One Star too Many

"First loves always remain irrationally emotional!" said Taara. "It is as difficult as making a cup of tea today" she added, wisely, as she was dry-rubbing the cottage cheese cubes with a mixture of turmeric, red chilli powder and salt. Her hair was loosely tied into a workman's pony and she had a bandana tied too, to stop any hair from interrupting either her cooking, or her speaking. 

From a distance, one would initially think, she was entrancing an audience, while in reality, Taara Mazumdar was speaking to no one. "So, as we make you paneer pakodas, let me tell you the right way to brew a most satisfying cup of tea. Milk and sugar disrupt the harmony of the tea-leaves. Be very careful not to overdo the resting time." As she went on talking to a camera held by no one, and to an audience consisting of no faces, she smiled, and put up vivacious expressions confirming a life of spotlights and diffuses.

"What's cooking, Taara?" asked a man's voice after the door opened.

"Excuse me, who? Please do not disturb the current shot. Move away from the camera please. Camera-man! Who is he?" came the anxious answer from Taara.

"Acute case of advanced Schizophrenia", the rest of the doctor's voice had dissolved from the circle of Kaushik's reason. They were married only a month now, having defied various obstacles from family and distance. Stars glow in others' shine. After a hurried "Oh, sorry Ma'am," he went away into the kitchen. Oh Taara, Taara. I miss my Taara. Taara slipped back into picking up a card from a deck and sipping off it, "That's perfection!"