Hello friends, if you want a taste of my book BURNING HEARTS, to see if it piques your interest before you buy a copy, here I’m offering you the prologue and first chapter of the story. Do read and if the plot and characters catch your fancy, you know where to find the book to read.
Paperback on Notionpress, Amazon, Flipkart
PROLOGUE
Canada, 2022
“I know it’s too late. But still…”
Though she remained quiet, her eyes locked with his.
“I’m sorry.”
“CUT.” For a moment Pranav and Pallavi couldn’t connect with their surroundings but in a flip second, they did.
“Are the visuals okay?” Jasmine came towards the screen before Viren to check the visuals.
“Beyond perfect since you are handling the camera,” he winked at her.
Jasmine ignored his obvious flirting. Pallavi smiled at them and strode towards her vanity van whereas Pranav hesitated for a moment before walking into his.
Hotel Trident, Suite: 568
Pallavi walked inside her room and locked the door. She closed her eyes leaning on the door for a minute. Images from the past flashed across her mind. When she opened her eyes, it was blank. She stood there for a moment before walking in for a shower. Much later, sitting in the balcony watching night settle over the city, she dialled a number. As soon as the line connected, her face lit up with a smile hearing the voice at the other end. She whispered into the phone, “I miss you.”
Hotel Trident, Suite: 571
Pranav barged into the room slamming the door behind. Though he expected things to be hard, he never counted it to be this torturous. There was no one to blame because it was all his doings. Suddenly his mobile started to ring. The caller ID read ‘Janaki.’
“Hello.”
“Good evening, Pranav. Hope I am not disturbing.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“How is the shoot going?”
“Good.”
{Silence}
“Pavan asked for you.”
“I will call him after a shower.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye.” He disconnected the call and moved towards the balcony to open the curtains. The sky wrapped in a dark robe, and the city adorned with lights posed for his view. Slowly, he let the memories engulf him.
CHAPTER-1
2010: Munnar
Veer Nanda was lost in thoughts.
My elder daughter, Nisha never gave me a headache over academic choices, but my younger one is a champion in that matter. Pallavi, who is turning eighteen in a month, stood firm in her decision to pursue acting and in her ambition to become an actress.
Though I appreciate my daughter’s talent and passion, I’m not entirely pleased with her choice to make it a career. My wife is angry with me for giving in to Pallavi’s decision but how can I not when my sunshine turned her trusting eyes onto me, silently pleading to give her the freedom to do something she believed in? I can’t let my daughter down; all my life I’ve taught them to stand up and fight for what they believed in. I just hope my daughters find the right path always and make the right choices, and learn from their faltered steps.
Pallavi Nanda was the most beloved member of her family. Cinema was her biggest obsession since childhood and somehow even before she knew it, being an actress became the biggest desire of her life. She daydreamed of herself as a warrior queen fighting her enemy on battlefields, dancing alluringly to hit music, emoting to intense scenes which would move the audience to tears; she’s a dreamer and goner. She’s someone who would mimic and dance around the house to appease her angry mother when she got up late or irritated her sister lost in medical books by engaging in dialoguebaazi like a full-throated drama queen.
Pallavi was a die-hard fan of Pranav Malhotra and found his journey to becoming an actor as her inspiration. He commanded the film industry and ruled Pallavi’s heart too; typical teenage celeb-crush. Her teenage mind saw the world with rose-tinted glasses but real life and its harsh side were soon going to beckon her.
As usual, Pallavi was going to surf the entertainment section of the newspaper to learn the new gossips in tinsel town when the bold headline on the front page stopped her heart.
PRANAV MALHOTRA, NO MORE A BACHELOR!!!!
Mumbai: Pranav Malhotra, the Raging Star of the cine world, the heart-throb, the most sought-after bachelor, broke many hearts yesterday night. He got married to Janaki Kashyap, the new CEO of Kashyap Industries, yesterday in a strictly private function held at his residence. There were very few members from the film field and the media was not allowed. This sudden unannounced marriage has come as a surprise to many and news for heart break for his female fans. Anyways, we wish Mr. & Mrs. Malhotra a Happy Married Life!!!
Just like many teenage fan girls, she mourned the news for a few days until her admission at Pune Institute got her going. She concentrated on her dream and worked hard for it. In a guest lecture session, she met Jasmine Elvis, a well-acclaimed Cinematographer. Jasmine was a strong-willed lady who made an identity for herself in the film industry with sheer hard work and passion. She was known for her tough nut image within the industry since she climbed the ladders of success at a young age. Her interactive sessions excited Pallavi.
Jasmine noticed the fire in Pallavi Nanda and became the much-needed morale booster she needed in this field. Though their ideologies were different about most things and they belonged to two different decades by age, their passion for cinema made them bond well. It was Jasmine who recommended Pallavi for her first break in films.
December 2011, Mumbai
Suraj Gupta, the renowned Film Director, had a project in mind for a long time. Since he couldn’t find his heroine in any existing actresses or new faces he auditioned over the years, he had the project on the backburner. However, when Jasmine handed over Pallavi’s portfolio, he knew he had found his lead actress.
When Pallavi opened the door, Jasmine took her in a bear hug. It had been three months since Pallavi came to Mumbai, after completing her studies and stayed with Jasmine. Pallavi was juggling between giving auditions and doing some random modelling and ad jigs to sustain like many other movie aspirants.
“Whoa, what’s up?”
“Catch this. Actually, you should be giving the treat, but it doesn’t matter.”
“But for what?”
“Your final audition.”
“What?”
“I am just coming from Suraj Gupta’s studio. He loved your portfolio. Want a screen test tomorrow itself. He was waiting for the right heroine to do Bepanaah; a script which he wrote himself. It’s a great story.”
Pallavi was too stunned to say anything. Jasmine grinned.
“I know how it feels. Can’t believe it right?”“Yes, I can’t believe this. It’s huge. Suraj sir….oh my God! Even to be considered by him is a great thing. Even if I don’t pass in the audition, no big deal.”
“Think positive. You will rock it. And yes, to be launched by Suraj sir is luck! And now before you fly high, you have one more reason to be happy.”
“What?”
“There is a chance that Pranav Malhotra might be the male lead of the film. He is Suraj sir’s favourite and seems like he has been fixed for the role for a long time.” Pallavi gasped.
“Yes, I can’t believe this. It’s huge. Suraj sir….oh my God! Even to be considered by him is a great thing. Even if I don’t pass in the audition, no big deal.”
“Think positive. You will rock it. And yes, to be launched by Suraj sir is luck! And now before you fly high, you have one more reason to be happy.”
“What?”
“There is a chance that Pranav Malhotra might be the male lead of the film. He is Suraj sir’s favourite and seems like he has been fixed for the role for a long time.” Pallavi gasped.
My first film paired opposite my favourite actor, and a launch under such an acclaimed director…dreams does come true.
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