My So-Called Bollywood Life(20)

“And accurate, too,” Eric added. “You want the job?”

“Yeah, absolutely.”

“Great! Then let’s get you set up with all the paperwork. You’re going to love this place.”

Winnie tried to control the skip in her step as they headed toward the office. She sat across from Eric and started filling out her application, when she felt her phone vibrate. She peeked at Bridget’s message.


Emergency!!!



She quickly put her phone away. Not good.

“Is something wrong?” Eric asked.

“What? Oh no. Nope, not at all.” She rushed through the rest of the documents and handed them to Eric.

    “Welcome to the team,” he said. “I’ll set up your schedule tonight and send it to you.”

“Thanks. I’m excited. I’ll see you soon.”

Winnie was almost through the front door before Dev caught up with her.

“Whoa, wait a minute. What’s going on?”

She held up her phone. “Bridget’s been messaging me.” She looked down at the screen.


Emergency!!!

Call ASAP!!!

Wher r u????



Her phone slipped from her hand and dropped to the carpet when she finished reading the messages.

Before she could pick it up, Dev was there, doing it for her.

“Raj got who for the film festival?”

She snatched the phone back. “It’s a joke, right? It has to be a joke. I mean, Gurinder Chadha. Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice. Writer, director, and producer. Raj knows she’s my hero. I have no idea how he pulled this off.” She fanned herself as she went a little light-headed.

“Like I said, he wants you back,” Dev said.

“I’m getting that.”

“Well, this is not an Eddie Murphy movie from the eighties about a golden child with bad guys and ancient prophecies.”

    “Shows what you know.”

Meeting Gurinder Chada was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and if it was true, then her life just became even more surreal.

“I gotta leave.”

“Okay. Winnie? Try to remember that he probably has an ulterior motive.”

Winnie didn’t know how to respond to that, so she waved and ran to her car. After buckling in, she checked her phone again. Maybe Bridget had heard wrong. If Raj was smart, he’d post the news on his old movie-review site.

Wrinkling her nose at his last movie review, which was seriously off by at least two stars, she scrolled through his events page. There, in black-and-white print, Raj had included Gurinder Chadha’s bio. She was attending the Princeton Academy Student Film Festival.

Winnie squealed so loudly the couple walking past her car stared.

She sent Bridget two screens of emojis before she texted Raj.


WINNIE: When you said you’d find a guest judge, I didn’t think you’d get my hero. This is amazing!!!

RAJ: Did it for you.

WINNIE: …

WINNIE: Or the film club. Bc you still love it and want to do something with movies.

RAJ: LMAO. No this is all connections. I bet the guy in your prophecy would do the same thing for you. Right???

WINNIE: Maybe? Did you tell Reece?

RAJ: Oh. Yeah. Listen, about that…don’t be mad. I’m fixing it so don’t panic when you read his email.



That was not a good sign. “What did you do, Raj?” she muttered as she checked her messages for the note from Mr. Reece. She opened it up, and all the euphoria and shock she felt was immediately replaced with horror.





To: Vaneeta Mehta


    From: Mr. William Reece


   Subject: Film Festival Chair



Please see me before the meeting. Shouldn’t take long.

In the auditorium is fine.

Mr. Reece



She was a straight-A student, and she knew how to read between the lines. Mr. Reece was going to give Raj the festival to run. She was going to officially be pushed out of the role. She’d have to smile at the club film screening tonight, as if nothing was wrong, and wait until their meeting tomorrow to learn the final verdict.

    Winnie had struggled for years to set herself up for a future at one of the best film schools in the country. Now that she was so close to proving herself, it was as if someone was patting her on the head and telling her, “Thanks, but no thanks.” She knew that she was super driven, and that she could get tunnel vision about following her dreams, but she couldn’t help being so passionate about movies. It was part of who she was. And now she was torn. On the one hand, she’d get to meet a role model. And on the other, there was a good chance she wouldn’t get into the school she’d always imagined she’d attend. She’d live an ordinary life instead of the extraordinary one that she’d always hoped for.

Winnie drove home with her emotions swinging in every direction. After she pulled into the driveway, she slipped out of the car and through the front door. The whole house was perfumed with rich scents of spices. Music played in the kitchen and echoed in the entranceway.

“Winnie?” her mother called. “Your nani has arrived! Come here.”

Winnie didn’t respond as she yanked off her Converses.