Destiny before Death

He ruled. Yes. He did. He came from humble beginnings to rise and shine like none before him. He was the heartthrob of the entire nation. The whole country awaited his movies with bated breath. The guys imitated him. The girls loved him. He was the king of romance. His princely face, suave personality and sharp intellect were an irresistible combination.

He was known to work very hard. In twenty years, he had earned enough and more for even, his grandchildren to live happily. Or so he thought.

His passion for cinema was unmatched. He lived to entertain people. Their smiles meant a lot to him. The undying passion, however, came with its own side-effects.

The biggest magnum opus

He wanted to make India’s biggest magnum opus, based on a legendary Indian mythological tale. He invested everything possible but still needed more money. He raised money from the banks, mortgaged his famous home and did everything possible to ensure that the movie would see the light of the day. And, it did.

It was three years of hard work and toil for his team and for him. However, what ensued after the day of the release was nothing short of a nightmare. The film tanked badly at the box office. It was a surprise for him, the trade pundits and the media. No one had anticipated Sahil Khanna’s film to flop so badly. The man who had given the country so many hits witnessed his worst failure. And being the producer, Sahil had invested much more than just his time and effort into it.

The Descend

In the stock markets, “plummet” is the word used to describe a sharp fall in stock price. In the case of Sahil as well, his fortunes, stardom and his equity plummeted in no time. To compound the problem, he now had debtors to pay. He had some friends in the industry and he had helped many of them in their initial days. However, he was very reluctant to ask for help.

The problems would not cease and soon he was helpless. Sahil had a strange habit. When he landed in the city, he used to spend long hours staring at the sea. Its vastness gave him calm, hope and a feeling of positivity. The sea had always calmed his inner fears. He decided to land up at the sea. As he was a huge star, he couldn’t go there during the day. He could only go during the night when there would be no one to recognize him and he could spend some time in peace.

It was 1 a.m. and he decided to leave. He sneaked through the backdoor of his palatial bungalow to avoid any chance of being spotted by the odd scribe that would have been lingering around his house. But before he sneaked out, he spent a good ten minutes looking at his son who was all set to step into the world of cinema. He had trained himself on acting, editing, script writing, diction and allied aspects at the world’s most prestigious institute. He was on a stringent diet and exercise regime to have a sculpted body. It was a hygiene factor for the current generation of actors.

He finally managed to reach the sea. He smoked, drank beer, and stared at the noisy sea amidst the calm night. The concerns he had were too many. He felt he was reaching a dead end. Weird thoughts started entering his stressed mind. He thought for a moment that if he jumps into the sea and ends his life, all his problems would also go with him. He thought by doing so, his son would be more determined to carry the legacy forward. He decided to climb up on one of the rocks from where he could directly jump into the sea. He stood there and closed his eyes. Sahil was sure there was no one around but he was wrong. As he stood on the rock and closed his eyes, Ankit Mehra stood a few feet away, in complete disbelief.

Natural Talent

Ankit was a natural talent. That is what people told him. He often wondered what natural talent meant. While people had their own interesting versions of what it meant, they unanimously believed that it meant a person with extra-ordinary talent with respect to a specific skill. Such is the level of talent that it often gives a feeling that the person has inherited this talent, or brought it with her/ him into this world.

Ankit’s talent was in writing. He was an incredibly good writer. He had absolutely no competition in the arena, whether it was writing essays in school or for his elocution competitions. He could conceptualize and put the most exquisite plays on paper, he could write the best short stories, he could weave magic through his poems.

Ankit knew very early in life what he wanted to do. He wanted to write scripts. He would spend long hours sitting idle and thinking about a great script. He needed no company to entertain himself. His thoughts could take him to an ocean of imagination and he was happy to swim in it and find the best pearls.

The Debate

Ankit was in the final year of his college life when he participated in the “All collegiate debate competition”. He single-handedly steered his college into the finals. In the finals, he demolished the opposition with his powerful thoughts and oratory excellence. Among the people congratulating him was a lady he had never seen before.

The Lady

Her hair was the first thing he noticed. It had a texture and shine that he had never seen before. It encapsulated a face which was unique as well. Her thin framed black spectacles were in sharp contrast to her milky white complexion. He stared at her eyes a bit too long before saying “Thank 

You”. In that extra little moment, he could sense that she had a deep desire to achieve something and make a name for herself. While Ankit was very careful and weighed his options thoroughly before taking decisions, he needed no such prudence to decide that she would be the girl he would spend his life with.

The Affair

Things moved fast for Ankit. He pursued the lady with élan. The relentless pursuit bore fruit and they started seeing each other. However, the lady always wanted to be a journalist. The best film and entertainment magazine in the country gave her an offer that was as good as any she had dreamt of. 

She gladly accepted.

While Ankit was offered a few jobs as a journalist, he did not take them up. He did not want to use his writing prowess and acumen to roam around and write sensational stories.

Soon, the couple had their differences. The lady, Neha, wanted Ankit to have a job and start earning. Ankit did not compromise on what he wanted. He was very sure that he wanted to write scripts for movies. He made many attempts to reach out to the influential people in the industry. Neha also helped him through her connects at the magazine. However, nothing worked.

Ankit had tried to reach out to Sahil’s office multiple times. He never got through the front gate though. Neha had been rejecting a lot of marriage proposals coming her way. She wanted Ankit to have a steady job so that she could tell her parents about him and they could get married.

However, the differences and arguments kept increasing. And the inevitable happened. They decided to part ways. A few days later, Ankit got a message from Neha. She told him that she was going to get engaged.

Devastation

Ankit had spent a good part of five years relentlessly pursuing his dream. Nothing worked in his favour whatsoever. He had reached the nadir of life and he was just thirty. His parents did not relate with his dream. His father stopped talking to him long ago. His mother did speak to him but she was also upset because many of her friend’s children, who were not as smart as her Ankit, were earning pretty well. Some of them were even married. The biggest regret that Ankit had though was that Neha was no more a part of his life. Neha was a superb girl. She was an inspiration. A small conversation with her, even on the phone, would charge him up and make him happy, even if it was the most disappointing day of his life. All his worries coupled with the news of Neha’s engagement were too much for him to bear.

Destined to meet

Ankit shared a similar liking for the sea as Sahil. On the same day as Sahil, Ankit had chosen to come to the same place at the same time. He saw a man standing a few feet away, sobbing. To his utter disbelief and excitement, it was Sahil Khanna. He was seeing Sahil Khanna weep.

Ankit thought he was dreaming. He got that doubt out by pinching himself. He thought it was a movie shoot. Then he realized that there was no camera or crew in sight. He was sure that it was Sahil Khanna- his all-time favourite hero.

Ankit wanted to shout his name but remained quiet. However, he saw something strange. Sahil was moving towards the edge of the rock he was standing on. Ankit knew very well that if he moved further, he would fall into the sea.

That is when it struck Ankit. He had been hearing in the news and reading in the tabloids about the recent plight of Sahil. Is he planning to commit suicide?

As his mind conjured an array of thoughts, he saw Sahil moving to the edge of the rock, weeping. Will he commit suicide? Should he run and stop him?

Chapter 2: 

On the edge of the rock, Sahil’s entire life flashed before him. He could clearly see the days of his struggle, the days of his stardom, his wife, his family members, the people he loved. He could hear chants of his name. He did not see the sea, he could only see a sea of his fans shouting aloud, waving to him, holding placards with his name.

And, suddenly he could see all of them going quiet, waving at him to not jump. He missed his parents badly at that point. He knew that whenever he was between the rock and a hard place (and literally he was), his mother could make it all fine for him by just ruffling his unruly hair. His father could do the same trick with a tap on his right shoulder. And as he thought of it, he felt someone tap his right shoulder.

The Meeting

Sahil was taken aback. He was sure that he wouldn’t need any security at that time of the day, rather night. He regained his composure before asking, “Who are you?”.

‘I am one among a billion that you aren’t seeing right there’, said Ankit, pointing to the sea. Sahil wondered how he could read his thoughts so well. Ankit continued.

‘I am one among those billion who would never want to see you cry, except on screen, I am one of those billion who would be devastated if you leave the world in this fashion, I am one among the billion who laughed with you when you did and cried with you when you did, I am one among the billion who think of you as an epitome of hope, aspiration, success, charm, intelligence and so many other things. I am one among the billion who think that you can always rise and shine no matter what obstacles come your way. I am one among the billion who believe you are an enigma who can conquer the toughest of peaks. I am one among the billion who will soon have to swallow a bitter pill of reality and forget all the dreams that you made us believe is achievable. I am one of the billion who have contributed a little bit to the aura of the phenomenon called Sahil Khanna. You owe me and many billion like me two steps back from where you are standing now.’

Sahil involuntarily moved two steps back. Ankit’s convincing oratory proved its power once again.

Tete-a-Tete

Sahil had always been good with people. He could strike a conversation with anyone. He thought it was some divine intervention that brought Ankit to him. He wanted to know more about Ankit. He started talking to him.

He soon discovered that Ankit was from Varanasi. He learnt that his father was a businessman and his mother was a housewife. Ankit had no siblings. His parents were mighty upset with him and his father wasn’t talking to him.

Sahil heard the entire story and said, ‘From what I know, one of the two things happen to such people. Either their passion destroys them or makes them one of the best. I am sure you are destined to be the best and you will’.

He asked Ankit how he managed to stay in Mumbai if he did not have a job nor a house. That is when Ankit explained his interest in the stock markets and how he played the markets and did freelance content creation jobs to stay afloat and make ends meet.

Sahil heard about Ankit’s struggle to meet film producers, directors, and actors with interest. He felt Ankit’s pain and could relate and empathize with him. And finally, Ankit started narrating his attempt to meet Sahil.

He told him about the try, the persuasion, the security guard giving him a whack and his vain attempt.

Sahil laughed. He seemed to have forgotten his woes for some time. He realized that Ankit was an awesome story teller.

‘So, tell me Ankit, what is the script that you have treasured with you for so long?’, asked Sahil.

Ankit did not speak for a few moments. Sahil understood the apprehension. He assured Ankit that he had enough connects in the film industry to ensure that his idea, if it were really good, would see the light of the day.

Ankit started speaking. For the next one hour, Sahil did not move an inch. He was completely engrossed in Ankit’s mesmerizing tale. Sahil laughed, he clapped his hands, he cried, he used cuss words, he clenched his teeth with rage, and as Ankit completed his story, Sahil jumped high and punched the air like a footballer who had scored a goal in the last few minutes to ensure his team’s victory.

“I will make this film. I will act in it. And, you will work with me. We are going to make the best movie India has even seen. I am sure about it.”, exclaimed Sahil.

Ankit couldn’t believe his ears. He looked towards the sky. ‘Was it a new dawn for me?’, he thought. The horizon was surely indicating that it was, and a very bright one at that.

Sahil told Ankit that he would have to head home before people could see him. He asked him to come to his home at 10 a.m. and that they would start work today. With that, he gave Ankit a warm hug, gave him his mobile number, and left for home.

Ankit could not believe what was happening. What had happened to him in the last few hours were unfathomable. This was what he wanted. This was what he had waited for – for five long years. It came to him at the most unusual place and the most unusual time in the most unusual manner.

Ankit had a habit of talking to himself. The only thing that his mind could tell him was a phrase from one of the most interesting movies he had seen called “Notting Hill”. The phrase did aptly sum up the experience. The phrase – “Surreal but Nice”.

Ankit checked the time. It was 6 a.m. He had to wait for four hours now. He was getting impatient. It was so ironical that the man who patiently waited for five years was finding it extremely difficult to wait for four hours.

He looked at his watch again. Every second seemed like an hour to him….

Chapter 3

Ankit booked a cab to head home. He reached home, took a shower, made a nice breakfast of bread and scrambled eggs for himself. He sat down and reflected on the unbelievable turn of events. He was wondering if it was all real or just a dream.

He wanted to share the joy with someone. The obvious name that came to his mind was Neha. He remembered his conversations with Neha. Ankit had once asked her about who she thought was the ideal husband. She promptly replied “Sahil Khanna”. For the next fifteen minutes, she just couldn’t stop talking about him. She said if Sahil Khanna would ask her to marry anyone, she would blindly marry that person.

Ankit knew if he told Neha about his encounter with Sahil, she would be over the moon and would cajole Ankit to get her to meet Sahil.

He thought he should call her. He picked up the phone. Her number was still in the list of favourites on his phone. He dialled her number and before it could ring, he disconnected it. He did this three more time before finally deciding against calling Neha.

He wanted to call his mother but he decided that it would be better to not disclose his encounter with Sahil Khanna to anyone at the moment.

Sahil’s house was around half an hour from his place if he hailed a cab. He still had an hour to go. He went into his room. There was a nice idol of Lord Ganesha on his table. He sat at his table and shared his joy with the Almighty. He thanked the lord profusely and then decided to leave the house.

He reached Sahil’s house at 9.30 a.m. – way ahead of time. He called Sahil and conveyed that he was standing right outside his house. Sahil instructed his security team to send Ankit in. Sahil’s house was a celebrated destination. You could always see a lot of people outside his house. He would wave at them from his terrace and that would make their day. Just before Ankit was allowed into the palatial bungalow, he was standing with the crowd. As he walked in, he could hear a lot of murmurs behind him. Many people wondered how Ankit, a common fan, like the many standing there was let in. Little did they know that Ankit was no common fan, he was a natural talent and an extra-ordinary one at that.

Inside Sahil’s house

Everyone dreams of their own house. There was a time in life when Ankit did it too. He had planned it in his head. His dream house would be a lavish one with a special room for creative pursuits.

Sahil’s house was more splendid than Ankit could even dream off. The grandeur of the rooms, the quality of the furniture, the chandeliers, the paintings that adorned the wall, the pictures of the family, all felt nothing short of brilliant. Ankit was sure that the man had very good taste.

As a zillion thoughts raced through his mind, he heard a person offer him tea/ coffee. Even the servant looked straight out of a five- star hotel.

An amazing looking digital clock showed 9.50 am on it. That’s when Sahil walked down the stairs, came to Ankit and shook his hand. He asked him to take a seat and sat opposite Ankit on a majestic couch. The servant came and asked Sahil if he would want tea or coffee. “My usual dose of caffeine, Kaka”, said Sahil with a smile. Kaka is what people call their uncles. The person serving coffee was only about ten years older than Sahil but he was happy with the way Sahil addressed him. Ankit had heard that superstar Sahil treated everyone very well. He wasn’t sure if it was just an image building PR exercise. Now, he started believing in the stories of Sahil’s humility.

As Kaka came back with the coffee, Sahil pointed towards a room to his right and said that Ankit and he would be there from 10 a.m. He said that they did not want to be disturbed unless it was an emergency. Kaka was quick to make the necessary arrangements and even laid out a few snacks and juice for them, in case the discussion would take more time.

The Planning

As the clock struck 10, Sahil and Ankit started their discussion. Ankit was impressed with Sahil’s punctuality and the fact that he started the meeting right at 10 a.m. They talked for about half an hour about the finer nuances of the script. So, the discussion veered to screenplay. “Who will write the screenplay?”, asked Ankit. “You will”, said Sahil. “No one else can do as much justice to it as you can”. “But I do not have any experience”, replied Sahil. “So, didn’t I when I landed in this city”, said Sahil and sealed the deal in Ankit’s favour.

The Casting:

Sahil wanted to see the dream through Ankit’s eyes. He started trusting Ankit’s vision. He asked him who he would want to cast as the lead actor. Ankit said, “Shayaan”. There was absolute silence for about 30 seconds. Then, Sahil spoke, “I think he is too raw. He is just finished his training in acting.”. 

To which Ankit replied, “I haven’t even done that. If you can trust me with your story and screenplay, can’t you trust your son with the lead role”. This time Ankit got the better of Sahil.

However, Sahil did not want to force his son onto a script because he liked it. He called for Shayaan to come in and requested Ankit to narrate the story once more. Shayaan jumped from his seat about ten times. He was a super energetic young man and lost count of the number of high-fives he gave Ankit and his dad by the time Ankit finished narrating the story.

“Would you like to play the lead role?”, asked Sahil. Shayaan replied in the affirmative and thanked his father for getting him the best Launchpad that he could think of.

They spent the next few hours finalizing the other areas and people who would handle the same. The most important question now was who would be the captain of the ship. Who would direct the movie?

Ankit said Sahil should take up the onus. Shayaan agreed. Sahil was apprehensive. But when two passionate youngsters decide to take up a cause, they rarely fail. Sahil would don the director’s hat. Sahil also wanted to produce the film though he did not know how.

The Budgeting:

Ankit was not just a mere storyteller. He was astute with finances and managing money. He played the stock market really well and made good money. All the practice came to good use in the next few days. They finalized the budget, locations, shooting schedules etc. They arrived at the conclusion that they have to ensure that the movie is ready for release within 8 months. Sahil could keep his debtors at bay by paying the interest for the next 8 months. That itself would be a lot of effort. It was decided that he would attend many more inauguration ceremonies, birthday parties and weddings if he had to and make money.

The shooting:

The shooting was going along smoothly. They had decided to use Sahil’s house to cut down on cost. They shot in and around the city to cut down on travel and logistics. Sahil had always been good to his team. They extended their whole-hearted support.

The financial crunch

When the shooting was half-way through, they ran out of cash. It was a crisis situation and there was no money to pay even the team’s wages. Ankit had anticipated this. He had been playing the stock market though he was very busy. He did some smart transactions and got in some money. Sahil’s team told Sahil that they won’t take any money till the time the film released. Ankit volunteered for the same. Sahil was moved. They somehow started the shoot and continued.

As luck would have it, Sahil got a brand endorsement. The brand wanted to cash in on the rates slashed by Sahil. Sahil had asked them to ensure that no one would get a whiff of his agreement with them. The brand happily agreed.

Smooth Sailing:

The team cruised along for the next four months, helping each other and ensuring that the project reached successful completion. Sahil and team watched the first rushes at his home. He had a theatre that could seat around 50 people right in his home. They were ecstatic when they saw the final product. It looked like a sure winner.

Ankit was the soul of the project and Sahil did acknowledge it. He barely had any sleep in the last eight to nine months. Sahil had not seen anyone who was as dedicated to his cause as Ankit.

The Trailer Launch:

Shayaan and Shanaya, the lead actress of the project, were to be launched through this film. The lead actress was going through a personal low and a not so amicable break-off with her ex-boyfriend. 

Ankit had done a splendid job of talking to her, cheering her up and ensuring that she delivered. As she saw the first rushes, she realized that she had done well and knew deep within that it had been possible only because of Ankit.

The trailer broke the internet. You tube clocked nearly 50 million views in a week and it seemed like a sure recipe for success.

The premiere:

If the advance booking of the film was any indicator, the film would definitely do well. However, the premiere on the night before the release would be the acid test. Sahil had invited the who’s who of the film industry. Veterans, contemporary stars, and talented directors adorned the screening. The media had a field day covering the entry of stars. Sahil welcomed all of them.

The premiere of the movie began once all were seated. After three hours, the look on their faces suggested that the film would do well. Everyone was happy with the product. Sahil Khanna received many congratulations. Almost everyone thought that Shayaan was marvellous. The fresh new pair – Shayaan and Shanaya also got the thumbs-up.

Post the premier, Sahil, Shayaan and Shanaya were scheduled to address the media. Sahil had told Ankit that he would want Ankit to be there too. The media conference was to begin in fifteen minutes. Sahil and his ever courteous wife were seeing off the guests. “Where’s Ankit?”, Sahil asked his wife. She said she did not know.

The entire team began searching for Ankit but he was nowhere to be seen. Sahil couldn’t afford to skip the media conference so he sat to take questions. Just when the media conference was about to begin, his phone beeped. It was an SMS from Ankit. Sahil read the message, smiled and said, “Idiot”.

As he began to reply, the most impatient journalist threw the first question his way. Sahil kept his phone aside to do something he was very good at – fielding questions from the media.

Chapter 4:

The enthusiastic journalists posed one question after another. By the time, they wound up, it was well past midnight. The courteous Sahil ensured that he saw everyone off. He got one of his bodyguards to escort Shanaya to her house. His wife and son left in one of his cars.

Where it all began:

Once they all left, he checked Ankit’s message again. “Don’t worry about me. I am fine. You guys should go ahead with the media interaction. You will find me exactly where you find answers to life’s questions.”

Sahil got into his favourite car and told his security about his plans. He zoomed past the unusually deserted streets of Mumbai to the place which gave him peace, calm and a sense of positivity. Ankit was there – staring at the sea. He was extremely nervous. He apologised to Sahil and said that he wanted some time for himself far from the media and the glitterati. He also told him that he did not want to come in front of the media as the film had not even released.

“Do you think the film won’t do well?” Sahil asked him. He said that he was sure it would. He said he wanted this to be one of the most loved films of all times.

They recounted the entire making of the film, their toil, the struggles, the difference of opinion, the arguments, the cash crunch and everything related to the film. They had now reached a stage where they had given it their all and there was nothing more they could do.

After two hours of talking amidst the roar of the sea, Sahil profusely thanked Ankit for all the personal sacrifices he had made in seeing the film through. He told Ankit that the film would not have seen the light of the day without his efforts. He also apologised to Ankit for not having paid him for the last five months.

Sahil said, “Based on my little experience in acting and my gut feeling, I think this movie would be a huge success. I would surely make it up to you and my team. I am sure you won’t regret your association with me. But now you must sleep. Just forget about everything and sleep.”

Sahil then went home. Ankit sat there for some more time before heading home to sleep.

The Day of the release

It was Friday morning. It is a day when careers are made or destroyed. It is a day which transforms a commoner who appears on the silver screen into a star and changes her/ his life forever.

As the sun set on that day, two stars were born – Shayaan and Shanaya. The feeling of getting mobbed and having to be escorted by a set of guards was a very different yet nice experience for them.

More importantly, it also resurrected the career of a superstar – who had been written off by even the critics who admired him the most. Sahil Khanna was sure he had a winner. As a producer, he knew that he was going to make money.

The next one week

The next week was unbelievably good. Sahil had not seen superstardom of such mammoth proportions. He was loved in the film even though he wasn’t the main lead.

The film ran to packed houses. People wanted to watch the film again and again. It was the most trending topic on social media. People were breaking the internet with posts related to the movie.

Every news channel wanted to get the star cast together for interviews. Sahil’s office had a hard time fixing up his calendar and scheduling his appearances. Now, they had the added task of getting Sahil and Shayaan together with Shanaya. Most channels wanted to have all three of them together on their show.

Time to give back:

Sahil was a man of his word. He wanted to ensure that he took very good care of his team who made personal sacrifices and stood by him. Most importantly, he wanted to do something for Ankit.

The collection of the movie in the first week was so good that all of Sahil’s debt could now be cleared off anytime. While Sahil was laughing all the way to the bank, what gave him more fulfilment was the fact that he could now sleep peacefully and with a clear conscience. He would not have debts anymore and he could now go back to his only passion – making films and entertaining people.

That night, he talked to his wife while in bed. He told her that he wanted to do something for Ankit. He said he was contemplating gifting him the newest BMW car. He also told her that he wanted to pay him handsomely for the entire time and effort he spent towards making this film a success.

Sahil’s wife smiled. She told him, ‘Sahil, you are a very good man. Your intentions are noble and pure. However, you should also understand what would be a meaningful token of appreciation. I know Ankit well enough to tell you that he is not after materialistic things or luxuries of life. He values relationships more. I do not know of anyone who would take the risk that he did and the sacrifices that he made to resurrect your career and also enable our son to have the best ever debut in the Hindi film industry. If you would agree with me, I think you should find out if the girl he was involved with in college in married. If not, you should get them back together. If you can do that, you would be the real life “King of Romance”.

The Plan:

Sahil Khanna adored his wife. She was a calming effect on him and treated him like a normal human being and not a superstar. She knew him much before he became a superstar. She had the uncanny knack of taking his discussions to a very logical conclusion. She had done it yet again.

Sahil had enough contacts and connects to figure out what Neha was upto. Before sun rise the next day, he had every little detail he needed about Neha. He knew that she was doing very well for herself and had become an anchor at the most watched news channel in India. She was the host of the TV show called “Trending” which used to talk on the trending topics and invite relevant guests.

Sahil did not sleep much. He searched for Neha and found all he could about her. Neha was a beautiful girl and the way she hosted the show was remarkable. Sahil wasn’t surprised at all to read that her show was the most watched show in India.

Sahil checked with his team if they had been invited to “Trending”. That is when he got to know that Neha’s team had been chasing them for long and wanted to have Sahil, Shayaan and Shanaya on the show. However, Ankit had decided to not take the stage in any of these events. He used to sit among the audience and allow the limelight to be shared by the rest.

Sahil asked his team to give a go-ahead for the “Trending” show the next day. When Neha’s team got to know of it, they were super excited. They knew that the TRPs would surge and the show would be superb. They wasted no time in putting up the promotions all over India.

The Show:

Sahil, Shayaan and Shanaya had great fun on the show. Neha was the best anchor they had seen. She did very well as she asked questions about the movie, she got the stars to show their signature dance moves and also got the audience to ask them questions. In the last leg, she spent a few minutes to tell the audience about the enigma that Sahil Khanna was, rather is. She told everyone that he is the man whom any girl would fall for. She confessed on national television to be a huge fan of Sahil Khanna. Behind the near-perfect journalist, Neha was also a normal girl and it was quite natural to be star struck.

The Million-Dollar Question

Neha told Sahil that almost all the girls and women in the audience would love to have him as their boyfriend or husband. This comment was received well with a huge round of applause, cheers and whistles.

She then asked,” Since you are taken, who do you think is great husband material and would come remotely close to you? Have you met any such person”?

The ever witty Sahil said, “If I point to that person, will you marry him?”

Amidst cheers from the crowd, Neha thought he was joking and told him that if he pointed out the man and told her that the man was as good as Sahil, she would marry him a million times.

Sahil then narrated the entire story right from the day when he met Ankit at the sea. His effective story-telling style got everyone to enquire about Ankit. This time Sahil had made a perfect plan. He ensured that Ankit would not be allowed to leave the venue.

While describing Ankit, Sahil said that there are very few people who will be as selfless as Ankit and who could do everything to ensure that things succeed. He kept going for a few minutes describing why Ankit would be the ideal partner for any girl. Then he called Ankit on stage.

Neha could not believe her eyes. The man who had played a major role backstage for making India’s top grossing blockbuster was none other than Ankit. She cursed herself for having seen Ankit Mehra’s name under Story, Screenplay and Dialogues but still not doing further research to establish if it was the Ankit she had known so closely. She also recollected that day in college where they had this discussion and she had told Ankit that she would marry anyone a million times if Sahil endorses the person. Back then in college, she had never imagined that there would be a day in life when Sahil would do exactly that. 

As Ankit walked on stage, the audience clapped, cheered, whistled. It was the first time in the history of Indian Television that a news channel which aired a prime time show became witness to the reunion of two lovers who deserved to be together for a lifetime.

“When you are done with your public display of affection, come and see me at my home”, said Sahil to Ankit. He winked at Neha and then left the place.

After the show and the related frenzy died down, Ankit asked Neha about her engagement. She said she did not go ahead with the engagement because she could not fathom life with anyone else, no matter how hard she tried. She said she decided to focus on her career and in the next few years, it became the focal point of her existence.

The Next Morning

When they met Sahil the next morning, Sahil asked his wife to hand over two set of keys to Neha. One was of a house not very far from his place in one of the costliest parts of the city. The second was the key to a brand new BMW.

Ankit had everything his colleagues from college aspired for with one masterstroke. That is probably the prize one gets for an unflinching belief in one’s passion and never ending energy to chase one’s dreams.

The Filmfare Awards

The Hindi film industry instituted the filmfare awards which is like the Oscar awards given in Hollywood. Sahil’s film had earned almost 1000 Crores and was still going strong.

Sahil’s movie swept almost all the awards. His son got the best debut – male award as well as the best –actor award (popular choice). Shanaya got the best debut –female award. Sahil’s wife won the best producer and he himself was adjudged the best director.

When best story, screenplay and dialogues were announced, everyone took notice of a new face. People believed he is a natural talent. Ankit still did not come to terms with the phrase “natural talent” but he went on stage and accepted the award.

When he came back, Neha held his hand and whispered in his ear, “I am proud of you”. Ankit replied, “In life as in stock markets, you have to pick potential winners, and invest not only your money but time and patience. That is the hallmark of a long term investor. Thank you for such a wonderful long term investor in my life and for believing that I am a potential multibagger.”

Very few tales, even in reel-life, have such a great ending. Ankit and Neha were surely destined to be together.