Darshak's independent villa overflowed with positive and fun vibes. Minimal furniture, potted indoor plants and flowering creepers, breezy blinds and colourful carpets -it reflected the open-mindedness of its owner.

Facing a three-fold dressing table, Sakshi crinkled her nose when Kanak, the teenage makeup artist, dabbed a powder brush over her face. An intricate burgundy ghagra-choli hugged her curves. Gold foil prints of birds and flowers dotted the flowing brocade. Her fair was fixed into a complex medieval braid affixed with fragrant roses.

"Stretch out your hand, ma'am," Kanak said, drawing out a box with red lac dye. Dipping a brush into the liquid, she traced it on Sakshi's hand. The girl's fingers worked like clockwork as she drew dots and paisleys, covering her palm with fine artwork.

She held her hands up in the light. "Beautiful, Kanak. You should open your parlour soon."

"This beautician work is only a part-time job, Didi. I'm also studying through correspondence."

"That's wonderful. You have a bright future ahead."

"Thank you, Didi. I forgot to mention, this needs to dry. Don't touch anything for a while," she said, pointing to her hands.

"Oh, got it," Sakshi said, although disappointed. Her stomach rumbled. Two hours passed since her light breakfast of toasted bread. The smell of paneer chowmein floated from the dining room.

"I'm excited to see your movie shoot."

She giggled. "Movie? It's a short video, Kanak. Do I look like a movie star?"

"You look beautiful. Not like a film actor, but . . . like a bride! That hero sir also looks superb."

"You mean Ayush?"

"Haan," Kanak said.

A string of jealousy tugged her heart. Everyone in the team had seen Ayush except her. And vice versa. "He does look like a hero."

"You both look perfect for each other, Didi."

Sakshi marvelled at the girl's words. Her deep, flickering eyes spoke the truth.

"I'll be waiting in the minivan outside," Kanak said, packing her bag.

"Alright, Kanak. See you," she said and exited the room.

Sakshi trudged out of the door, careful not to slip and smack her hand on the white walls. Darshak met her in the living room.

"Looking splendid, my girl! You've got into your character already."

"Thank you, sir."

"Join us at the dining table. We've got chowmein, honey chilli potatoes and some oddly named snacks."

"Haha, alright, sir."

She trailed behind him to the spacious dining room facing an open garden and swimming pool. Her heart missed a beat seeing Ayush. Just finishing his food, he looked up. Clad in a sleek black sherwani, messy hair spilling over his forehead. A multi-strand pearl necklace layering his dress, several rings, and gold stud earrings. She wondered if a real prince arrived time-travelled to meet her.

The wan sunlight ignited the strands of his hair, turning them light brown. She wasn't the only one standing wordlessly. His eyes blazed and glowed in wild excitement. His gaze travelled over her face and searched her face.

"Have a seat, my girl," Darshak said, pulling a chair for her beside Ayush.

Sakshi dipped her head and ambled toward him, sitting on the chair gingerly.

Ayush leaned in and whispered, "Hello, queen."

Words stuck in her throat as she looked up at him. Striking, manly, like a righteous king. She felt like closing in and kissing his moist lips. Clenching her jaw, she turned aside, facing the delicacies on the table.

Pushing a ceramic plate to her, he served chowmein and paneer slices.

"No, I can't eat, Ayush."

"Why not? We must eat well as the shooting will go on for a long time."

With a sheepish grin, she wiggled her dyed fingers straight to his face.

"Ohh. No worries, I'll feed you."

Her breath hitched at the offer. "It's alright, you carry on."

"I'm done," he pointed to his nearly empty plate.

Her eyes scanned the room. What if someone walked in and caught her being fed like a toddler? Embarrassed at the thought, she shook her head horizontally. "No thanks. Everyone will laugh at me."

"Don't worry about others. Besides, your hands are-" He raised an eyebrow at her decorated palms.

"I guess I don't have another option."

He grinned. "Yaara, you can just say yes."

"Yes," she said. "I think a lot, no?"

"It's good in a way."

"How?"

"You see things beneath the surface and you're sensitive to others feelings. Not everyone has that gift."

He scooped a spoonful of chowmein and fed her. Parting her lips like a baby bird, she gulped down the food.

"Paneer?" he asked with an amused smile.

She gobbled and nodded. He slipped a slice of paneer into her mouth, followed by a potato wedge. Within a matter of minutes, she finished her meal. Fishing a tissue, he dabbed it around her mouth, alert not to mess up her makeup.

"Thank you so much, Ayush."

"You're always welcome, yaara."

Darshak coughed to grab their attention. "Ahem, if you two are done, we can be on our way."

"Y-yes, sir." They said in unison.

A minivan stood outside the villa, doors wide open. Tanuj occupied the front seat beside the driver. Rishabh occupied the middle with video cameras, tripods and props. Kanak waved from the backseat and moved to a corner. Sakshi settled beside her, sandwiched between Kanak and Ayush. Lastly, Darshak hopped in and the team took off to Aakhya hills.

"How long will it take?" Darshak asked the driver.

"At least two hours to reach the top, sir," the driver said.

"So long?!"

"Heavy traffic, sir."

Sakshi lowered the corner of her lips, disappointed. Ignoring her surroundings, she rested her head on her personal pillow-Ayush's shoulder. Rishabh looked away, Darshak grinned, and Kanak's irises widened. Closing her eyes, Sakshi drifted into a frivolous sleep.

•••

"Wake up, yaara." His gentle voice stirred her soul.

"Huh?" Stretching her arms out, she blinked at the surroundings.

Boulders and rocks dotted the land. Twisted paths led up to an old fort. Towering trees, wildflowers, logs crusted with damp moss. Berry bushes and tapering grass. Squirrels, lizards and bugs. Eagles hovered overhead, emitting high pitched calls.

"Woah!" She touched her quaking fingertips to her lips with a glazed look.

"Where are the others?"

Ayush pointed out to Darshak and the rest of the team trudging up the dirt path with their equipment.

"Why didn't you wake me up before?"

"One, the team has to set things up. Two, you were sleeping like a baby."

Light and happiness twinkled in her eyes. "Ayush, you're too much."

"I know. Shall we join them?"

"Yes, come on."

Lifting her heavy skirt, she jumped out of the van, precariously landing on her feet.

"Careful!" He grabbed her arm, steadying her wobbly frame.

"Phew! Thank you."

"Walking to the fort will be an uphill task. Literally," he said.

She chuckled and nodded.

"Take my hand. If one of us falls, the other will be there to catch," he said.

"As they saw, two are better than one," she said.

Intertwining their fingers, they hiked up the mud road. Since Sakshi was acrophobic, Ayush took the side overlooking the city, leaving her to the closed end. At the fortress gate, Tanuj and Rishabh set up the video camera on a wheeled tripod dolly. Darshak connected the audio device to portable speakers. Kanak's curious eyes admired the behind the scenes activities, and so did Sakshi.

Tanuj swiped his hands, brushing away imaginary dust. "Done! Sakshi, come here. We're shooting the first scene."

She shot a glance at Ayush. He pressed her fingers tight and gave a smile of assurance. Letting go of his hand, she complied with Tanuj and stood at a spot marked with a pebble. Kanak fixed the ghunghat over her head with transparent bobby pins.

Tanuj handed her a costume sword, helping her grasp it with both hands. "When I say action, thrust the sword forward. Then, turn around and move your wrists. Try it once."

With a nervous frown, she tried her best did as he said.

"Good! Loosen your muscles. Make your movements fluid, like water."

She tried again, following his instructions. Tanuj nodded, pleased. "Take your position."

Rishabh held the giant diffuser over her head. The clapperboard clicked as Tanuj yelled, "Action!"

Swirling around, Sakshi lunged forward and spun the sword in the air like weaving a spider web.

"Cut! Good shot. Next scene, inside the fort!" he said. His friendliness vanished and evolved into a stern, professional director.

They streamed into the fort. Sandstone bricks stood strong even after three hundred years of construction. Thick designed pillars, marble flooring, antique brass fixtures, elaborate candle holders, vases and decor pieces were meticulously arranged in corners. Real swords and armours hung on the walls along with paintings of six generations of royals. The fort was now rented out for shoots or weddings.

Tanuj led them to the balcony for the next scene and explained the course of action. Wearing his prop crown, Ayush stood at the edge of the stairs, facing the scenic view of the town. Sakshi tip-toed behind him and drew out the sword. As he turned around, she dropped the sword and pretended to slip. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her toward himself and they both fell on the ground beside each other. As Tanuj envisioned, they brought the quintessential Bollywood romance to life.

"Cut! Bravo! Couldn't ask for a more perfect scene from amateurs!" Tanuj said.

Sakshi calmed her aching breath mingled with desire as she pulled away from him. Rising up, Ayush dusted his clothes and helped her to her feet, clouded by the same desire.

Next, Tanuj opened a floral-carved door with rickety hinges. A king-size bed was stationed in the middle with velvet pillow covers, silk curtains, and an embroidered rug.

"Okay, next, the princess is hurt from the fall and the prince applies ointment on her legs."

Kanak worked with body paint on Sakshi's feet, stroking flesh pink in the middle, surrounded by red and maroon borders. It could pass off as a real gash. Taking her position on the bed, Sakshi placed her leg on a stool.

"Action!"

Ayush approached her and set his crown on the table. Twisting open a sandalwood box with aloe vera gel, he knelt down. He took her slender foot in his hand, sending tingles down her spine. She parted her lips as his fingers worked on her heel and ankle, stroking it with the cooling aloe gel. Their eyes strained to meet, intense, involved. According to the script, he removed his pearl necklace and put it around her neck. He leaned closer and brushed her hair behind her ears, though not part of the script.

"Cut! What a chemistry you guys have! I loved that little improvisation at the end."

They continued shooting further scenes- him twirling her in the afternoon light, them holding hands and strolling down the hallway, her kohl-lined eyes and petal lips, his rugged arms snaking around her waist.

At 2 PM, Tanuj winded up for the day with seven to eight scenes. "Great work guys! We're halfway through. Let's continue tomorrow."

Everyone clapped for each other, anticipating the second and final day of shooting.

"Fantabulous performance, Ayush and Sakshi!" Darshak said. Rishabh uttered something along the same lines.

Kanak stared in awe at them. "Didi, I didn't know both of you were together in real life."

Ayush scratched the back of his head and shrugged while Sakshi bit her lips and grinned, a strange romantic tension mounting between them.

"Did you like our performance, Kanak?" Ayush asked, hoping to diffuse the tension.

"Very much! I can't believe you sang the song too! You have such an-" She stopped seeing Sakshi's glare, and altered her approach. "-amazing voice, Bhaiyya."

Sakshi's brows unfurrowed hearing the last word. A content smile charged her lips as she glimpsed at Ayush.

Tanuj clapped his hands. "Attention, guys! We're going to Pizza Corner for snacks. Is that okay with everyone?"

"Sir, I won't be able to come," Sakshi said.

Ayush nodded. "She has to be at her friend's home before 4 PM."

Darshak chimed in. "Arrey! Why, my girl? I can request your parents' permission."

"No!!" Ayush and Sakshi said, gasping at the same time.

"Okay, suit yourselves."

Sakshi touched Ayush's sent arm. "You go ahead, I'll take an auto to Vini's home."

"There's no way I'm abandoning you like that. I'll drop you at Vini's," he said.

"Chill guys, we'll have the celebration tomorrow," Tanuj said.

"I don't want all of you to lose the fun because of me, sir," Sakshi said with slumped shoulders.

"We are a team, and we will celebrate when all of us are together. No worries, we'll do it tomorrow," Tanuj said.

Joy filled Sakshi's heart to the brim. She laced her hand with Ayush's as they returned to their minivan, eager about the next day's activities.

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