upcoming promotions were to be a test if they still continued this ease in their relationship--he'd know that even she wanted him to stay a part of her life.

Tanya raised an eyebrow at his words, before taking his hand and leading him to the pool chair and sat down in his lap. "Oh?" Her voice was soft as she rested her elbow on his shoulder, making sure to keep her gaze on his, smiling as she did so while the photographer flashed his camera in their direction. "You should put your hand on my thigh, it'll look good in the shot," she murmured, but rather she'd asked so she could imprint the feeling of the action deep into her memory, to help craft her childish fantasies of being in love with him. This shoot was pure torture, considering they were supposed to be in love and Tanya really was in love with Krish. Of course, if anyone asked the way their director had, where she got so much of this pure emotion - she'd chalk it up to good acting. The truth could never come out; it had the potential to destroy this ease, this friendship they'd finally settled into.

Krish allowed her to lead him to the chair, thankful for the way the umbrella was over them shielding them from the harsh afternoon sun. He was looking back at her, a wide grin on his face until he heard her quiet instruction. He scanned over her face to see if she was just pulling his leg but when he caught her serious expression staring back at him, he did as asked. The problem was, when she sat down, the hem of her dress had raised up considerably, and Krish hadn't looked down before he placed his hand on her thigh. His fingertips were on her dress but the rest of his hand had rested on her warm skin, the skin to skin contact once more reminding him of that intimate scene they'd shot and how after seeing a few rough takes for editing--he'd had a hard time getting the image of her out of his mind. He ducked in closer to her, trying to make it seem as if he was whispering something to her but instead, just blew against her ear softly, loving how she only squirmed and came closer to him.

Tanya shivered when she felt his breath against her ear and her back stiffened slightly as her heart began to race once more. Sometimes she wondered if Krish knew about her feelings for him, that was why he was playing with her heart and emotions this way. As if it were all just a big game to him, but her manager had told her Krish Malhotra was just this friendly with all of his costars, that she shouldn't take it to heart. Her manager of course (bless her soul) had thought that Tanya was worried that Krish was exploiting her; she didn't know how badly Tanya wanted for him to exploit her. Instead of giving Krish the reaction that she knew he wanted, Tanya let the hand resting in his hair trail down before pulling at his ear, giggling at his scandalized expression. Her dimples were poking out again, and Tanya felt the strange airiness in her chest once more. A feeling she only ever got around Krish.

Krish couldn't help the grin that was on his face when he felt her shiver. The way she arched into him ever so slightly was just what he wanted to see how easily they could sell their chemistry. He'd felt it often even if he wouldn't say so. There was something about the way they'd both look at each other as if they were sharing something only they were privy too. The few test photo shoots and the rough cuts had told him that. But a small yelp escaped Krish when he felt her tugging at his ear, making him pout before he, in turn, poked her dimple softly before leaning in and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Hold that pose!" Came the instruction from the photographer and Krish did until he was told to pull away.

Tanya had shut her eyes at the feel of his lips against her cheek. She stayed in that position until the photographer told Krish he could pull away. Every inch of her was crawling with want, with need, with love. It threatened Tanya at every waking moment, it threatened to burst at the seams and spill all of her secrets. She'd seen the strategies that the marketing had come up with, handling their working relationship with such ambiguity it would make anyone wonder what the hell was going on between her and Krish. She wanted to scream that they were just friends because she knew her weak heart, her fragile heart that was so easily swayed, so easily swept into what others told it, what Krish's smile made it feel. She needed to remind herself that they were just friends, just costars if she wanted to keep a check on her sanity. She shifted then so that she was sitting on the pool chair as well, but her legs were thrown across Krish's lap as she held his hands in hers. "How've you been?" Tanya murmured, keeping her gaze on him, knowing that they wouldn't see each other until the next promotional event after this, and this was the only way they could have a conversation while the camera kept clicking away. Her face was closer to his, their foreheads almost touching as she stared down at their hands.

Krish could feel Tanya's body temperature rising and wondered if she was coming down with something. Promotions hadn't begun yet and he knew those were going to be extremely taxing on them both, but more so on her seeing, as this would be her first time ever. He took a deep breath and shifted in a way so that she had more space even though the two of them were still on the same pool chair as they remained closer together. He'd tried to tell the PR team not to sell their film on the bogus rumors of an affair between Krish and Tanya for the sole reason that her debut film didn't need to be overshadowed by the inquisitive questions about her personal life. She was just starting her foray into films and deserved her acting to be in the limelight rather than what relationship the two shared off screen. He looked up from their hands when she spoke and gave her a quick shrug before jutting out his bottom lip. "The usual, doing some prep work for Shoojit's next. And what about you? How's it been being locked up?" He winced before giving her a smile. "At least this means you'll have more time to read all the scripts I've heard that have been coming your way. And--your first film isn't even out yet!"

Tanya chuckled at his blunt statement before shrugging. "At least the food in my personal prison is good, and I get a bathroom to myself so it's not all bad," she tossed back quickly, nodding at his words. There had been many scripts that had come her way in the past few weeks, rumors of her talent had started to circulate the industry (she was sure her father had something to do with it), or even just the fact that Kishore Sen's daughter's first film was releasing soon. She traced the veins on the back of his hand, still staring down at his hands, a small smile on her face as just a hint of her dimple pierced through her cheek. "I haven't told anyone but I think I might sign two films." The first one she'd really liked had been a romantic comedy, one opposite Abhimanyu Singh - Krish's best friend - and the other one a slightly grittier film where she played the wife of a dirty politician. "I'm still-- reading through the scripts again, making sure that they are the ones I want to do."

Krish only smiled at the way she was also making light of her situation. "That's pretty impressive--your own bathroom." He grinned before knocking his head gently against hers, knowing it would make for a perfect playful shot that would help sell whatever image they were attempting to go for here. When she spoke about her being ready to sign some scripts, he grinned a bit wider. "That's pretty great Tanya," he murmured before sighing. "A piece of advice--agar tumhe aitraaz na ho toh?" He waited for her to nod letting him know that he could freely speak his mind and continued. "Don't sign too much too fast, you don't want that spark, and the raw actor in you to burn out too quickly," he smiled before sighing. "And whatever script pulls you, the one you're unable to put down--those are the ones you need to do."

Tanya furrowed her eyebrows at the advice he was giving, not because it was unwarranted but rather because it felt as if he were speaking from some sort of experience. She wished they were closer as friends so she could ask; she knew if she'd grown up with her father, she would already know. Except her mother hadn't agreed with the glamorous lifestyle and constant scrutiny Tanya would be under and it was why she'd moved with Tanya to Delhi when she was only a young girl. Not that she still wasn't young. She nodded at his words before looking up to give him a smile, except his head got in the way and banged against hers, causing her to let out a soft yelp as she rubbed at her forehead. "Are you sure that you aren't the one trying to kill me now?" She pouted at Krish, still rubbing the area where she could feel a bump starting to rise. "And thanks," she murmured, "for the advice."

Krish shook his head at her allegation before raising one hand and brushing it against her cheekbone. "I could never do that to my Jhanvi," he whispered before sighing and shrugging. "I was trying to get some cute moments for the BTS video," he nodded over to where the man had the video camera in his hand. But that's when he noticed the slight redness and winced. "Crap, did I hit too hard?" Krish instantly cut the shot before calling for the hotel medic to come over and check her out. He grabbed his robe, but instead of wrapping it up around him, he just let it hang open from his shoulders, leaning over her, to examine the growing bump. "I'm so sorry Tanya," he murmured as the doctor came over to check her over and ensure that she'd be okay. Krish had taken it a bit too far by calling a doctor, especially when it was just a small bump, the size of a blueberry--but you could never be too careful.

Tanya kept trying to reassure Krish that she was fine, that it was just a little bump but he hadn't listened to her and now the hotel medic was examining her forehead for an injury that barely qualified as one. He ended up handing her packet of ice that she pressed to her forehead, and frowned at Krish. "It's fine. If you say sorry one more time, I will kill you. Right before our film's release too." She sighed at his expression before setting down the ice pack and shaking her head. "Seriously Krish, main theek hoon. Ab toh doctor ne bhi bol diya. It's just a bump, you don't have to worry. My father won't come after your blood." Maybe that was why he had been so worried, afraid that Kishore Sen would end his career because he'd hurt his daughter. That was the reason most people were afraid of her, she realized - what would make Krish any different? Because you're friends. He genuinely cares about you, her heart tried to soothe but she didn't want that. She didn't want to remind herself that Krish was only concerned as a friend, not because he was harboring feelings for her the way she was.

Krish had overreacted a bit..just a little bit though. But he couldn't help but let out a small breath of relief when she made her normal threat. It's when he knew that she really was okay. He sat down on the edge of her chair, watching as the rest of the crew decided to continue this same costume but in the garden of the hotel's backyard and had all scurried back there to ensure lighting was set up by the time Tanya felt okay again. "I know it's just a bump but--hey wait, you think I'm scared that your father's going to come after me?" He shook his head. It was true initially he had been, but that had died quickly once he realized how Tanya was as a person. She was nothing like the other star children he'd been forced to interact with. Tanya learned quickly and if she didn't--then she'd ask. But she was always looking for a way to improve herself, not at all like the others who'd go running to their father or mother if something was wrong. "I'm worried about you pagal. What if because of this little incident, you decide to go to the press and say I'm dangerous?" He was teasing of course, but it was best to tease--to hide the fact that he'd cared about her--a lot.

Tanya rolled her eyes at his explanation as to why he was worried. She knew he was trying to hide behind a joke, behind a witty comment - the same way she did around him. This was what she hated, these mixed signals she always got from him. It made her question why she loved him, why she couldn't have fallen for someone who would give her a straight answer. There's Abhimanyu... Her conscience prodded, and Tanya knew it was right. She knew that he liked her, and she liked his company. That was a good start right? If she spent enough time with him then maybe, she could fall in love with him and her feelings for Krish would be a distant memory. "That would be very good for PR, because how do I know you're dangerous? Why is there a bruise on my head? Is Krish Malhotra an abusive boyfriend? Blah blah blah, good for me. Terrible for your image. I should have known you were selfish from the moment I lay eyes on you Malhotra," Tanya retorted, her eyes twinkling as she pressed the ice pack to her forehead again. It wasn't that the bump was hurting but the cold against her skin provided relief against the scorching Mumbai sun.

Krish smiled at her words, but it was a half smile. His entire face didn't reflect the curled up lips he was sporting. The fact was--during the shooting of the film, he hadn't realized how close he'd gotten to Tanya and how much he enjoyed her being around. But these last couple of months apart, and seeing her once more today, explained all of that. He enjoyed spending time with her, but for all he knew, she thought of him as just her co-star. The man she'd made her debut with and that was it. Perhaps that was another reason he just didn't know if he could push it or not. But he heard her words and shook his head. "That's me, the most selfish of them all," he retorted before he heard their names being called. "You up for one more segment? It's by the gazebo." He stood up and extended his hand to her, his concern once again shining through his actions because he knew with a head injury, no matter how small--it could still make a person feel dizzy.

Tanya made a face at Krish when he told her that they still had another segment to shoot for; it exhausted Tanya because she knew how little shots actually made the cut and so the amount of pictures they took were a little too much. "Fine," she huffed, standing up and placing her hand in his, ignoring the way her heart raced, or the sparks that flew through her skin reminding her of that first day when they had recited those lines in her dressing room, the magnetic pull that had dragged her even closer to Krish, wanting to stay in a state of permanence with him. It was nearly three months later now, and that feeling still hadn't dissipated despite Tanya knowing that it would never be a reality between the two of them.

Krish hadn't actually realized how quickly their promotions had come up. Now they were both in Jaipur at the Rambagh Palace, after already having been to Delhi for some city promotions. They would still have the majority of the reality television shows to shoot for when they returned back to Mumbai after another stopover in Kolkata. Krish had just finished his briefing with the marketing team, needing a schedule for his team when he'd been walking back to his own room and that's when he'd spotted her. The hallway he was in looked over the large outdoor pool and given the time of night and the season, most guests preferred to be using the indoor facilities but Tanya was sitting there on the ledge of the pool, her feet dipped in. Krish contemplated going back to his own room but quickly decided against it as he made his way outside. He didn't say a word but knew she'd seen him coming considering he had approached her from the front. He took a seat next to her, his own bare feet now dipped into the pool, when he noticed their hands on the swimming pool edge touching. He should've moved his own away, but didn't, choosing to keep it there as if he was under some compulsion he didn't understand.

Tanya could feel the exhaustion from their hectic promoting schedule starting to affect her. She had been tossing and turning for hours in the admittedly comfortable bed of her hotel room, until realizing that she wouldn't be able to sleep. It was why she was now at the hotel pool, having dipped her legs in, sitting at the edge of it. She was dressed in the gym shorts from her high school, still a loose fit - the way they had most definitely not been when she had been in high school. It was a size L, of course it was loose on Tanya now. If not for the stretching elastic material around the waistband, she was sure the shorts would have slipped right off her frame. She gave Krish a small smile when he sat down next to her, a spark running through her when she felt the edge of his hand touching hers. Out of instinct, and maybe the sheer sleep deprivation, Tanya allowed her own pinky finger to move closer, resting against his pinky finger and she turned to look at him with another smile, this one a little more tired, a little more genuine. "Couldn't sleep?" Her phone sat next to her, away from the pool to avoid getting wet, but even it was surprisingly silent. Except was it really surprising considering that it was past midnight?

Krish hadn't changed out of his clothes from earlier in the day which was why he was still in a button down shirt paired with khaki pants that she'd hated the moment she'd seen him get into the car on the way to the promotional event. He'd noticed though how she'd allowed her own pinky to connect with his own, something that had him wondering just how she was feeling. It was silly though, they were colleagues--and they were friends. They were allowed to behave like this. But it was when he'd seen that tired smile on her face that he sighed, gesturing for her to lean her head against his shoulder if she'd wanted to. "Nah, I just saw you here, and well--wanted to make sure you were okay," he whispered quietly, not wanting to break the softness that existed between them right now.

Tanya accepted his offer to rest her head against his shoulder and ended up shuffling closer to him so she could rest her head comfortably against him and sighed, shutting her eyes. She let the familiar scent of his cologne engulf her and for a moment, this was normal for them. This was how they were and he would angle his head slightly, crane his neck down to press a kiss to her lips. Except when she opened her eyes, when she heard Krish's words she knew it wasn't their reality, this was and it would do her good to remember that. "I couldn't sleep," she admitted, wading her feet in the water, loving the way a simple action like that could cause the entire pool to go into a frenzy, ripple after ripple appearing further along the water.

Krish smiled when she came closer to him, loving the feeling of her using him as a resting place. He wondered if she was feeling the same strange flutters because right now--they were close and there was no camera's around them which meant it wasn't for any purpose--except for themselves. He liked the feeling of her being that close and obviously being that comfortable with her. But it was when she spoke that he ended up shifting so that he could look down at her even though she was leaning against him. "Nervous ho? Ya just stressed? Sometimes being overtired does that too." Krish murmured before he heard Tanya's phone on her other side ringing. He reached over her and noted Abhi's name flashing on the phone which had him reach for it before she had, loving her quiet whining sounds while he backed away from her so that she couldn't get it.

Tanya had been about to launch into a tirade about how exhausting promotions were and how she was craving a chicken burger so badly when her phone began ringing. Of course before she even had a chance to glance at it, Krish had leaned over her forcing Tanya to hold her breath, hypersensitive to his every move, well aware of the anxious thudding in her chest at their proximity. Her neck turned slightly and from her periphery she noticed Abhi's name flashing across the screen. She'd been waiting for him to call her; she'd gone for a dinner with him the day before they left for Delhi and he hadn't called her since. It had been part of the reason of her stress, because what if she'd completely misread how he felt about her, and made an ass of herself. Except when she went to reach for the phone, Krish had already snatched it up and now was holding it away from her, using her short height to his own advantage. "Krish come on," she whined, "Don't be so mean!"

Krish reluctantly handed her the phone, only because he'd heard the way she was actually sounding upset about it. In all the time he'd known her, he'd never heard that type of sound come out of her which had him a bit worried. Krish took a deep breath before he held the phone back out towards her, he didn't realize how serious things between her and Abhi had gotten and so he ended up handing her the phone, taking a deep breath before he attempted to move back so that he could give her the chance to talk in private, the way he assumed she'd need it. Perhaps that's why she had been sitting here alone, waiting for Abhi's call so they could talk sweetly and all that. Maybe Krish had overstepped.

Tanya received her phone too late, the call now flashed across her screen as missed call and Tanya knew she would not be able to pluck up the courage to call him. She would wait for him to call her. Before she could dwell on it any further, she received a text, her phone buzzing in her hand. i guess you're asleep. so i'll call tomorrow - abhi. Tanya set her phone aside again before turning to look at Krish with a mock glare. She didn't say anything but shifted closer again, her head against his shoulder once more, this time her hand curled around his bicep as she watched the moonlight glint against the water in the pool. She wanted to freeze this moment in time, the purity, the simplicity of this moment - that was what Tanya wanted to remember. There were no cameras, no watching paparazzi, no marketing teams, no interviews. It was just them. That was what she had wanted all along. So when she turned to look at Krish, at his shut eyes while he seemed deep in thought, Tanya had a wicked idea. She moved away slightly before pushing him into the water, stepping back and standing up as she clapped her hands in glee.

Krish could see the faint smile on her face when she got the buzzing text message. Also probably from Abhimanyu. But of course, it was when she neared him once more, that he watched her more curiously. But the glare fell from her face easily enough as she shifted herself closer to him. Her head one again against his shoulder while her arm curled around his bicep which had him feeling slightly warmer than he had been before. There was something about the way she was so comfortable with him that left him wondering why he couldn't find the courage to say something to her--about how he wanted to be with her properly..but it wasn't possible. Especially when he knew she was gravitating towards Abhi and he couldn't ruin that for her, not when she seemed to be happy. But it was that moment he chose to close his eyes, relishing in the peace that had overcome them once more. Too bad the moment was short lived considering how instantly he'd been toss into the cold water of the pool, spluttering in disbelief. "Tanya! What the hell?!"

Tanya sniggered at the way he was cursing her out and she shrugged. "You stole my phone, I stole your warmth," she reasoned, not even sure why he was being such a baby about it. The water was barely deep enough for him; for Tanya it was a different story. It would be a miracle if her head still popped out of the water when her feet touched the floor of the pool. "And besides, you stink. I thought a cold shower would help," she teased, pocketing her phone and ready to go to her room. She was still unable to sleep but spending this time with Krish had put her heart to ease.

Krish had let out a few good expletives when he'd crashed into the water, but it was more for the cold--not really for her. But at her retort, he only raised his eyebrow. "Those two aren't at all related!" He glowered at her before watching the way she was carefully keeping her phone back in her pocket. "Excuse me! You've got to be kidding, most girls faint when they smell my cologne, aur tu keh rahi ke mujhe shower ki zarooraat thi? So rude!" He sighed loudly. "Hey wait wait, help kardena? My hand keeps slipping." He pouted at her before holding out his hand, giving her the most innocent face he could muster up.

Tanya scrutinized his expression, eyebrows scrunching together and eyes squinted in his direction as she tried to decipher if he really needed help or if this was a prank of some sort. She decided that he probably did need the help, considering how wet the sides of the pool were and so she put her hand into his. She shouldn't have been so foolish; it had taken him one tug and she was in the water too with a loud splash. "Krish!" Her voice was shrill as she splashed water at him. "You're such a cheater." Except she wasn't really mad; she was laughing, her dimples peeking out from their hiding place in her cheeks, shaking her head at him. "You had to shower anyways, main toh naha ke aayi thi!"

Krish hadn't actually expected for her to be so gullible when she gently put her hand in his and for a second--he didn't want to do it. But the moment he saw the look in her eyes, he tugged her in, making sure she didn't fall too hard or hit the water in a painful way. That's when he had her in his arms except instead she pushed him away, water being splashed into his eyes until he laughed at her. "You started it!" He grumbled before splashing her back until he heard her words. "Hey so mean! I smelt fine, okay, you just decided to play a prank--Aur Ma ko lagta hai ke main bahot ragging karta hoon." He laughed before leading her towards the small staircase leading out of the pool. "Tonight was fun though, so thanks."

Tanya only realized when they had stepped out of the water. She had been in the pool with her phone. "Fuck," she hissed, tugging her phone out of her pocket and just as she'd expected: the phone was now wet. "Yaar, I can't-- I just got a new phone from Papa six months ago, and agar yeh kharab ho gaya..." It was in moments like these that Tanya remembered how young she was, how her father had been buying things for her up until she'd landed this film, or even now he still bought things for her. Or how she treated her money very carefully, having grown up with her mother who wasn't a miser, but just a very careful spender. She always said, you never knew when you would lose the money so it was always good to plan ahead. "I had a good time though," Tanya said to Krish as an afterthought, leaning in to give him a side hug before rushing out of the elevator and towards her room. She wondered if room service would deliver raw rice grains to her room so she could soak the water out of her phone.

Krish had cursed this time a little louder when he heard about her phone. "It's going to be okay," he murmured, knowing that yes it might be hard but only if she refused him. He'd go out the next morning and get her a new phone, apologizing profusely when he gave it to her. But somewhere he knew Tanya was incredibly proud of herself which meant she might not actually accept it, however--he'd use his charm and his senior status to make sure she'd keep it. "I'm glad," he murmured until he felt her hug and ended up holding onto her a moment longer until he caught the way she rushed away from him--obviously hating what he'd done. Krish was an idiot, he'd seen her pocket the phone--and so he should've known. But instead, he'd gone ahead and made a complete mess of this. Maybe that's why he'd gone out that night itself, trying to find a place that would still be open this late.

Tanya looked at Abhimanyu who was seated next to her and she smiled when his hand came down on hers and gave it a little squeeze. She morphed her face into what she hoped was a reassuring smile before dropping his hand as she stepped out of the car, her hand reaching up to shield her eyes from the numerous flashes but obliged for a picture or two. Abhimanyu was right next to her once more and this time, it was Tanya who had reached for his hand and intertwining their fingers. By the smile on his face, Tanya knew she'd done the right thing. Except her heart was fluttering and it wasn't because of the man next to her, but rather for the man who was inside. They were hosting a success bash for the film, one which had launched Tanya into stardom overnight. Stardom she was still getting used to. It was only once they stepped inside Krish's house that Tanya let her smile move from wooden to natural and moved to where Krish was, nudging him gently. "Hey stranger," she whispered softly, knowing that he would have heard her despite the loud music.

Krish Malhotra really wasn't as stupid as people probably liked to believe he was. He'd seen the looks Abhimanyu gave her, seen the way her cheeks now flush at the mention of Abhi's name and even now he'd noticed how the two had walked into his home--hand in hand. Abhimanyu had successfully won his former co-star's heart. Krish smiled though when he noted her coming close to him and nodded his head to greet her back before holding out a bottle of beer. "Moment of truth Miss. Sen, help me discover something new about you." Because during their shoot or promotions, he'd never noticed her drinking, always given the excuse that they were working and she didn't want to jeopardize that, but now that the film was done and he knew for a fact she had no prior obligations for tomorrow--he wanted to know if she would. Yes, some would say he was corrupting her given just how young she was but Krish--oh, for him, this was just another way to get to know her.

Tanya sniffed around Krish before frowning. "You're drunk." It should have been obvious by the dazed smile, the slightly glazed look in his eyes and how he seemed to be swaying all on his own. She glanced back at Abhimanyu who only nodded for her to engage in conversation with her costar as he disappeared further into the house and accepted the bottle he'd given her. "You know I do drink right? I grew up in Delhi, maybe a boarding school but still Delhi." The stereotype that Delhi girls could drink boys under the table was true; well, Tanya couldn't. But she was quite good at holding her liquor. She took a luxurious sip from it before nodding at all the people milling in his house. "Were you waiting for someone?" He hadn't been mingling as she had expected but was on his own, in this little corner - until Tanya had joined him.

Krish didn't confirm or deny her allegation, and instead merely watched as she looked back to Abhimanyu. Of course, she would. That was who she'd wanted to spend her time with. Perhaps she'd only come to the party because it was as much as hers as it was his, not only that--but she had only come over to him so that it would look correct in front of the rest of the crowd who expected them to be as comfy and at ease with each other the way they had been through filming. Krish nodded at her words, still waiting for her to take a sip though from the bottle before he heard her question. "Hmm, tumhara intezaar kar raha tha." With a laugh, he shook his head knowing she might not find it right for him to be waiting for her and knew he had to cover it up, "just not really in the partying mood but the PR team and marketing decided that tonight was best and so I agreed."

Tanya couldn't help the smile that broke out on her features when he said he had been waiting for her; the flutters in her heart started up again and she forced them down. No, she couldn't let this happen. She'd only given in to Abhimanyu's persistence because she thought it was time she got over her childish, schoolgirl crush on Krish Malhotra. Of course, it had only taken him a few words and she was back in his grasp. Except you aren't, he'll never hold you. That was all for the film. Tanya shut her eyes then, looking down to the floor before she glanced up at him again. "Krish Malhotra, turning down a party? Maine toh suna ki Bollywood main kabhi aisa hota hi nahin hai." She shifted closer to him slightly so their shoulders were brushing. "What's up? You've never been one to sulk in a corner Krish, it's just not you." Not to mention, the persistent frown on his forehead was making Tanya anxious. She hated seeing him upset.

Krish wasn't able to hide the smile that erupted on his face when he caught the cute little dimples she was showing off. He didn't know what it was, but he liked knowing that he had the ability to make her smile. There was something about how earnest and honest that one expression was. He leaned against the wall, his entire body turned towards her as she spoke before shrugging until he noted their shoulders brushing and feeling a strange type of flutter go through him--one he blamed on the buzz he had from the alcohol in his system. "I can," he sighed before taking a swig from his bottle, only to realize it was empty. He set it down on the table and reached instead for hers. Krish pressed it to his lips and took a swig before handing it back to her, not even realizing that he'd wrapped his own lips right around the same place she had. "I just don't like when movie's end, feels like I'll lose all the people I found while making it." Okay so that wasn't entirely true, but right now--during this film, it was the whole truth.

Tanya bit back the protest of that being her bottle. Why fake it when she wasn't really in the mood to drink anyways? At least not beer. Usually it was boys who liked to drink beer, Tanya decided; or maybe, it was an acquired taste over many years. She preferred vodka of course, it got the job done and didn't taste half bad either. She frowned at Krish's words before setting the bottle down on the countertop, her hand reaching for his. "You aren't going to lose me, we can still stay friends," Tanya reassured even though the flapping motion of her heart suggested she wanted much more than a crummy 'just friends.' Except now she was seeing Abhimanyu, and Krish would never be interested in her like that.

Krish scoffed quietly, thankful for the loud music that drowned out the sound so that Tanya hopefully hadn't heard it. He knew it was easy to say, that they'd stay friends and perhaps they would often be civil whenever they would be within each other's vicinity--but that wasn't really enough. Krish knew that he'd have to see a lot more of Tanya, especially considering she was now exploring something new with Abhimanyu. That too had been his fault--he'd been the one to tell Abhi about his shooting and so he was the reason the other man had come to see them--and evidently meet Tanya only to start their brand new relationship. Krish noted how Tanya set the bottle down finally and shook his head. "We can't have you not drinking anything--come with me," and Krish held out his hand for her to take so that he could take her down to the storage area where he stashed his good quality alcohol.

Tanya stared down at his hand before slipping her hand into his. It was out of instinct, out of the numerous times they'd done this for a shot for their film, that her fingers interlaced with his as he led her down the stairs. "Where are you taking me?" She wasn't complaining though, their running joke bubbling on her lips before she let it slip, "Kya tum mera murder karne wale ho? Already jealous of all the rave reviews I'm getting, Malhotra?" There was a teasing edge in her words, but perhaps if she'd focused less on making Krish smile and more on her steps, she wouldn't have tripped. Tanya still blamed those strappy high heels and she went crashing into Krish, forcing his back to collide against the wall while her hands rested on his chest. "Shit-- I knew I didn't want to wear these heels today." And yet she didn't move, comfortable in the lack of distance between them. Her only worry was Krish overhearing the way her heart was racing.

Krish had turned back to smile when he heard her words, the joke between them clearly evident in the way her words had that teasing tone in them. He was happy that there was this ease in their relationship still, and a part of him really hoped this lasted but he knew it wouldn't--not when she had Abhimanyu waiting for her upstairs. He was about to say something when he felt her crash into him, his back flat against the wall before his hands were on her waist, feeling her own palms flat against his chest. "Your heels make you--you." Dammit--Krish wanted to kiss her. He wanted to just rest his one hand against her cheek and lean in just like he had for so many takes in their film. But this time--he couldn't, because there were no camera's and if there were no camera's--he had no excuse.

Tanya arched an eyebrow at his words, trying to make sense of them. "They make me me? Iska kya matlab hai?" It was a miracle that Tanya still had her wits about; it was a miracle that she had not lost the ability to talk. This proximity between them was causing her heart to race. It slammed repeatedly in her chest, the butterflies in her stomach growing impatient as they demanded her to just kiss him. Of course, Tanya knew she couldn't. Not only because she was seeing Abhimanyu, but more importantly because she knew Krish wasn't interested in her like that, and she was in no mood to have her heart broken. It had already happened once on the sets of the film, when they'd had their first onscreen kiss and he'd told her that it meant nothing unless you cared for the person you were kissing. Things had definitely come a long way since then, but she also knew they hadn't come so far that he would no longer see her as just a friend, but as more than one.

Krish smiled at her before shrugging. "I think of you and I think of heels." And I think of dimples and pools, and satin bed sheets and running lines and being almost--too comfortable with one another. Krish cleared his throat than before shutting his eyes for a millisecond. "I mean, because you're so tiny, and you need the heels in every scene right? Except when we're seated or something." Krish Malhotra was rambling--he never rambled unless it was a character demand. But the main important thing right now was that neither of them had tried to move away from each other. Yes they were in the darkened part of his cellar, and so no one was going to be stumbling in on them but they still remained just as close. Her hands were right over his heart and he wondered if she could feel the erratic thumping beat that he felt so loudly in his ears.

Tanya giggled when he started rambling and her hand extended towards him, pressing the index finger to his lips. "I understood it at the first sentence," she whispered. She could feel her heart begin to race, and it sounded cheesy but she didn't want to wash her hand after his lips had touched it. It made her sound like a fangirl, one of the millions that Krish Malhotra had. Except she was the one with him in the cellar, his arms wrapped around her and her hands on his chest. She could feel a rapid thumping under her fingertips but amounted it to her own. Her heart was beating so loudly, it felt as if the organ would fall out of her chest any moment now. It would slip right through the cracks in her fingers, the way sand did on carefully sunny days at the beach. Unlike sand, it would shatter into a million pieces if Tanya allowed herself to feel, allowed herself to tell him what it was she felt. The blood rushed to her ears, but her gaze remained locked on Krish's, her throat dry. It was as if the rest of the world had fallen away, leaving the two of them alone - in this cellar.

Krish smiled when he felt her finger at his lips, he needed that reminder to shut him up. There was something so intimate about this action, one that made him wonder what it would be like if this was actually the two of them in a relationship? No, he absolutely could not go down that route, especially when the one she was actually in a relationship with, was waiting upstairs. With a grin though, he pulled back one hand from her waist and raised it, gently tugging her finger away from his lips. Krish wanted to kiss her, he wanted this so bad. Perhaps that's why his lips leaned towards her own, his head tilted too. Krish swore he could feel her soft breathing against his own lips and was just about to close the gap between them but he decided against it at the last moment, his lips ending up on her cheek instead. "I'm really glad you made your debut with me," and really--Krish wanted to say so much more, telling her how glad he was that they'd become friends, how he wished she'd never met Abhi--but those were all things he could never ever tell her.

Tanya had already shut her eyes in anticipation when she'd seen him lean in towards her, his head tilted which meant he would kiss her. Her heart raced in her chest, as if it were competing in a derby and in that moment she had forgotten completely that she was supposed to be seeing somebody else. Of course, his lips landing at her cheek and his consecutive words had been a bitter enough reminder and she swallowed, giving him a small smile. Of course. He would never think of her as anybody but a friend, anybody but Kishore Sen's daughter, and the girl who he had worked with in her debut film. There would never be anything else between them, no matter how much Tanya willed for it to happen. She leaned in then, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I'm really glad that you let me debut with you, and that-- that we're friends." The words tasted like a bitter pill on her tongue, one which she forcefully swallowed. Like children drinking cough medicine, Tanya didn't really have much of a choice.

Krish wanted to say something more, he wanted to add how thrilled he was for her and Abhi to have found one another but that was pushing his niceness. Krish Malhotra was nice, of course, he was--but he was also quite bitter and quite jealous when it came down to it. In his eyes, Tanya had been his discovery, she was his actress, the one he'd helped launch and somewhere during the time of working together--he began to feel like he could call her his Tanya. Seeing her with Abhi though had changed all of that and so he struggled to keep the smile on his face when he felt her lips against his own cheek and shook his head. "I didn't have a choice, and sun, anyone who works with you--he or she better feel damn lucky to have a chance to work with you because even though you don't see it, you're one of the finest talents we have today." He may have been talking about her work, but his heart was saying these words for her personal life more. "Now--should probably lead you to my secret stash of alcohol huh, don't want Abhi to think I've stolen you away," and with that--Krish forced the fakest laugh he could muster because somewhere--he wanted to steal her away.

Tanya frowned at that. They may have not been friends for long but Tanya at least prided herself on knowing how to discern between his fake laughter and his real one. The telltale sign of course was the lack of eye crinkles. Whenever he was really laughing, his eyes would scrunch up and those creases next to them would appear - ones that she wanted to poke. Instead, she shook her head, her grip on his hand tugging her back. "You don't always need to drink to have fun Krish. Don't you remember that time we went to that tapas place in Delhi during promotions? It was almost one, and we didn't have a single drop." It was one of her most favorite memories, the way she'd tossed the pieces of grape, urging him to catch them in his mouth. She remembered everything about that night. She remembered everything about Krish. It was as simple, and as complicated as that. Still, Tanya tugged on his hand, leading him back up the stairs. "Come on, it's not a success bash without the two lead actors."

Krish had been trying to move away from her, only to be tugged back when she held his hand, almost possessively. He was back against the wall, laughing to himself at how she almost seemed threatening to him right now. He knew the truth behind her words and really, normally he wouldn't need it either, but right now--to be able to tolerate her with Abhi--he needed it. It was almost his crutch, one that allowed him to focus on the burn going down his throat rather than the way the two seemed to be able to communicate through their eyes, their hands always touching--making him feel like a third wheel even though there was a full crowd of people in his house right now. He smiled at her words before allowing himself to be tugged up by her. "Hey," he whispered once they were at the door that proved to be their wall between the party and the little world they'd created just now. "You should spend time with Abhi, you came with him right? I don't--think he'll be too pleased if you're spending all your time with me."

Tanya shook her head at Krish's words, confusion swimming in her eyes. "Why? We're friends na, why would he have a problem with me spending time with my friends? Aur vaise bhi, woh tumhara best friend hai, aisi harqat thodi na karega." Abhimanyu trusted Krish both explicitly and implicitly, which only caused Tanya's guilt to rise because what was she doing? Dating one, while she had feelings for the other? If either of them found out, it would be the end of their friendship and Tanya wasn't sure if she could have that on her conscience. Yet, this was the only thing she could do to get over Krish. There was no other way in her eyes, considering that she knew absolutely nobody and Tanya wasn't exactly the most outgoing of people. It was easier to just latch onto Abhi, especially since he did have a thing for her. "Now let's go. Everyone's waiting for us, and we haven't even taken pictures for the cameras yet, you know how marketing won't let us forget it for months after!"

Krish didn't know what to say to her, he knew she was right but at the same time--he knew that maybe Abhi wouldn't say that he minded--but he would. Krish understood that because he'd have minded too, if the woman he was in a relationship with, was spending all her time with his best friend. Still, he didn't say anything to her, understanding that perhaps she knew herself best. Only--Krish would end up doing the pictures she was mentioning--before depositing her next to Abhi so that he couldn't complain about it at all. "Chalo phir, let's take some cute pictures for the fans of--what do they call us again?" Krish furrowed his eyebrows before the combined name came to him once more. "Kriya, right--let's give them some kriya goodness." He winked at her before finally pushing open the door leading them back into the party, a more genuine smile on her face thanks to the few moments he'd had with her downstairs in the cellar.

Tanya laughed at the way his tongue had hesitated over the portmanteau the fans had given them the second promotions had started. Every day there were a slew of comments on her Instagram feed, a long list of Twitter mentions all telling her to please date Krish! you would be so cute! i love kriya! and they all sent a strange ache in her heart. She felt like one of those 'Kriya' fangirls too, because she wanted him to like her too; she wanted him to date her - except Tanya knew it wouldn't happen. So when his arm had wound around her waist for the pictures, her hands on his shoulder as she kissed his cheek, she tried to take it with a grain of salt. Once they were back inside, there were people all coming to congratulate them and her hand slipped out of his. The lack of warmth from his hand in hers sent an ache through Tanya's chest. She wanted that feeling back; except she watched as they drifted further apart. Her heart worried that this would be their demise too, but she wouldn't let it. She was determined to hold onto Krish Malhotra in whatever way she could.

#kriya﹕ ᴄᴏsᴛᴀʀs ᴀᴜ ⇌ ᴘᴀʀᴀɢʀᴀᴘʜs #npc﹕ ᴀʙʜɪᴍᴀɴʏᴜ sɪɴɢʜ² #npc﹕ ɪsʜᴀ ᴍᴀʟʜᴏᴛʀᴀ²

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