Rudaali – Part 3

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Rudaali Part 1
Rudaali Part 2

She sat quietly for a long time and he thought she wouldn’t even reply. But then she said, “this is what my family does and I have nothing else to do.” He looked at her eyes expressionless “aur ap bhi to yehi karti ho ek tarah se dekha jae to ap bhi rudaali mein bhi.” “How dare you say this?” “Saab socho na apke paas naam hai, paisa hai to ap star ho. Even you must have sold death somewhere, sometime. You wear a mask I wear one too. But I am a rudaali and you are a star.” He looked at her with pure anger and she said, “you sell all your emotions I do the same, so why are you so shocked?” Amaan kept on looking at her “she scratched my soul…”

They sat in silence for a while and he asked, “can I see your face Madhu?” “Kyon apne movie mein kaam doge mujhe?” He heard that bewitching laughter again and said “mujhse dur raho saab..” she said and walked away.

“Amaan you look sick..” “Emm kal raat so nehi paya…” Amaan was feeling unwell but he couldn’t miss the shoot. It was a tough scene and he needed to do his stunts. He was unable to give any perfect shot. “Ap bhi Rudaali mein bhi” echoed in his mind. And then he got a full on blow on his face from the villain Arjun. “Amaan, shit you were supposed to duck, someone please come he is bleeding.” “Arjun its okay man I lost concentration.” “I tell you guys Amaan ke scenes aj chhor dete hai he is not in the right shape….” A profusely bleeding Amaan was escorted to the hotel.

She lost her Masi the previous night and quietly held herself. Later at the dunes she found him “you took my place.” “And you stole my peace. You know you are the reason why I got this…” “Are you crazy I wasn’t even there and you blame me for this wound?” “You weren’t there but you were disturbing my thoughts. Madhu you don’t need to do this Rudaali job.” “And what will I do then?” “Mumbai chalogi?” “Why will you help me?”

“I want to see you…” “Oh so you are also like those men who lust on me…” “Madhu…” she saw his pained eyes “I wanted to help you because I got things the hard way.” “Thanks but I will manage. I am used to this life. You know I lost Masi last night.” “So what is holding you back here? Mere saath chalo actually you are right hum dono ki kahani ek hi hai we both have lost a lot so why not be friends…” “Ma kehti thi we should always make friends with people of the same class you are far above me…” “Why you said we both are Rudaalis so we have the same class…” “I thought you are haughty that’s what the magazines say about you…” “I am Madhu, but I have reasons for being haughty dekho kal mera akhri shoot hai iske baad I am leaving for Mumbai. I feel you have a lovely voice and I could help you in Mumbai. If you feel I am a good man then come along with me. Here take my card” He scribbled his personal number and gave it to her “and don’t throw it away in the desert keep it if you need help.”

“But why will you help me?” After trying almost every way to convince her he decided to narrate his story. “Madhu have you heard of the Kosi river? I was twelve when this river took my parents away from me. I had nothing left except my little bro Adi. I decided to come to Mumbai. Initially I begged for food then got a job as a waiter. I was too small to work but I had to feed my brother. Someone said junior artists are always needed in Filmistan. It was tough we starved many times, but working in the studio made sure I got ek time ka khana free. Acting was easy because I was always the Bandar in all Raamlilas around our village. That was it I did everything and worked hard. When I got my first film as a hero I was 20…” “Pata hai mujhe wo Saala No.1” He smiled thinking at least this woman was aware of him. “Madhu Life taught me one thing paisa hai to sab kuch hai …..” “But your interviews say something else.” “That’s because I never let people know of my struggle. Now will you show me your face, we might never meet again?” “Kya fayda?”

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Rudaali Part 4

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