Once Again In Love

CHAPTER 1

"Cut!" The director announced from behind the camera, giving the crew a thumbs up. Shanaya smiled and moved to the green room to prepare for the next scene.

"Hey! Have you made a decision about the award ceremony? Will you be attending?" Natasha asked, brushing her hair and admiring herself in the mirror. "You already know the answer," replied Shanaya, flipping through the pages of her script. Natasha's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she spoke. "What? You're not attending the ceremony again this year? It's high time you made a public appearance and stopped living under a rock!" she exclaimed, disbelief evident in her tone.

"I don't see the need for it. I can make the same amount of money either way. By posting my pictures online, I can reach a wide audience, and that's all that matters." Shanaya confidently lowered the temperature of the air conditioner in the room.

"I don't understand why you disable the comments on your posts. Are you afraid of knowing what people think about you?" Natasha asked. "No, I'm not afraid. I just prefer to keep a low profile and avoid being a subject of gossip," replied the other person. She looked at Natasha and tried to make her understand. "I understand, the entertainment industry thrives on gossip and controversy. The more attention you get, the more opportunities you receive. But I don't want to be in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. I'd rather focus on my work and let it speak for itself."

Shanaya was a popular figure among both her admirers and critics, but she preferred to maintain a low profile. Only her close friends and family were privy to the details of her personal life. She did not attend award shows and did not give interviews that lasted more than 10 minutes. She did model for cosmetic and fashion accessory brands but did not seem interested in any other pursuits besides acting and modeling. Shanaya chose to avoid controversies and did not seek attention through such means.

"OK, forget about it. Can you tell me what you think about Reyhan?" Natasha gave Shanaya a suggestive look. Shanaya laughed, amused by her colleague's enthusiasm. "Sorry, nothing is going on between us," Shanaya responded. "What do you mean? I thought you two had a connection," Natasha said disappointedly.

"Let me be clear, there is no personal involvement with any guy. Reyhan and I are simply good friends, both on and off-screen," she confidently stated as she took a sip of her tea.

As they're preparing for the next scene, Natasha tries to get her co-star's attention. "Alright, but I guess he likes you." Her co-star looks up, "No, he doesn't. And even if he does, that's his choice," she replies with a mirthful smile. The two actresses get ready to shoot the next scene, and they're both focused on their roles. As soon as they hear the director's announcement that the next shot is ready, they quickly get up, gather their belongings, and leave the room in a hurry to resume shooting.

Upon the completion of the filming of some remarkably impressive scenes, the director officially declares the conclusion of the team's endeavor for the day.

"Hey there!" Reyhan approached Shanaya with a warm and cheerful smile. Shanaya smiled back in acknowledgment. "Guess what? We have been nominated as the most popular pair in the TV industry for the second time! Can you believe it?" Reyhan's excitement was contagious, and Shanaya couldn't help but feel thrilled too.

"Yeah, I received the e-mail. Congratulations!" Shanaya forwarded her hand, which Reyhan joyfully accepted. "Same to you. I hope I won't be alone on the stage this time around. This would be our second time winning the title, and I hope we will collect the award together." Reyhan scratched the back of his neck and looked down awkwardly.

Shanaya expressed doubt and apologized to Reyhan, saying she would not be attending the ceremony. Reyhan responded in a monotone voice, saying that Shanaya always says the same thing. He acknowledged that award shows can be boring but suggested that things have changed, and it won't be so tedious this time. Reyhan encouraged Shanaya, saying that they would win anyway and everything would be fine.

Shanaya smiled despondently.

6 YEARS AGO

"What kind of behavior is this, Atharva?" Shanaya yelled as soon as the trophy hit the ground.

"Don't shout at me!" Atharva put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, making her gasp. "Did you hear the reporters? They called me 'incompetent'. That's what people call me now. Are you happy?" Atharva spoke softly and dangerously, whispering in her ear.

"Atharva, they must be joki...." She trailed off, spotting the anger in his eyes. "Yeah, no, go on," he sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Complete that sentence. They must be joking!" The room filled with an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the sound of her stifled sobs. His grip tightened on her arm, causing her tears to flow freely. The sight of her trembling form, the salty taste of her tears, and the acrid smell of fear hung heavy in the air. "Yeah, because you, Mrs. Shanaya Atharva Kapoor," he spat out her name with venom, "have made a fool out of me today." His words echoed in her ears, intensifying the ache in her chest. "Was it necessary to dance with your co-actor?" His accusatory tone sliced through the tension. "Was it?" he demanded, his anger palpable. The room seemed to shrink with each passing moment, suffocating her with its oppressive atmosphere. "I am asking something," he seethed, his voice harsh and unforgiving, "and I expect a reply."

"It was scripted. We rehearsed for weeks to put on an exceptional performance and the producers wouldn't settle for anything less. However, I did my best to keep it simple and not go over the top. The thing is, our fans adore us and want to see us perform on stage more often. Additionally, award shows need high ratings to succeed, so we have to give it our all." She couldn't continue as Atharva threw her forcefully onto the couch.

"Why the hell are you trying to teach me this?" he asked with a mix of frustration and anger in his voice. He bent down to her level, his eyes locked on hers, and forcefully grabbed her chin, making her look into his eyes. "We belong to the same industry, right? I've been at this game for years. I know how everything works. Or wait, did you also start considering me 'incompetent'?" he spoke, his tone laced with bitterness and a humorless chuckle. The air was thick with tension as he waited for her response, his grip on her chin still firm.

"Atharva, I urge you to try to understand all this. I am truly sorry that you had to go through the humiliation that you did, but I must emphasize that I am not the one at fault here. Can you please help me understand what exactly my fault is in all of this? Is it because I am good at acting? Or is it because the fans have taken a liking to my series? Or perhaps, and I say this with the utmost sensitivity, is it because your projects have not been as successful as you had hoped in the past year?" She spoke in a soft tone, her head bowed, as if not wanting to face the impact of her words.

Atharva could not bear the humiliation that his wife's words had caused him. His cheeks burned with shame, and he felt the need to release the pent-up frustration inside him. He stood up from his chair, his fists clenched, and his eyes fixed on Shanaya, who sat on the sofa. Without thinking twice, he picked up a vase from the table and threw it on the ground with all his might. The vase shattered into pieces, producing a loud and terrifying sound that echoed throughout the room. Shanaya gasped in terror and looked at her husband with wide eyes.

"Atharva...." She tried to speak, but couldn't gather the courage to say anything more. She stood up slowly and placed a trembling hand on her husband's back, still scared to face his wrath. In response, Atharva jerked her hand away and glared at her with red eyes. "Not a word, Shanaya. Not a word." With that, he turned around and walked towards their bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

PRESENT TIME

"Shanaya?" Reyhan gave a gentle nudge to get her attention. "Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to take care of a few things at home. Would it be okay if we talked later?" Shanaya smiled warmly and excused herself. Reyhan watched as she walked away, filled with admiration in his heart.

Upon entering her home, her pet dog, Chico, greeted Shanaya. He came running towards her, wagging his tail gleefully. Shanaya was overjoyed to see him and lifted him into her arms. She could feel his soft fur against her skin and petted his back lovingly. She then set him down on the ground and ruffled his fur some more.

In a childlike voice, Shanaya asked Chico, "How was your day? Did you have enough food?" Chico responded by barking a few times, which made her laugh. She was delighted to see that Chico was in good spirits and had a healthy appetite. To Shanaya, Chico was not just a pet, but a part of her family. She spent some more time with him, playing and cuddling before heading off to freshen up.

After freshening up, she walked over to her bed to relax. The 12-hour shoot had taken a toll on her energy levels, but she decided to engage in a constructive activity. She opened up YouTube to browse the latest topics in the entertainment world.

As she surfed the internet, she stumbled upon a treasure trove of juicy gossip - who got hitched, who got unhitched, who's dating who, and who's up for a role in the next blockbuster. She even found some hilarious videos featuring actors and actresses doing some seriously weird stuff. And if that wasn't enough, she stumbled upon some scandalous tweets from some of the leading ladies of Hollywood and Bollywood, which made her gasp and chuckle at the same time. It was like a never-ending stream of entertainment, and she couldn't get enough!

Her phone rang. It was her mom, and she picked it up immediately.

"Hey Mom, what's up?" she exclaimed happily, trying to keep her energy up, but her exhaustion was evident in the yawn that escaped her mouth. Her mother replied, "I saw the latest episode of your show and you were amazing! I'm so proud of you, and I undoubtedly know that you'll win the Best TV Actress award again this year!" Her mom's excitement was contagious, and she couldn't help but laugh.

Shanaya responded to her mother's comment with a tired smile, her fingers idly playing with her hair. "I don't know, Mom, but thanks for the appreciation," she said, sounding a bit unsure of herself.

Her mother, however, refused to let the topic go. "Oh, come on, don't even try to tell me that you're not attending the ceremony this year, either. It's high time you made an appearance at these award shows," she began to ramble on, her voice growing more insistent with each passing moment.

Shanaya was feeling helpless as her mother suggested attending another award show. While her mother had good intentions, the idea of going to another award show filled her with dread. She had attended one a few years ago, and it did not go well. Despite receiving an award, the person who was supposed to be her biggest supporter spent the entire night demotivating and disrespecting her. The memory of his angry look, seething glare, heartbreaking words, and fake smiles toward the audience still gave her chills.

Despite her misgivings, Shanaya simply nodded and smiled, not wanting to upset her mother any further.

After finishing a long conversation with her mother, she slowly ended the call. Feeling a bit drained, she opened her social media app and began scrolling through her feed. As she scrolled, she stumbled upon a few reels and pictures that were edited to feature her with her co-actor. She then came across some of her friends' latest posts and left comments expressing her admiration for them.

Although she felt too exhausted to reply to all of her direct messages, she decided to respond to a few of her closest friends. While glancing at the messages sent to her by her fans, she couldn't help but smile at the kind words and encouragement they shared with her. It was moments like these that made her feel truly grateful to her fans and the love they showed her.

While browsing, she stumbled upon a few pictures of Bhoomika Chopra, a new actress who was all set to make her debut in the upcoming film alongside the famous actor Karan Malhotra. Since Karan was a good friend of hers, she watched the trailer of the film and was impressed by it. She then proceeded to read the comments.

"Another blockbuster by Atharva Kapoor on its way, I guess."

"All the movies produced by Atharva have topped the charts for the past 3 years."

"He is good at production, but I want to see him acting again. His last movie was a year ago, missing seeing him shirtless."

OK, she might have missed it. She went through the trailer once again and spotted his name in the 'producer' section. She sighed. Before she could turn her phone off and call it a day, a certain comment caught her attention.

"I've just heard some rumors that Bhoomika and Atharva are dating. This might explain why Bhoomika got the leading role in the latest film and Aparna was turned down." Aparna is a well-known actress that many producers want to work with, so it's surprising that Atharva chose a newcomer instead of her. Shanaya was quite curious about what might have prompted Atharva's decision.

This was the first time that she had come across a dating rumor involving her ex-husband since they got divorced five years ago. She was intrigued and couldn't resist searching for more information. As she dug deeper, she stumbled upon pictures of the two of them leaving a restaurant late at night and spending time together at a stadium. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy in her heart, even though she tried her best to suppress it. She knew that people move on after a breakup, but seeing him with someone else still stirred up some old feelings. Despite the mixed emotions, she decided to take it all in stride and move on with her life as she had been doing all these years.