Rik knitted his eyebrows and said, ”So that’s it? No prologue? No epilogue?”
I picked up my bag, looked straight in to his eyes and said, “Well, I like it short and straight!”
And I walked out of Rik’s apartment and life.
That was a long time ago, four years to be precise. I had not looked back, not once after that, not even to peep through the window and see if Rik’s life still looked the same. I’m sure his colour is not blue any more. I’m sure no broken computers give him adrenaline kicks. I’m sure he has started to enjoy emotional dramas!
But here I am, sipping iced lemon tea at Mochas and waiting for Rik to show up for an interview. The millionaire businessman will be given a chance to produce a film for us! This, of course, wouldn’t be deemed as an opportunity great enough by The Ritwik Sharma to bite at. I know the agenda, as well as the outcome of the meeting, already! But, still I’m here… To meet Rik and take him through the presentation, and talk for fifteen minutes about that one element in my life that has kept me alive for the last 6 years.
I stared hard at my watch - 5 minutes past 3 – so unlike Rik; he values time! And this thought irks me. I feel uneasy about the precious time that I was about to waste in futile attempts to lure Rik to produce my film. But like a true combatant, I stand my ground, and I wait.
Another 20 minutes of grueling wait, and Rik saunters in. Fragrant and breezy! Fresh and happy! Confident and cruel. And for the first time in the last 30 minutes I saw the trap that I had walked in to!
Rik patiently went through the presentation. He heard me speak passionately about the film for a complete hour. At the end of the session, the tea had turned hot, the day had become humid, the heat unbearable and I visibly looked sad. Rik hadn’t spoken yet, not even a word since we had exchanged pleasantries and he had asked me to start the presentation.
He still didn’t say a word, but stared at me. Unable to bear the humility anymore, I bluntly asked him, “So why did you come here today?”
Rik smiled and said, “I wanted to know whether your colour is still green. Whether you still like your tea cold. Whether you still hate geeks.”
I picked up my bag and was about to leave, when he blurted out, “I don’t like your script.”
I: “Thank you. I know that already. But you could have been a little polite. You could have used a little bit of beating around the bush!”
Rik: “Oh! So you don’t like it short and straight any more? Or is it subjective?”
I left. I have let him avenge himself. Finally, the chapter can be closed!
