Chapter 2

Author's pov

"ladies and gentlemen thanks for coming here and joining us. Today's evening is really special as we have completed 15 years of this award ceremony. We are going to present new talented actor and actress," the host said and the crowd cheered with rounds of claps

" I hope you all enjoy the dance performances" The host said and left

Two actresses came with junior dancers and performed in famous Bollywood songs.

After their performance the host came again.

"So ladies and gentlemen I'm back again and now it's time to give the best actress award. The nominations are many but many of you know who she is so guess what?" the host asked and a girl sitting in the crowd smiled

She knows he is talking about her.

"The crowd screamed her name, making her smile more.

" You all are right, it's none other than Mehak Avasthi , a new but successful actress. Who got the award by doing only one film. '' the host announced

" I will request Ms. Mehak Avasthi to come on the stage and take the award" The host said again

Mehak's pov

Oh god I can't believe I finally got this award. I'm on Cloud nine right now.

Ma will be so happy when she knows I got what I dreamt off.

Papa see I made you proud I fulfilled your dream.

I got up from my seat and walked towards the stage when suddenly someone screamed my name.

Maybe my fan..

"Mehak!"

"Mehak!"

"Mehak!"

Someone is continuously screaming but I can't find who is screaming.

"Mehak get up," again someone said but why did it feel like Ma's voice?

"Mehak get up or I will throw water on you," I heard and the next moment I got drenched in water

I sat on my bed with a jerk. Ah! It was a dream. But it felt so real. I was a little away from my award but ma had to ruin it.

"o maharani tumhare sapne dekhna khatm hue to uth,(O Queen, if you have finished watching your dream then get up" Ma said in her sweet voice

Note the sarcasm here

"kya ma, thodi der Aur sone deti tu mujhe mera award mil jata, (what Ma.. if you let me sleep some more then i would have got the award)" I told her annoyed

"Yeah sure who will go to work huh your ghost? It's already 7:30 am and you have to shift at 9 am today." she said in her famous angry tone

oh shit! I totally forgot about my early shift today.

"thank you for waking me up now I need to go," I said ran inside my washroom

Well it's a small place with essential things. It's a shame to call it a washroom because I myself barely fit inside. But I can't complain about it. It's the same house where I'm staying for so long.

Oh where is my manners? I am sorry I didn't introduce myself.

I'm Mehak Avasthi. I'm 21 years old and graduated in Hindi but sadly I couldn't get any job with my degree. That's a story to tell later but first let me introduce my family.

My family had me, my ma Mrs. Mohina Avasthi and my younger brother Manik Avasthi who is 15 years old and preparing for his 10th board exams.

I know now you will think where is my papa?

Well my papa left us when I was 8 years old and Manik was only 2 years old.

My papa was a stunt dummy who did all the dangerous stunts in movies. But he wanted to act in films. He wanted to be an actor but it didn't happen.

And while performing a life risking stunt where he was locked in a car that is about to blast and he has to come out before it blasts.

Everything was fine but then suddenly the car got locked and papa could not make it.

He died. When his body came ma didn't let us see him as he was totally burnt.

I cried very much for him because I was papa's princess. My papa loved me much more than my ma.

I still miss him very much. I wipe the tears that fell from my eyes.

So now we three are living. After papa ma did a lot of hard work to raise us.

She was a hairdresser but she left that job.

She took a job in people's houses as a maid during the day and at night as a waitress.

My ma hasn't told me but I know she had to do many things to feed us.

She was a waitress in a strip club and a stripper as well.

Her maid work wasn't efficient for us and she didn't want to be connected with the film industry anymore.

My mother was really beautiful when she was young. My parents fell in love with each other at first sight. They did love marriage. They both meet each other in a movie shooting only

My papa was an orphan but it didn't change anything.

Ma loved him very much and his sudden death was taking a toll on her. At the age 28 she has two kids to raise on her own.

She hasn't a graduate degree and her brother denied to help her.

Well let's not talk about it. Yeah so where I was

Yeah I'm not ashamed of my ma. Na not at all. I'm proud of her because she did it for us. She is the strongest woman I saw and she is my inspiration.

And now about my work.. I'm not finding any job so I have to work as a makeup artist in shooting during the day and I work as a waitress in a restaurant at night.

My ma still works as a maid because with my income it's impossible to maintain our house rent, her medical bills, Manik's school and tuition fees.

I am trying to work hard so I can free myself from this.

My dream is to be an actress and a famous actress.

I got beautiful looks from my parents in heritage. And I know how to dance and sing while driving and swimming.

I am an all rounder I know.

I am still trying to get work but many times I got the target of casting couch.

They want to sleep with me to give me a chance , not because I'm talented enough for it.

I know I have talent and I don't need this shit.

I will get a chance with my own talent that I am confident about.

I haven't told ma about those incidents but she is wise enough to understand my mood.

Anyways Sorry for eating your brain with my life history now you can read other things as I'm done as well and I need to get ready so bye.

I got ready in a cream colour crop top and paired it with a red printed long skirt and finished my look with a purple stole.

I wore earrings and put a bindi and I'm good to go.

It's 8:15 am now and I need 35 minutes to reach as the shoot will start at 9 am.

I don't have time to waste. I have to walk around for 10 minutes to catch any vehicle.

I went out and saw my dear brother studying.

He is a brilliant student who got AA in every subject every time.

"bye ma bye manik I'm going for work." I said and was about to leave when ma give me milk to drink as she know I don't have time to eat breakfast

I drank one gulp and kissed my ma cheeks when she removed the milky moustache with her pallu of saree.

My ma is like a coconut hard from outside and soft from inside.

Let's go, Mehak darling, a new day is waiting for you.