Walking in was Mallika Singh, the young actress playing Radha in the upcoming show RadhaKrishn . She was glowing in a crimson lehenga , but her eyes looked lost. She clutched a small murti (idol) of Krishna in her palm.
Everyone laughed. But Mallika’s eyes welled up. “That’s it,” she whispered. “That’s the real color. Not the costumes or lights. It’s the love.”
A gentle breeze blew through the artificial trees, but for a moment, she swore she heard the faint sound of bansuri (flute). She smiled, tears falling like holy ganga .
“Did you see the new girl?” Bhakti whispered, nodding toward the door.
That night, after pack-up, Mallika sat alone on the empty Vrindavan set. She placed the Krishna murti on a stone and sang softly:
“Maiyya! You eat first!” he shouted.
Suddenly, the child actor playing little Krishna—a five-year-old named Krish—ran into the room, giggling. He jumped into Neha’s lap and put a gulab jamun in her mouth.
“Jai Shri Krishna… Jai Shri Krishna…”