As he smiled at her, genuinely receiving her compliment, Ravi felt a sense of warmth. She hadn’t said it just to make him feel good; she meant it. Sure, she hadn’t seen his full range, but what she had seen so far was someone who could connect with an audience. And that’s a significant part of acting, regardless of whether or not the director dictated every move.
When Dave left the sentence open, Ravi answered without thinking, her maiden name slipping out automatically. “Ravneet Chadha,” she said, the familiar name rolling off her tongue before realisation struck her. A brief flicker of surprise crossed her face, and she quickly corrected herself, “I mean… Ravi May.”
There was a subtle pause, her eyes shifting slightly as if registering the weight of the adjustment. She offered a small, almost apologetic smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sorry, still getting used to that,” she added, her tone light but with a hint of something deeper beneath the surface. It was clear that transitioning to her married name wasn’t just about a simple name change - it echoed the complexities of her marriage and the identity she was still figuring out.
Ravi gave a quick, slightly nervous laugh after correcting herself. “But you can just call me Ravi,” she added, her voice warm as she flashed him a reassuring smile. Her fingers absentmindedly played with the edge of her sleeve, as if hoping to lighten the moment and shift the focus. “Everyone does,” she continued, leaning back into the conversation with more ease, hoping to brush past the slip without lingering on the awkwardness.
Ravi chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with amusement as she watched him clarify. “Okay, okay, I stand corrected,” she teased, holding her hands up in playful surrender. “You’re right; you didn’t say that and I should’ve known you weren’t avoiding the spotlight entirely. I mean, swinging from chandeliers? That’s pretty bold. Now I’m curious which parties I’ve been missing.”
She let her teasing hang for a moment before softening her tone again, her expression more thoughtful. “But seriously, I get what you’re saying. The media only cares when you’re being wild or dramatic, not when you’re just… living your life. It’s the same for a lot of us.” She gave a knowing shrug. “Sometimes it’s like the real version of you doesn’t matter as much as the character they’ve created.”
Ravi’s playful side returned as she added with a wink, “But hey, if swinging from chandeliers is how you stay on top, you’ve gotta own it, right?”
Ravi’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, though her expression quickly melted into amusement when Dave answered her question about his abs so bluntly. “Yes.” She hadn’t expected him to admit it so readily, and the sheer straightforwardness of his reply caught her off guard. She chuckled softly, shaking her head as he continued.
When he mentioned the girl from the movie set coming up to feel his biceps, Ravi couldn’t help but grin wider, leaning back slightly in her seat. “Seriously? That actually happened?” she asked, her tone playful but genuinely curious. She imagined the scene - someone walking up to Dave just to touch his muscles - and it was almost too absurd to picture.
But as he went on to explain that his abs were apparently the most important thing for the movie, Ravi’s smile softened, though the amusement never fully left her eyes. “So, what, they’re just making sure you stay ripped for the camera?” she teased, though there was a note of sympathy in her voice. It wasn’t lost on her that despite his light-hearted delivery, there was something more to what he was saying - a sense that he felt reduced to his appearance, that his worth in these roles was tied entirely to his looks. She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a teasing smile as she watched him, trying to hold back a laugh but failing as it bubbled out. “So, it actually is all about the abs, huh?”
There was a playful glint in her eyes as she teased him, but there was also a hint of something deeper - an understanding of the pressure he might feel to live up to a certain image. “I guess that’s Hollywood for you. But don’t sell yourself short, Dave. You might have killer abs, but like I said, there’s more to you than that.” Her voice softened, a note of sincerity slipping through as she spoke.
The whole exchange felt light, almost flirtatious, but Ravi’s intention wasn’t just to flatter him. She wanted him to see himself beyond just the physical, to realise that people might stick around for more than just his appearance. And even if she couldn’t change how he viewed himself overnight, she hoped to plant a small seed of confidence in something beyond his abs.
She noticed the way he was looking at her, something more intense in his eyes. It wasn’t new for her to receive attention, but this felt different. She could sense the shift, the way his gaze lingered on her with a mix of admiration and desire. She wasn’t sure if it was the heat of the evening or just the unexpected connection between them, but something about the moment made her pulse quicken slightly.
Ravi’s expression shifted subtly as Dave held out his hand, the air between them thickening for a second. She could feel the tension, almost as if they had both forgotten about everything else in the moment. She hesitated, her eyes flicking between his hand and his face, searching for any hint of what this moment might mean. There was an allure in the idea of taking his hand and following him into whatever adventure lay ahead, a chance to escape her reality, if only for a little while.
But then he mentioned her husband and his girlfriend, and the bubble burst. A flicker of disappointment coursed through her. When Dave mentioned Ezra, it felt like a reminder of the life she was trying to escape, even if only temporarily. She wasn’t exactly thrilled about her husband, and the thought of him lingered uncomfortably at the back of her mind. While she was happy to be away from him at that moment, she couldn’t deny the reality of her situation. It was confusing - she had been enjoying the carefree, flirty vibe she had shared with Dave, and she had momentarily forgotten about her own marital struggles. Now, hearing Dave acknowledge her husband made her realise how much she was trying to avoid the truth of her feelings.
“Honestly,” she said, chuckling lightly to mask the pang of frustration, “I’m pretty sure my husband isn’t around.” The smile on her face was genuine but layered with a hint of irony. “But let’s just say our relationship has become… complicated.” She paused, and in a moment of vulnerability, her hand found his, seeking that brief connection for support. It was an instinctive gesture, one that surprised her as much as it seemed to surprise him. Her heart raced slightly; there was a thrill in holding onto him, a fleeting sense of safety that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.
A smile returned to her face. “But we should probably go find your girlfriend before people start talking,” she suggested, her voice light and teasing again, but her grip on his hand lingered just a moment longer before she gently tugged him to follow her. The touch was brief but electric, and as they began to move together through the crowd, Ravi felt a mix of exhilaration and uncertainty. She was ready to enjoy the moment, even if it was just a fleeting escape from the complexities of her life.
As they neared the pool area, Ravi’s gaze swept over the scene, taking in the string lights reflecting off the surface of the water, casting a soft glow over the crowd. She slowed her pace, savouring the brief moment of calm that the shimmering pool seemed to offer amidst the party’s energy. The scent of chlorine mingled with the warm evening air, adding to the sense of nostalgia she hadn’t expected.
She glanced sideways at Dave, her lips curving into a small smile. “You know,” she began, her voice soft yet teasing, “there’s something about being by a pool that always makes things feel a little more… cinematic.” Her eyes flicked back to the water, the playful mood from earlier returning but tinged with a new awareness. “It’s like you’re just one slow dance away from a big, dramatic moment.”
Ravi noticed a couple on the other side of the pool, laughing and leaning into each other, completely absorbed in their own world. A wistful feeling tugged at her, but she quickly pushed it away, determined to enjoy the moment she was in. Ravi felt a wave of spontaneity wash over her and turned back to him with a playful glint in her eye. “So, where do you think your girlfriend’s hiding?” she asked lightly, her tone playful as she glanced back at him. “By the bar? The dance floor?” She gave him a knowing look, her teasing still present but with a hint of curiosity as if she was testing the waters, trying to read him beneath the surface.
