The Hilt fulfills the Blade

                                           The Hilt fulfills the Blade 

She sat in the Starbucks cafe, sipping her coffee and staring out of the window. The blood stained knife lay next to her handbag, covered with her blue silk scarf. ………… All the eyes around were staring at her.

“Cut………….” the director’s voice echoed throughout the cafe. “Wonderful…Marvelous” his eyes exulted like a child. The whole movie came out incredibly. His heroine has portrayed the role beautifully. The blood stained knife became the climax of the movie.

The usually calm café seemed excited. The finished glasses of the café welcomed the tender sunrays with a transparent heart. The entire crew of the movie was inside the café. Claps and whistles flooded the arena.

The people were jolting one another outside the cafe. It was unusual to have crowd like these in the weekdays. Chennai is a city which is not new to shootings. But the people were already excited to see their dream girl in reality. A kind of dream girl with courageous heart and quick wit. Cute from outside and strong from inside. They waited outside to see their Queen once more.

Tiya. A name that trembles in each youngster’s heart. The name maybe old fashioned but the person who carries it, definitely not. Her life would be like a movie for the one who hears it for the first time. She is one of those girls who had never seen her parents face. Her face says she is a North Indian. Her smile shows the glimpse of the south. Brought up in an orphanage she has always been a bold, enthusiastic person. When the eyes of a great director fall upon her, the ladder of success was laid in front of her. All she had to do was to climb up. She did it well and now she is here. Twenty five years of age with more than twenty movies that credits her name. Nowadays women can work in other fields without support. But, work in film industry, a tough thing. A tough job especially when there is no moral support from behind. In spite of being orphan, she never thought that she is alone. “Loneliness doesn’t comes when you are alone, it comes when you are sad” that’s her words. Be chill, be happy. That’s her lifestyle.

“Pack up” the director’s voice showed a sense of satisfaction.

Tiya was busy in removing her makeup. It felt that the makeup was hiding her beauty. Her curly hair that was let loose added charm to her. Sharp nose with a dimple in her cheek made a great blend of elegance and cuteness.

Finished the makeup she was all set to leave the set. Director of this movie is a genuine person and she had never doubted his talent. He is an assistant of the director who introduced her in the industry. Moreover, a simple soul.

“Very nice of you, Mam…. I would never forget this opportunity” said Raj, the director of Cafe.

“How many times would I say to you?” throttled Tiya “Don’t call me Mam” with a false anger “Am I looking older?” cuddling her hair.

Raj “Never.. Never.. You are looking exactly same as I sighed you the first day” garnering his words “Except your talent”.

Tiya “Aaaaan… Enough” showed a straight face to Raj.

”Anyway I had forgotten one thing, there is a party for the crew members tonight” he continued, “Will you be free to join us?”

“I don’t know… You just tell me where. I would come if I am free” said Tiya.

After finishing, the conversation with the director she walked out of the café. Wearing a Black top over a white scoop paired with a black leathered pant she looked like one heck of awesomeness. The black aviator in her sharp nose made her face more radiant. Her eyes hovered through the aviators, with a lopsided smile sparking dimple in her face. Every eye in the crowd was in her while she walked to her car waving her hand. An aura of ramp walking fashioned there





“Party !!!” thundered the walls of Taj Coromandel. Extraordinarily furnished rooms with party lights gave fresh air to the event. Light music was played giving a high class party effect. A nicely lit stage is made dark with some black linen. The mike stood all alone in the centre of the stage.

Raj “Vanakkam. I am glad to welcome you all in this gathering. This wouldn’t have been possible without you people. I am owed to thank the people who had given me this opportunity” eyed Tiya who was smiling like an innocent child. (Vanakkam is Tamil’s way of greeting someone). Raj finished his thanking speech and then the party starts.

Tiya was sitting in a table with a glass of wine in the front. She was wearing a Red slit gown. The gown glittered in the lights like a lightning in a sunny day.

“Hey, thanks for coming” there came Raj with a wide smile in his face.

“I would like to introduce someone to you” he called upon someone by his side.

An attractive man with a well toned body man came near the table.

He said “Hello” offering a hand in the way of giving a handshake. He looked like “’Black’ is my color Man” since he wore black throughout.

Tiya replied “Hello” giving a handshake looking Raj with a sneaky look in her face.

Raj “This is Aari. He is the hero of my next film. New face for the audience but staying in the industry for the past years” gave a formal introduction of the man.

Tiya give a pretty smile to the both. Raj retired from the conversation leaving the two alone.

“I have become a great fan of you watching your recent movies” started Aari, “Especially, after seeing the movie ‘Crush’”.

“Thank You. It’s so nice of you.” Tiya tried to end the conversation.

“Let’s have some drink” but Aari had no intention of ending it.

“No, thanks. I don’t drink”

“Oh. I also thought like that”

Tiya was starting to observe him. His talk was like a flirt but his eye wasn’t. It stayed still like raindrop in a petal.

“What did you thought?” quirkiness shined in her voice.

Aari “I…..” finally developed his guts to ask, grunted “thought of asking your number”.

Tiya was pretty amazed. Not by what he asked but by what is happening here. Within an hour of introduction, he is asking my number? She was simply dumbstruck by the man.

Aari “Hello” was waving his hands in front of her, “Just asked your number. It’s okay if you don’t give” ceased his talk.

Tiya “Not like that. I have a policy of receiving anything first before giving” spoke like a fish jumping out of the hand.

“Yeah. I should have been the first one.”

“Then be One”

Aari gave his phone number and then asked for her number.

All he got was “I don’t give my number in the first meeting” in reply.

Without any scruple, he continued talking with same coolness. Tiya liked him. They began to talk like longtime friends within matter of minutes.

People were dancing in a stage set in the middle of the room. A band played the music. Everyone was simply enjoying the party.

“Gooooood Eveninggg to all” a voice grunted from the speaker. Everyone one turned their heads. The spotlight spotted the voice. It is Raj their director. “It’s a sad day for me. It has ended. I will miss the days of directing my love in the movie” he looked drunk. “Yeah…. Madam, it’s you” his tired eyes rolled over “Tiya… Tiya…. Tiya, Tiya”. Suddenly, “Yes, I Love You…. Love you, dear Madam” his voice roared up. “I….” his assistants came over the stage and dragged him back.

Tiya felt her rhythm stopping. She became upset, it reflected in her eyes and actions. All time cheerful, bold girl got her head down. The floor she was standing felt stumbling. Her mind became blank. Blank as hell. She stead fasted out of the party hall. Her angriness made her look like red hot chilly.

She got on the car. It started raining. The rain drops on the window glass made her memories tremble. In the morning, she never felt that this day would become this much of shattered. It started like an all usual day but, ended harsh fully bad. She wasn’t expecting this kind of activity from Raj. She had a great respect for him but, not that kind of feeling. Her mind was brought to reality by the car driver’s horn. The car had reached near home. Tiya’s eyes flashed at the window for a second. It had stopped raining. Drizzling is not new but, a fact hit her hard. Raindrops in the window were gone. Humans are also like these raindrops, they change from place to place.





Two days later in the morning, Tiya’s car was parked outside a Mental hospital. Raj was standing near the car, his posture filled with shame. He had just arrived there.

Raj “Tiya….” walked towards her who was coming out of the hospital.

Her charming face became hatefully ignorant. The always living smile in her face is killed by the anger. She looked at him with burning eyes and stood at a place.

Raj “A sorry would not make it up. But, I am helpless. Please forgive me. I was drunk for the first time. I wasn’t conscious” tried to please her.

“Anything wouldn’t come out without in heart” Tiya, “Even if drunk” nagged down her with sight.

Raj “It’s true. I had a crush on you when the first time I saw you but, that I have killed that thought long before. It just happened wrong on that day. I am sorry” begged down to the earth.

Tiya “Oh God. The ones to be in the mental hospital are out of it and the ones to be in it are out….. Look……… I am done with your film and I am done with you as well. The film is going to release. That’s all between us” erupted like a volcano.

Raj was dumbstruck after hearing this. He walked from there like a disappointed child. He felt ashamed by his act. So, he didn’t even tried to speak. He turned his head towards her in pain after walking a small distance.





It had been a month since that incident had happened. The film is set to release. She was already tired of all the gossips spread about her. Her home was calm. She was busy with her laptop. She took her phone to call her manager. The call accidentally went to Aari, the handsome Hunk she met at the party. She wanted to give it a try. Two to three rings went on.

“Hello” a young voice answered the phone.

Tiya “Hello” spelled that last ‘o’ like a myth.

“Who is this?” asked Aari.

“People forgot easily. Even fans” she spilled the words.

“But it’s wonderful if celebrities remember their fans” replied Aari.

“Not everyone. Only few remember”

“Yeah and it’s awesome if that is someone who doesn’t give their number”

“I just called to say that I have called wrongly. Can I please put the phone down?”

“It’s in your fingers. But, don’t take the curse of a youngster. Give him the pleasure of speaking with her…” he stopped there.

“Hmmm…. What?” smile in her face displayed her heart.

Anyway his misfortune made it a phone conversation. “Nothing. Can we meet somewhere?” asked Aari.

“Sorry, I am going to Bangalore as a vacation. I am going next week.”

“Awesome. We will meet at Bangalore. I am going there for a work”

“Ok, bye. We will. This is my number. Take it”

“Yeah, bye ”





The 50th day poster of Cafe looked fresh in an old building’s wall.

Aari and Tiya were walking on the sands of Goa.

“Sometimes what people say is damn true. That hateful day gave me the love of my life. If that day doesn’t exist I wouldn’t be walking here holding your hand” Tiya had said these words many times in different places at different times. But her love is unchanged. Aari is acting in Raj’s film as the protagonist.





Aari’s first film is going to release next week.

A boy pastes the 100th day poster of Cafe on the wall.

Tiya sat in the Starbucks café, sipping her coffee and staring out of the window. The blood stained knife lay next to her handbag, half covered with a shawl….. Two people in the café were speaking among themselves pointing towards her.

‘……….Cut………..’. She wished this moment to be a movie scene. Many of them in the prison are also wishing the same. Life is a drama but, there is no rehearsal.

She wasn’t all that sad. Her eyes seemed satisfied.





Tomorrow is the 100th day of her film Cafe. She was invited to attend a success meet. Aari went out in the morning regarding a shoot. He would return soon. They planned to go to the meet held at Chennai.

Aari and Tiya are living together in a flat in Bangalore. Tiya was arranging the home. When she took a box, it fell down. A number of photographs scattered on the floor with a diary. She tried to pick up the photos. She was shocked. She struggled to accept the truth. Not because it was a photo of his love with some girl. The girl in the photo is familiar to her.

“Mam…” Tiya suddenly returned to the present. Those two people speaking among themselves were near her.

“Yes” answered Tiya a little mentally absent.

They offered a note and black sketch asking her Autograph. While she was signing, they noted the half covered knife next to the bag. They went straight to the café’s serving area.



The girl in the photo is Aruna, Tiya’s childhood friend from the orphanage. Aruna was adopted by someone when she was teen. Their friendship lasted only till that. Two years before, Tiya saw her in a mental hospital. Her adopted parents couldn’t control their tears.

Aruna loved a guy, he left her making her pregnant. Unable to take this, Aruna became mentally ill. Even though their parents tried their best, they couldn’t identify the guy.

Tiya never imagined a betrayer within Aari. Her heart stopped. She felt like a corpse. All the love within her got evaporated away. Loneliness surrounded her. Her world become upside down.

The calling bell woke her up from her thoughts. She packed the box with the photographs and the diary. After making herself normal she went to open the door. It was raining heavily outside.

Aari entered the home exhausted by the shoot. “Coffee” asked Aari.

A sleeping pills mixed coffee and kitchen knife finished the job.



A police car entered the café. Two policemen entered into the cafe and searched for their informer. The two who informed the police, were talking among themselves in the serving area. One of them noted the policemen and pointed his fingers towards the table in which Tiya had her coffee.

The seat was empty. Both the policemen gave a doubtful look on the informers. The informers were in a real shock, they walked towards the table. The policemen reached the table before them.

A tissue paper was all that is left in the table, with a smiley drawn in black. Three dots shined near the smiley…

                                                                                        - Alan Giftson