Part 02
Episode 03 – Worklife
Until here: Nayanika finally decides to work with Pranay after days of contemplation. They both are just getting started.
You were a desert flower…I was a mad traveller… Your eyes were ecstasy and mine were thirsty…
Nayanika was listening to the demo tapes of the tracks that would make the final cut into ‘Heartbreak’ . She was in the Country Music Records studio at Rose Velvet Street, a little away from the city’s main commercial area. The studio was in a sprawling building on the banks of beautiful river Lily which flowed encircling the city. The founders of the label had purposely picked that serene spot. For 20 years the recording company had groomed hundreds of artists and musicians; and the lovely place had surely been an inspiration for many of them. Pranay was present at the studio as well. It had been a week since they started and this was the first time ever Pranay was prepping for an album after thoughtlessly releasing a single. ‘Such passion, such raw and real confessions, why then did he breakup his love?!’ wondered Nayanika.
This past week she had worked round the clock with Pranay to convince the producers and the managing directors at the Country Music Records to release the album without any features from other artists. All they said was, ” We know Pranay is immensely talented and popular but we would like to have atleast two features from artists who are signed with our label”. Nayanika had pressed, ” Sir but fans will love his music in whichever form he does, I can promise you this album will be a hit even without a single feature” Mr. Natesh, chief of the CMR had nodded his head in disagreement. Finally Nayanika, had managed to assure them that if the singles they released prior to the album became a hit they would definitely do a remix that featured other artists. Disturbed by the producer’s scepticism Pranay had even decided to partly produce all the songs.
” A little bit improvisations on the harmony for this one”, said Charan, a well experienced, mentor and composer at the CMR who had been a part of it right from day one. Pranay made note of it. Charan was a man in his early fifties, he had a sharp oval face, a hawk like nose and a thin gold rimmed spectacles rested on it. His long hair which was beginning to turn grey was always oiled and tied at the nape. Black coloured baggy trousers, graphic Tees and innumerable heavy weighing gold chains of different sizes and pendent hanging around his neck was his all time look. Pranay was first spotted by Charan at a local club. “This kid is will be a Rockstar” he said and that’s how Pranay’s future was sealed. Charan had brought Pranay to the studio and since then been his guide and mentor.
It was six in the evening when they finished shortlisting. There was going to be twelve tracks on the initial album and three bonus tracks for the deluxe edition. “Start recording from next week my son, the sooner the better” said Charan as Pranay and Nayanika left the studio. They both got in his car and Pranay started driving seriously. His mind was buzzing with countless ideas and so was Nayanika’s. They both started at once, “You know I am thinking to….” , they laughed, ” ok you go first” she said. ” Yeah! I was thinking of releasing a limited edition merch you know; with the theme of the album on it, chains, hoodies, sweatshirts and caps as a part of promotion”. ” Amazing!! I was thinking the same exact thing. But what about the expenses?”. ” I should do it on my own I guess, because I know CMR won’t agree, and for that I’ll have to meet my ex- manager Rohan. Some of my financial details still remain with him” “Don’t worry I’ll handle it” Nayanika guaranteed him with a smile. Why send her when I can go myself he thought. But his inner voice called out to him , ‘ do you really have the guts to meet your brother after all that happened?’ ‘ No, I am not sure whether I can face him, I’ll let her go’. The car stopped with a jerk in front of his mansion, he drove to the garage. They both got out and walked to the front door, Nayanika looked at the garden, she adored the jasmine bush that embraced the wide porch way. She felt so calm and connected everytime she looked at the garden. Pranay turned and opened his mouth to speak to her, but caught her admiring the garden. The soft evening rays of sun fell on her face making it glow like a golden flower. She looked prettier than ever. Pranay smiled unknowingly. ” I love your garden” she said like a happy little child. ” Yes , I do too” he said.
They went inside. Nayanika placed her bag on the glass top table and sat on the large grey sofa in the big drawing room. Now that she was sure to be a frequent visitor to this house, she had made herself comfortable. The big drawing room accommodated a few classy things such as the sofa, the table and a few aesthetic paintings on the wall. Pranay changed and came with two coffee mugs in his hand. As they sipped the coffee, they discussed the plan for recording and shooting of the musical tracks that was scheduled for the next three months which would be followed by five months of promotion and final release of the album in December. It was 8:30 and dark when Nayanika got up to leave. “It’s too late for you to go alone” ” No it’s ok I am going in a taxi anyway” ” Ok, I will wait with you until you get one.” ” As you like…” She shrugged her shoulders. They both walked out together. They passed the crossroad and came on to the footpath of the main road. The app showed the taxi was on its way. It was one cool night in the middle of May , it was not windy but there was a breeze occasionally. Nayanika and Pranay enjoyed this silence between them. They did not speak out loud, but their hearts knew that the other was enjoying and relaxing as well. Pranay learnt for the first time that even silence could be so impactful. ” Oh! I almost forgot to ask your ex- manager’s number. I’ll meet him tomorrow. By the way there are a slew of meetings to be done tomorrow” ” Yes, I’ll text you”. He sent her the number and the taxi arrived just in time. Nayanika took leave of him and got into the taxi, he wished her a safe ride and turned to walk back home. He looked up at the clear, dark sky and started whistling a “new tune” he felt the stars twinkled in appreciation and he blushed unknowingly. The craziness of the glittery evenings and blazing nights. The quietness of the dark, humming new tunes, a solitary walk down the lane. Well, was this a radical change or a total transformation… we’ll find out.
The next morning, Nayanika called Rohan on his number and informed that she wanted to meet him and collect all the financial details of Pranay that still remained with him. Rohan asked her to come to his office at 11:30 . He had heard rumours from his confidential circle about Nayanika who had been identified on many official occasions related to work with Pranay. ” She seems to be his new manager, a beautiful one” they said. He was worried and curious at the same time, what was his brother up to now? he prayed that his brother better be blessed and not cursed this time. He waited patiently with all the bank records ready for Nayanika to take away. She came at 11:40 to his office on 22nd Eastend Street. ‘ She is pretty indeed,’ thought Rohan when he saw her at the doorway. He asked her to take the seat and handed her over all the papers. She checked them and tucked them inside her file. “What is the renumeration for your work, that he has promised?”asked Rohan with contempt. ” Twenty five percent of the profit” she said unmoved. ” Oh, that’s a good sum for a beginner” ” How do you know I am beginner?” Rohan laughed out loud and said, ” I can read faces miss, you are an inexperienced beginner with a little bit of knack. Let me give you a piece of advice, Pranay is a destructive person, he is easily disturbed and gets emotionally torn away sometimes. He tends to leave behind the people who love and trust him the most”. “I appreciate your concern Mr. Rohan. My work experience with him so far has been pleasant. He asked me to work only if I wished to and I agreed because I like his talent and hardwork. I do not care about his personal life nor his past. Thanks for your advice and the papers. Goodbye”
Rohan sighed with satisfaction. Finally, someone who is as strong headed as my brother. Thank Goodness, he thought.
Meanwhile, Leila was still busy with her work. She was away from the country for four months now. She had tried hooking up with many men, but none of them made her forget Pranay. She just couldn’t get him out of her brain. She lived in Paris right now but her heart was all in Hope City. Besides she had heard something that was beginning to kill her mind……
To be continued….
Words from within... 