Carve your own Journey #Episode 18

“How do I look,” Veronica’s eyebrows knitted as she fiddled with her newly set hair. Her tresses were trimmed to give away the split ends and later freshened up with a warm blow dry. They were blowing like butterflies in the fresh morning breeze.

“A little better than a horse’s tail,” He remarked with a click of the strongest muscle in his body.

“Akash, do you really think I should go for it like I am not perfect for it?” She shrugged, her voice barely a whisper

“Oh, come on... just give it a try, I know you can,” He patted her shoulders.

“And By the way, what did you mean when I said you need to lose a little weight? Do I look fat?” Her tongue twisted.

“Uh...Huh, I said that? I meant... you look slightly plum, but probably a light diet and an hour’s workout and you will be perfect,” Her dazzling smile disarmed him with words.

Akash phone beeped out of the blue as he pulled it out from his pocket. “Just a second, I need to take this call,” He sniggered.

The call was from the director of the play, which was going to be conducted in NCPA ‘The Merchant of Venice’, the lady playing the role of Portia, due to unforeseen circumstances, faced a serious accident and hence couldn’t resume the rehearsals. Due to this the play was forced to be aborted, unless they got a girl keen to play the role of Portia.?

Akash looked forward to this place for ages and he wasn’t ready to let go of this opportunity with such an ease

?“Veronica, did you ever plan to act in any play, endorsement or movie?” He questioned.

“Yes I did dream, that’s the whole purpose of my modelling, but I don’t know if I could ever be an attractive female lead?”

“I know a play where you could play the main female lead, she is just so similar to you and Portia always reminds me about you,” He interrupted. Portia was a beautiful, witty princess who inherited a great amount of wealth, suitors travelled from all directions in her quest.

“So, you are talking about the play taking place the following Friday, Merchant of Venice?” She questioned.

“Yes, you could be Portia, please I contemplate this play to take place, I know you can surely do this,” He requested her.

“Okay, I will surely try it...but,” She bit her lips.

“I know you can do it,” he said, holding her elbows tightly as they trotted towards the studio.?

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Vaidehi’s eyes clustered wide open the next morning, She gave out a gentle cry of awe as she realised she had woken up an hour earlier than usual. Slowly she snuggled closer to the pillow under the warm blanket, but little could she sleep. Usually, she would be ecstatic about the extra hour of sleep, but today she could not drift to the oblivion of night peacefully. A part of her was burning and she felt entangled around an unusual fear, a dread of losing someone close to you.

?Vaidehi wanted to weep aloud, but the tears wouldn’t pour. Heaven knows what was preventing them from cascading into torrents. She compelled her eyelids to shut and curled up on the bed sheet, but sleep was evading her. Later, she saw a figure, a human figure, a lady decked in a black suit, smiling cheerfully, and then a huge wave of water pulled her away, she was drowning in the cold icy waters, she stretched her hands out but was helpless, death had engulfed her and slowly devastated her bits.

Dark hair, translucent complexion and deep, ambitious eyes, she was...... Mansi. Vaidehi sprang up, her lips opened to give away a loud yell, but she swallowed and closed them tightly. She felt petrified; a huge dark void was graved in her heart. But she restrained her sobs and convinced her soul that nothing could ever go worse.