‘We used to date, actually.’
‘That makes so much more sense,’ Tanya was saying, but it was tough to focus on her when Neil had dropped his clipboard and was staring at me with a peculiar expression on his face.
‘Thatguy is your ex?’ Neil’s eyebrows shot up.
It was impossible not to be offended at his tone. ‘Why do you say it like that?’
‘Just … didn’t think he’d be your type.’
Tanya chimed in, oblivious to the growing tension between us. ‘Have you seen his eyes? He’severyone’stype.’
Neil pursed his lips and excused himself to go ask Abhinav if the shot would be ready soon. I watched begrudgingly as he stretched his arms behind his back, making his shoulder blades bunch up.
‘What’s his deal?’ Tanya jerked her chin towards Neil.
‘Probably just annoyed that he’s not the only cute guy on set.’ I forced the most casual tone I could manage. I hadn’t told Tanya about the events ofThe Night, mostly because I didn’t see the point anymore. Neil’s internship was almost over and our fling—or whatever I could call it—had ended before it had even begun. If I told her now, she’d turn it into a whole thing, and I didn’t have the energy for a whole thing.
I nudged her shoulder lightly. ‘But seriously, thanks for coming all the way out here. I know it’s a lot.’ When Rajat had first suggested that Tanya be a part of the shoot to create behind-the-scenes content for social media, she hadn’t exactly jumped at the idea. Losing the pitch-off was one thing, but being assigned to work on the winning idea was another small bruise her ego didn’t deserve. She’d been gracious about it, of course, but I wasn’t blind. I knew it had to sting a little.
‘Meh, it’s fine. At least I got to escape my jailer parents for a bit,’ she said, exhaling. There was a heaviness in her tone that I wasn’t used to. I leaned in to say something, but the director called for quiet.
Back in the bedroom, the actor, Rhea, had taken her place at the study table facing the window. The clouds outside had begun to thin, revealing a muted stretch of green rolling down the valley.
‘Okay, Rhea,’ I said, crouching beside her. ‘You’ve just sat down at your desk in a brand-new city. Everything feels strange. You’re overwhelmed. And then you think about your home and you can finally … breathe.’
She nodded, rolling her shoulders back. She placed her palm over her Jharokha trousers, ready to stroke the fabric the way she’d been briefed. The crew fell silent.
‘Action,’ Abhinav called out.
I watched on the monitor as she inhaled slowly, her chest rising, her fingers grazing the linen garment. Then she turned her head towards the window. On cue, the camera panned to capture the breathtaking view outside.
We ran the shot again for safety, then again when the clouds shifted, then once more when Abhinav decided the curtains needed to be pulled back further. Through each take, Neil and I stood next to each other at the monitor. Every time he stepped closer to exchange notes on the shot, I found myselffolding my arms tightly across my chest and leaning away. If he noticed my stiffness, he didn’t say anything—just kept sneaking little glances at me between takes, like he was trying to decode something and coming up empty.
By the time we broke for lunch, we had wrapped the entire window sequence and only had a few clean shots of the valley to go. I was helping myself to my fourth slice of pizza in the living room downstairs when Arjun came up to me. ‘Hey.’ He sounded apologetic. ‘I might have to head out.’
I nodded, setting my plate down on the dining table. The crew was scattered around the room, chatting loudly as they decompressed. ‘Of course … is everything okay though?’
‘Yeah, yeah.’ He ran a hand over his short cropped hair. ‘Just a small issue at the orchard. A truck broke down so they need my help.’
‘Ah.’ I thought back to the time when he’d planned a birthday picnic for me at his family’s apple orchard. It was one of my favourite memories of us. ‘Go, seriously. You’ve already done more than enough for us.’
‘Finally,’ a voice said from behind me once he’d left. Neil was walking over to me, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans.
‘What’s your problem?’ I jerked my chin up.
‘I’m just saying … you sure he won’t send us a hefty invoice for all this enthusiasm?’
‘Not everyone expects something in return for being nice, you know?’ I mumbled under my breath.
He frowned, a tiny crease forming between his brows. ‘Huh? What is that supposed to mean …’
His voice trailed off when Tanya joined us, her phone camera pointed directly in our faces. ‘Don’t stop talking, I’m just taking some BTS footage.’
Neil and I stared at each other, the awkwardness settling stubbornly between us. I could tell from the look in his eyes … he knew. Every ounce of resentment I’d tried to hide was written all over my face.
‘Ew … why do you guys look like a couple in the middle of a fight?’ She scrunched up her nose, unimpressed. ‘Do something normal, please.’ After a few more seconds of trying to get a usable clip, she scurried off to film the others.
‘Can we talk for a bit?’ Neil bent down to whisper in my ear, one hand touching the back of my arm.
