Chapter 35

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**Manhattan, New York, Night**

At the entrance of the Rockefeller Building, Harsh Rai and Taylor Swift stood in the cold wind, waiting for their assistant to pick up their car from the parking lot.

"How about I take a taxi myself?" Swift suggested, wanting to avoid any inconvenience.

"Don't be alone at this hour. Be obedient, and I'll see you off," Harsh replied with a gentle firmness.

The atmosphere between them felt awkward, with both lost in their own thoughts. 

Once they were in the car, the silence was palpable.

Their assistant, Vanessa, decided to turn on the radio to break the silence. The DJ was playing a country music segment, featuring Taylor Swift's song "Teardrops on My Guitar."

"When I'm with him, I only see him"

"He said he fell in love and he finally found the one he was meant for"

"Does he know that he is always on my mind?"

"Every time I make a wish on a shooting star, it's just because of him..."

The song's melancholic tune seemed to reflect Swift's mood. She sat just a few inches away from Harsh, yet he felt a distance between them, partly due to his impulsive kiss on stage earlier.

Harsh regretted the kiss; he was aware it was a rash move. His actions on the SNL stage had been spontaneous, and he could tell Swift's reaction was one of shock and discomfort. 

Seeing her reaction, Harsh worried that his favorability might have taken a significant hit.

As Swift glanced out at the night view of New York City, Harsh felt the weight of the situation. 

"Thank you for the ride. Go back and rest well. Good night, Harsh," Swift said, trying to mask her discomfort with a forced smile.

Harsh noticed she had forgotten her bag in the car and caught up with her. "You left your bag behind."

Swift laughed awkwardly. "Ah, you caught me!"

Harsh took the opportunity to address the kiss directly. "About the kiss... I didn't mean to make things uncomfortable. I'm going to Berlin tomorrow, but when I get back, how about we have a drink together?"

Swift's eyes brightened with interest. "Are you asking me out?"

"Yes, I am," Harsh said, straightforwardly.

Swift smiled brightly, seemingly open to the idea. "Okay, it's a date then. I'll look forward to it."

They exchanged a brief, friendly hug, and Swift hurried into her apartment.

Harsh returned to the car, where Vanessa, their assistant, was waiting. She cleared her throat and started driving.

"Did you catch anything?" Vanessa asked, though she seemed to be avoiding eye contact.

"Not much. Let's just focus on the road," Harsh replied.

The paparazzi could have made a spectacle of the situation, but fortunately, Vanessa was discreet.

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**Later**

"Spider-Man" had been a blockbuster hit, running for over a month before its final removal from the North American market. Its popularity continued in other parts of the world.

The film had turned countless viewers into comic book fans and had even been hailed as a modern classic among Marvel enthusiasts.

The global box office for "Spider-Man" had exceeded $1.08 billion, with final figures projected to surpass $1.1 billion. It was now the third highest-grossing film of all time.

Harsh Rai's fame skyrocketed, with his fan base rapidly expanding to nearly ten million. He even graced the cover of the latest Time Magazine issue.

Harsh's agent, Happy, was overwhelmed by calls and had to hire an assistant to manage invitations from film producers, TV shows, and advertisers.

Despite the attention, Harsh remained focused on his next project, "John Wick," which had just wrapped up filming in Berlin. With the Lunar New Year's Eve approaching in 2007, he was spending it in Europe.

Among his well-wishers were actresses like Emma Stone, Taylor Swift, Emma Roberts, and Avril Lavigne.

"You're quite the sensation now," teased Christopher Nolan.

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**London, Kensington District**

In a luxurious apartment, Harsh Rai sat on the sofa, sipping tea. Though he wasn't accustomed to English black tea, he found it pleasant.

Opposite him were Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, renowned for their work on "Interstellar," "Inception," "The Dark Knight," "Tenet," and "Oppenheimer."

Harsh was there at Warner Bros.' invitation to discuss the "Batman" reboot.

"We've crafted a trilogy of scripts: the first focuses on Batman's origins, the second on Batman's confrontation with the Joker, and the third on The Dark Knight Rises," Christopher Nolan explained.

Jonathan Nolan remained quiet as Christopher led the discussion.

"What Warner wants is for you to play Bruce Wayne. What do you think of these scripts?" Christopher inquired.

Harsh, having achieved great success with "Spider-Man," was a key figure in the industry. His input was highly valued.

Looking at the script, Harsh took a moment before speaking. "I have a bold idea that might differ from your original vision."

Christopher Nolan leaned in, interested. "We're open to suggestions. The script can be adjusted."

Harsh smiled thoughtfully. "Given my focus on my own projects, I'd prefer to star in one film and participate as a producer in the other two."

"Oh? And which one are you interested in?" Christopher asked, sensing Harsh's strategic approach.

Harsh's response clarified his intentions. "I'm more interested in the Joker from 'The Dark Knight.' Batman's role, while iconic, doesn't challenge my acting skills as much as the Joker's complexity."

Christopher Nolan's eyes lit up. "That's an intriguing approach. Let's explore this idea further."

Harsh's choice to focus on the Joker promised to redefine his career and bring a fresh perspective to the iconic role.

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