Chapter 4: Topless Photoshoot

“Item Number,”

Samaira looked at Gogo who was the director of this movie, Gogo used to be a struggling AD (asst. director) when her father had given him an opportunity of his lifetime by producing a movie which he directed, despite the fact that no one wanted to invest with him, her papa still did, the movie became a hit and he was established as a successful director.

“Uncle Gogo, how..,”

“Samaira, don’t call me uncle sweetheart, you can’t use this card of our relationship to get work right?”

His tone was sweet and a smile played on his lips, yet there was an underlying meaning to his words

Samaira was not surprised, nothing shocked her anymore, even her boyfriend Raul, whom she had dated for three years had been misbehaving with her lately

She wondered if she should feel grateful that he didn’t break up with her yet despite doing well in movies, that’s a different story that he was given his first opportunity to lead in a movie by her papa on her insistence.

She breathed in and exhaled

“Okay Unc.. Gogoji, Thank you”

She stood up and walked out, Gogo looked at her walking away, she had a great figure, a delicate and well shaped body, she was tall, had a swan like long neck and was voluptuous at the right places too, a thought occurred to him

“Samaira,” he stopped her just before she stepped out of his office

“I know I can’t do much for you, but I know you need work and, well, more than that you need money, I’ll send you to my friend who does still photography, he may help you get some good jobs and money as well

Samaira’s face lit up, ‘finally someone remembered to return favors,’ she thought with some relief

“That would be great Uncl.. I mean Gogoji,”

she walked to him and took the card he offered her

“I’ll call him right away, you can just go meet him now,” he smiled proudly, revelling in the fact that he just did something to help Samaira

As samaira walked out of Gogo’s office, her phone buzzed.

“Samaira, where are you?

“Bro, I’m just heading to meet someone that uncle Gogo recommended,”

“Okay, we just returned from the hospital, Shain is a bit unwell, hope you get some work,”

“I hope so too bro, look after Shain, I’ll try and be back soon,”

Since the day Samaira’s parents committed suicide, life had never been the same, the high and mighty, yet gentle princess of the Khanna family was seeing the worst phase of her life right now, Mohan had gotten Ajay bashed and beaten so bad that his entire legs were rendered broken , his bones were crushed, they didn't have the money to get him operated, while Shain already was under treatment for Leukaemia

The entire Khanna empire fell overnight and was deep in debts, Samaira’s flourishing acting career had come to a stand still as well, just as she crossed the road to get a cab.. yes, as she didn’t own a car anymore.

Her phone buzzed, seeing the caller was uncle Gogo she answered it immediately

“Sam, you need to reach Club Gazebo, they already have an apparel shoot going on there and you may simply join in, the pay is real good,”

“Okay Unc... I mean Gogoji,”

Samaira sighed, ‘this is gonna take some getting used to ,’ she thought as she hailed the cab and headed to the club

At Club Gazebo:

This was a happening spot, yet to be so crowded at this time in the afternoon, Samaira looked at the crowd and realised most were college students, they must’ve bunked their classes and were partying here

*Sigh* ‘Isn’t this what they call smoking away parent’s hard earned cash, she knew this was a high end club and these may be kids of rich and cash strong people, ignoring them she headed to the higher floor,the shoot director was on the third floor

Stepping out of the elevator she headed for the room booked for the day, she knocked on the huge metallic finish iron door, pushing the huge serpent shaped handle she entered the room

“Samaira Khanna,” a thick, rough voice called out her name, the room had dim lights, Samaira had to adjust her sight, finally seeing where the source of the voice was seated.

She got an uncomfortable feeling about being here suddenly, it didn’t look like it was some photo shoot for a clothing brand, the room was not only dark but had a strong smell of tobacco lingering in air

“Er.. Mr. Jimmy, Hi, unc.. er.. Mr. Gogo must’ve informed you that I’d be coming to meet you,”

she spoke in a confident voice, no matter what, she was a star, the time ill treated her now, but she had to put her best face forward, even in the face of fear.. yup, right now she feared being here, yet she thought since uncle Gogo was involved, it would be okay

“What took you so long, we’ve been waiting for you, half a day has been wasted,” he did not acknowledge her greeting but spoke in a rough voice which sounded rude

“Jam, turn the lights on, let’s have a look at Samaira Khanna the super star,”

Samaira sensed a lace of ambiguousness in his tone, she had seen such things happen in the movie industry, girls here were literally preyed upon, yet she felt that it would never happen to her as she was an experienced actor

“Hmm, not bad, you still have maintained your figure well,” Samaira didn’t know how to react to his comment, she ignored it

“May I know the details of the shoot,”

“Jam, get her the outfits,” he commanded Jammy who was his twin brother

When the outfits were laid before her Samaira simply looked up at him, she had no reactions as she had stopped reacting to things that should otherwise shock her

“This is an international lingerie brand, they have come up with new designs of garters and stockings, so this is a topless shoot, but just for the next five hour shift you will be paid three million, after all you are Samaira Khanna, ex superstar,”

Samaira looked at him for a while, this was not the first time such an offer was made to her, just that in past the amount offered was 100 times more, she was a brand in herself and she refused such offers point blank.

Right now the amount sounded extremely tempting, it would help her pay for the next chemo sessions, medicines and hospital charges of her little nephew Shain as well as pay off her utilities

Jimmy looked at her impatiently

“We don’t have the whole day really,” he was arrogant and rude, he looked down upon this girl whose father had raped another girl, he was always a big fan of Samaira, who wasn’t?, she ruled the box office for years and people waited for her next release, he would certainly love to see her do a topless shoot for him

Apart from getting his eyes to feast on her, he knew he would have international brands queuing up for shoots at his doorstep, no wonder there was a saying that even a dead elephant would yield you benefits in millions

Samaira stood up quietly

“I’m sorry Mr. Jimmy, I thought it was a shoot for an apparel brand,”

She turned to leave without awaiting his response and turned to walk towards the door

“Huh! so much for being a useless actor, Samaira, you no more hold any value in the industry now, aren’t you aware, this offer that I made is way above your price now, infact you can become a star in world of lingerie brands...just get done with this attitude and tantrum.. despite all this you still have the cheeks to turn it down and walk out on it,”

He wasn’t polite to her from the start, yet his words pinched her dignity, she stopped in her steps, her eyes were gloomy, without turning back, she simply looked straight ahead and took in a deep breath

“I may not hold any value Mr. Jimmy, but I hold my values up high, one doesn’t require cheek to walk out or refuse such offers, one simply needs a sense of self worth and dignity, also price tags are for products on shelf, I am not a product, neither do I have a price nor an expiry date, Good day to you,”

She pushed open the iron door that was half open and stepped out, there was no expression on her face, tears?.. absolutely none.

The day she saw her father’s body fall at her feet, the day she saw her mother's body lie in a pool of blood, the day her protective elder brother lost both his legs, since that day she had not shed a single tear.

Till this day since the day her papa and mom left her, she had resolved to clear his name off the crime that he never committed

She would avenge her mother's death, only then would she shed the first tear for them, she bore that pain so deep that nothing else pained or hurt her anymore

Walking to the elevator she entered and descended, unbeknownst to her, Siddharth Kapoor who had stepped out of the room next door from a meeting to leave heard her words and was highly impressed by her

“Not bad Miss Khanna, that was impressive, I’d like to see how long can you hold on to your dignity and stance.. it will be interesting to watch you battle,”

He had a glint in his eyes that narrowed as he watched her walk with a straight back into the elevator

Back in the shoot room Jimmy dialled a number on his phone, a one sided sly smile laced his lips as the call got connected

"Your turn buddy!,"

I shall not allow you to bend me, Dear time, I shall never bend, try hard..

All Hearts !!