Living the lie

Anita’s heart beat with happiness. So much joy, that she was even ashamed of her petty thoughts.

BY rani JhaLa

it was the film awards night. The winner of the category

‘New discovery of the year’ was about to be announced.

Anita sat on the edge of her seat, her parents on either side of her mimicking her stance. It seemed so surreal. A girl from a small town outside Mumbai with no financial backing and no internal connections was seated amidst the nominees, awaiting the announcement of the winner’s name.

As far as Anita was concerned, she had arrived. Even if she did not win, the movie industry has woken up to her. Her manager was looking at two new offers, the perfect roles to set her up for the future.

She had two people to thank for this. A simple man who worked as a chauffeur, and an even simpler lady who worked as a teacherher beloved parents! Living in their middle class world away from the glitter and glamour of the celluloid world, no one could understand the insatiable need that Anita had to be an actress.

They say her very first word was ‘movie’. By the time she was five, she was acting in school plays. By the time she was in college, she was acting on the stage. And it was at one of her shows that a film director took note of Anita’s talent. He put her into a play that his wife was directing. Before the season ended, he had signed her up for his next film. It was the usual ‘starter film’ with the usual plot - girl meets boy, girl leaves boy, boy finds girl. But even he acknowledged that it was her acting that had made the movie exceptional.

“And the winner is ……….” These words brought Anita back to the present.

The actress who stood on the stage holding the trophy was the famous leading lady Rita, of the past era. With her dyed hair and a face caked with make-up, she now evoked more sympathy than adoration. She was noted for clinging to the microphone when she got hold of it, screeching like a teenager in her pretended enthusiasm, and dressing like a madam of a cheap brothel.

“Anita!” Her mother clutched her hand, repeating the outcome. For the first time in her life,

“Let Rita relive her glories, I am going to walk up to mine!”

Anita hugged her parents and then slowly made her way to the dais. This would never be hers again, so she walked slowly, savouring each moment. Her very first award!

Finally she reached her prize. Rita enveloped her in a hug and wished her every success, but did not release the trophy. Instead she told the world that it was an honour for her to be able to give the award to an actress with so much talent. Anita bowed with humility, thanked her graciously and then blew a kiss to her parents. It was to them that she owed her gratitude. They had ensured that she was given every opportunity in life, unmindful of the cost or the personal hardship. And in her acceptance speech, she acknowledged their sacrifice. Both of them broke down. Anita too, was in tears.

Rita took the opportunity to take the microphone back.

Irritated, Anita grabbed it back and finished her acceptance speech. She thanked the director, the producer and her co-stars.

Finally she walked away from the stage leaving Rita behind, who continued to wrest for the microphone.

After that incident, she made sure she kept her distance from Rita at the celebration party, but somehow whenever a photo was taken, Rita would manoeuvre her way into the shot. She even managed to involve herself in the interviews.

After an hour of playing the game, Anita finally decided that she was going to be frank and tell the old actress to leave her alone. When she saw her go towards the balcony Anita followed, stopping for a few more press photographs along the way.

On stepping out onto the balcony, she looked around but could not see Rita anywhere.

Turning to go back in, she noticed an open door to the stairwell through which voices she recognised were raised in argument.

“Anita is famous now. We have fulfilled our side of the deal; it is time to fulfill yours,” her father said.

“I have given you everything you have always asked for but now that she is an independent woman, your services are no longer needed,” Rita replied.

“The services of a parent never end,” her mother stated. “Parents! You both were acting a role, nothing more. A role for which you were wellcompensated!” came the scornful reply.

Anita’s head began reeling. What were they talking about? Why was parenthood and compensation being used in the same sentence?

“We may not have given birth to Anita, but she is our child,” her mother said.

“But you are not her mother,” Rita screamed

“I am! She is our child. Just as the hundreds of illegitimate children you actors produce who become children to parents like us. We give legitimacy to your kids while you all continue in your careers and pretend to live noble lives. Look around and you will see the resemblances. All the proof is in that room,” retaliated her father.

Rita did not refute the claim; instead she spat back, “You take money to be a mother. How noble do you call that?”

“And you? You pay to keep your child hidden,” her father attacked.

“Not any more, it is time for me to introduce my daughter to the world,” Rita replied.

“Why now?” asked Anita’s mother in a softer tone.

“Because it is time for my revenge,” Rita replied and then added, “Do you know who her father is?”

“Your affair with your co-star was well known,” her father answered.

“Ah, but that was the cover up. It was not an actor who was Rita’s father, it was a director,” Rita replied.

Anita leaned against the wall. She knew who that director was.

A loud bang made Rita and Anita’s carers rush onto the balcony. Seeing that it was empty they heaved a breath of relief, then turned to see Rita’s award. She had smashed it against the wall.

Living in their middle class world away from the glitter and glamour of the celluloid world, no one could understand the insatiable need that Anita had to be an actress.

After that incident, she made sure she kept her distance from rita at the celebration party, but somehow whenever a photo was taken, rita would manoeuvre her way into the shot.