STORY I: TWO FRIENDS (part II)

continued............................

It has been ten years since Katherine and Radha met.The last time being at Radha's wedding.Katherine never gave the final exam,as she was too busy pursuing her dream to be a supermodel.Radha gave the exams and topped again but destiny took her elsewhere .She got married and never looked back to studies. Radha is now a mother and has an adoring boy.She now teaches at a primary school.Katherine has now become a successful model an is shooting for her first movie.She is very popular and the heartthrob of the nation.Every thing might look rosy to you from here but is it so............lets see...from now on you'll hear the story from Radha's perspective.......

I was returning from school after a long days work.Whoever said that teaching kids was easy was not a teacher for sure.Soham must have returned from school by now........and Shyam..............
Just when I thought I was almost home,the bus screeched to a halt.These traffic jams are getting on my nerves nowadays ,but wait this isn't any traffic signal,why are so many people crowding the streets.........."it's a shooting going on......."shouted the bus driver."are wo nayi heroini hai na Kathherine, usi ki shooting hain...".
Half the bus got emptied on hearing this.Who would miss the opportunity to see the next superstar live.Everybody would laugh at me if I say if made notes for her right through my schooling and college........life is funny for sure.
I never saw Katherine after my wedding. I tried to call her one or two times but either the network was busy or she was......whatever, our friendship was only till my wedding.
I thought lets have a look how she shoots........I can do that at least.Maybe she recognizes me and we could share few things,I didn't have much hopes though.So I got out of the bus and headed to where the shooting was going on.

Katherine looks like an angel now.I don't know whether it was her makeup or it was natural but it sure was eye catching.She was playing the role of a middle class housewife who was walking back home..........it's so funny.In a way she was playing me......and when I look at my simple cotton saree and her lavish costume..........so much for originality..........but wait ,why is looking towards me.........has she spotted me.......oh no,I can't meet her like this ......in a cotton saree and bag of vegetables.............no,I should leave now........

Just when I turned and started to walk away , someone shouted my name........"Radha.......Radha........."

I knew it was Kat but somehow tried to ignore her and kept walking........

"Radha,it's me Katherine.........where have you been for so long"

she said these words as if it was just yesterday we last met........I fumbled for words then I finally said........"Katherine......what a pleasant surprise..."I knew it was foolish.....I was watching her shoot and me telling her what a pleasant surprise......foolish....foolish.....foolish.......

Just when we were about to start with our whereabouts I say the whole Mumbai standing there staring at us whith teir big eyes.........."whats this cooton saree waali doing with this heroine"....they must have thought.I was feeling like digging a hole in the ground and burying myself there........why do these things always happen with me I thought....
Just then Katherine came to my rescue.She said "this place is becoming a bit crowded now .......lets go somewhere else and talk........."
These were pleasing words,I didn't say a word and just nodded for my approval.
It's strange how we were behaving so formally with each other.
"driver,gaadi nikalo........"she shouted.
Soon a lavish car came to us.I haven't seen such a car so closely forget sitting in it.
Katherine got in and said....."come in Radha......"
I reluctantly crawled inside this big car.
"Driver Olive chalo........,Olives fine na Radha?"
"ya ....ya"...Olives is a big restaurant where these big filmstars go.
A middle class house wife in cotton saree in Olives.......it just can't get better.
I was feeling so ashamed I can't tell you.....but I had no choice.
When you have a friend who is a superstar you just can't feel any better.Katherine was right.
"I wasted my life in a kitchen........................."


to be continued.......................................