Nadia’s POV
I sat on the floor,watching Ria go scot-free. My heart banged my ribcage and tears streamed downmy cheeks, washing my fresh blood down to my throat and dropping it onto mylap. She has succeeded in ruining my film project with Veer. How do I act now?Flawless skin is always needed by the female lead. My ankle hurts, my cheekhurts, and my heart split knowing fully well I won’t be able to act again.Sooner or later, the scar will be visible, ruining my look. Just then, Veercame along.“Nadia?” he called outbefore rushing down to me. He cupped my face in his hands. “What happened toyou? Who did this?” he queried, concern filled in his voice. I couldn’t talk, Ijust continued whimpering. “Talk to me. Who did this to you? Is it Sidd?” he added.I shook my head. “It’sRia, Veer,” I sobbed, my heart heavy with the weight of pain. “She pushed medown and cut my face. She doesn’t want me to act with you too. I can’Sidd’s POVHow can Ria be so cruelto do this to her fellow woman? She has crossed the limit this time. Now Nadiathinks I have a hand in this. I feel like strangling that girl, she is justruining my every opportunity to be close to Nadia again. Argh. I grunted and headedout. I need to see that heartless bitch. I sped out of the studio, drivingstraight to Ria’s place. A couple of minutes later, I was already in her house.I hurried upstairs, banged her door open, and saw her seated on the bed,scrolling through her phone. She was startled upon my entry as her eyesswiveled to me.“What is that for, Sidd?”she snapped.“I should be asking youthat,” I groaned, shooting to the bed and grabbing her arm.“Ouch!” she cried out.“What are you doing?”“How dare you hurt Nadia,huh? Who told you to do so?”“Let go of me!” sheexclaimed, trying to free her hand. “You are hurting me, Sidd. Let me go,” shecried
Nadia’s POVVeer was now packing hiscar in front of the nightclub building. I had to agree to follow him based onwhat Hema told me. We alighted from the car and he came to my side, holding myhand.“Don’t be scared, okay?Remember I’m with you,” he assured me once again.“All right, hero,” Iteased and we headed inside. Apart from the colorful strobe light and clubmusic, the place doesn’t look like a club to me. Different sizes of men wereseated on the couches with flirtatious ladies frolicking and chattering aroundthem. I grimaced at the girls who were shamefully selling their bodies to theseold men. On the stage were strippers in panties and bras, dancing around a pole.I looked at Veer, he seemed not to be concerned about his surroundings as hesimply pulled me gently along to another room.“Where are we going?” Iwhispered.“Relax, okay?” he toldme. We reached the room thatseemed like a VIP
Ria’s POVI went to meet my dad inhis room. He just returned from an outing with his friends after flyingback to India yesterday. Yeah, my dad has been away for over two years now. Hejust returned and promised to stay longer with me before going back. As for mymom, she hardly visits home anymore after establishing a beauty shop in the US.I visit her once a year, but I haven’t gone this year yet. I have lots of projects. I clicked the door open and saw himseated on a stool, in front of the desk.“Can I come in, Dad?” Iasked.“You are already in,aren’t you?” he said, looking at me. I chuckled and closed thedoor, walking close to him. “What are you doing?” I asked, standing beside himwith my arm slid around his shoulders.“I have some things tosort out. You know how long I have left, right?” he replied.“Hmm. Does that mean youare resuming work here?” I asked.“For the meantime, yes. Ihave to
Nadia’s POV“I have something to tellyou,” I whispered into his ear.“I am never consideringyou for the shoot, Nadia,” he groaned, loud enough for everyone to hear andthey began murmuring as usual.“I am not asking you toconsider me for the shoot, Mr Madhukar,” I said loudly too. “I have workedhard for this shoot, but if you say I am no longer good enough, it's fine,” Iadded in a low tone. “I also wish to see your reaction when I tell everyonewhat you did to your secretary at Exclusive Nightclub,” I whispered into hisear and he widened his eyes at me. “The choice is yours, Mr Madhukar,” I addedand moved away from him.“Give me a minute,everyone,” as he expected, he announced and walked off the stage. He grabbed myhand and pulled me to a corner.“What happened now, MrMadhukar?” I asked in a low, mockery tone as I pulled my hand away from him.“What do you know aboutExclusive Nightclub?” he groane
Ria’s POVArgh! How can my dad fallinto that wretched lady’s trap? What did she even tell him? I pushed the car dooropen and stepped down, hurrying inside to get my questions answered. I enteredthe living room, but Dad wasn’t there.“Dad!” I snapped,scuttling upstairs. “Where are you, Dad?” I asked. I banged on his door. “Dad!”I groaned again. The door clicked open.“Why are you shouting,Ria?” he asked. I walked past him into the room. He shut the door and faced me.“I deserve an explanationfor what happened in the studio. What is that for? Why did you re-cast her?” Idemanded, raising my voice. He walked past me and sat on the bed.“You have to let thatgirl be, Ria. She hasn’t done anythingwrong to you, has she?” he stated nonchalantly. I scoffed and moved closer tohim.“What does she have onyou, Dad? Tell me!”“You are crossing thelimit, Ria!” he groaned, jerking up. His voice came as a thu
Ria’s POVHearing Dad say that, Iimmediately knew something was off. The last time he said he was staying totake care of the things here and now he is leaving. “It’s urgent, okay? Ihave to be in the US as soon as in two days to take care of things overthere,” he explained.“The last time I checked,Dad, you claimed you were going to stay back to take care of things here. Whythe sudden departure?” I queried.“I have to go, dear.After going through everything here, I discovered there is not much stuff Ineeded to take care of while there are lots in the US. I don’t want us to argueon this,” he declared.“Why then are you tellingme about it? You can as well go without notifying me,” I declared, trying notto sound disrespectful. I went away. Something fishy is going on. Lots notcobwebs in Nadia’s cupboard. What does she have on my dad? I glanced back athim. He was still looking at me. I reached my room,
Nadia’s POVI was seated on a chairin the dressing room, going through a fashion magazine with my legs overlappingeach other. Pari came along, beaming all smiles with a glass of milk. I satright on the chair, closing the magazine.“Hey, Nadia,” she said,moving closer.“Hi, Pari. What’s up withyou?” I asked. She moved closer.“Nothing much. I noticedhow stressed you were earlier after the shoot. So, I decided to bring you aglass of warm milk to calm your nerves,” she said, stretching the milk to me.“Aww! So thoughtful ofyou. Thanks a bunch,” I appreciated, collecting the milk from her.“Nadia?” Siya groaned,storming inside. “Hey, Siya,” I smiled ather. “Don’t take the milk,”she declared, glaring at Pari. I looked at Pari who was fidgeting, scratchingthe crook of her neck and darting her eyes away from us. I furrowed my eyebrowsbefore looking back at Siya.“Why, Siya? Whathappe
Veer’s POVNadia’s silence left apang in my heart. I know she still loves Sidd, even though she is trying to hideit, but I’m also falling deeply for her. I know she is not someone to be tamedeasily, and I can’t let that thickhead called Sidd take her away from me. Iglanced at her, she wore the most beautiful and blushing smile I have everseen. Something is going on, she must be planning on how to get back to Sidd. Itried to compose myself.“All right, Veer. I willsee you tomorrow,” she said, opening the car door after I parked at her usualdropping spot.“Sure, take care ofyourself,” I cautioned and moved off. But not heading home yet. I took anotherdirection where she won’t be able to see me and I stepped down from the car. Iwish to know her home today. I saw her trekking a few distance and I trailedher, hiding behind cars and pretending to be standing next to some people,taking my eyes away from her when s