(Office of Dharma Production, Mumbai, India. January 2016)
A man dressed in black looked walk out of his white BMW. Wrapped in a black jacket and dark glasses, he entered the office building of one of the film production companies accompanied by a manager and several bodyguards. Flash cameras from several journalists were scattered to accompany his path. Although his face looked tired, he kept walking while occasionally waving his hands and greeting the reporters. His dimpled smile is also have scattered on his handsome face.
"Good evening, sir. Your arrival has been awaited by Mr. Karan in his room." Said a woman from behind the information desk.
The man nodded and turned his head to his female manager.
"Pooja, I can manage it myself. You can go home now." The man said in a distinctive hoarse voice.
"But Shahrukh, your wife asked me to accompany you until your business is over."
"Forget about her, she's too worried for me. I'll be fine."
"But..-"
"Come on. You know what is my bussiness here, right?"
His manager, Pooja seemed to think for a moment.
"All right, but if you both fight again, don't bring my name into your business."
Shahrukh just shrugged his shoulders. "It's ok .. By the way, thanks for helping me a lot today."
"No problem. I say goodbye."
"Be careful."
"Yes."
The man smiled at Karan's assistant and followed her steps toward his friend's private room. Yes, he is Shahrukh Khan ...
~ SHAHRUKH'S POV ~
I'm Shahrukh Khan. My friends and fans used to call me Shahrukh. I am a debutant actor in '90 who working in a movie industry called Bollywood. I was born in New Delhi, on 2 November 51 years ago. My mom and dad have died when I was a teenager. From then on I stayed with my sister, Shehnaz. She is my dearest sister. The only person who is my reason to stay as strong as a single boy in the family. Because of her support and prayers, I also dare to set my foot in the realm of cinema. All the twists and turns of my life are on her. My tears, my happy smile, are all in her.
Fifteen years ago I married a best friend of mine Kajol. The transition of a friend's relationship to a person who should take precedence in life does both make me and her feel a little strange. But as time went on, I personally became accustomed to my new position in her life.
Now I try to rearrange my life that was destroyed because of my past. She, my wife and best friend, Kajol, helped me build a new better life. Not much happened after we got married. I still love her as does her. But somehow lately there is something else present. There is no longer the longing that always existed in my heart. Well, maybe all this happened because of the incident six years ago. A life-altering event that has affected us to this day. The incident that took away my dreams and wishful thinking with me. I know she's disappointed in my attitude. But I need time to take off my saturation. Once a few times an unreasonable crazy thought occurred to me, that to leaving her and looking for another woman. But I know, love is not that same. I took off this thought far away. Because I still love her. Very loved her .....
~ ºAUTHOR'S POVº ~
Shahrukh arrived in front of Karan's room. He asked his friend's assistant to be escorted there. After the woman left, without knocking again he immediately opened the door of the room in front of him.
"Oh my God .. Shahrukh!" Shrieked Karan from behind his desk.
Shahrukh just chuckled softly. "Sorry, sorry. Did not mean to startle you."
"Luckily it was you who came. Imagine if anyone else is here, what am I supposed to do?"
Again Shahrukh laughed at his friend's narrative. "What are you doing in front of the laptop ? Doing your old hobby again?"
Karan frowned. Soon he closed the laptop on his desk. "Don't think I'm that stupid, I'm not like you."
"You mean you think I did that too?"
"Sure."
"Since when I do that?"
Karan just laughed out loud.
"By the way, I didn't come here to argue with you like this."
"Yes, yes .. Sit down please."
"Thank you." Shahrukh smiled and immediately sat down in front of Karan.
"So how it is ? Are you interested in my offer?"
Shahrukh took a deep breath and placed a movie script on the table and handed it to Karan.
"I'm honestly interested, I've read your script partly. But sorry, for now I can't do it yet." He said.
"What ?"
"I'm sorry, Karan. I really really want to work with you again. But you know me, there's one movie I haven't finished with the near-miss release deadline."
Karan took a deep breath. "Can't you clear your schedule for this movie? I really expect you to play here."
Shahrukh shook his head with a smile. "Thank you for the offer, but I don't think this script suits for me. The character you offer me is too soft, why don't you offer it to younger actors like Ranbir or Siddharth?"
Karan was silent for a moment, looking at Shahrukh.
"I'm not doubt your performance as a director. You can definitely choose one of them. "
"Well if that's your advice, but I still want you to take part in my movie even though it's not the main character. I want you to do a little cameo here."
"Cameo?" Shahrukh repeated with his thickly linked eyebrows.
"Yes, but I make sure this role is important enough in the movie too.
Shahrukh bowed his head, looked at his thoughtful hand as he thought.
"Are you want it ? It won't take much of your time." Karan said again.
"Let me think for a moment." Shahrukh's answer was preceded by his breath.
"What else do you want to think, mate? This character is perfect for you."
"Maybe I'll discuss it first with my wife."
Karan smiled. "Yes, your wife knows best for you."
"Oh man .. Stop looking at me like that. My intention is not what you think." Shahrukh interrupted with his little laugh.
"Well I quite understand that." Said Karan as he took a few sheets of paper from his desk drawer and handed them in front of Shahrukh.
"It's a bit of a picture of your role, take it home and talk to your wife." He added.
Shahrukh glanced at it and nodded his head. "Thank you."
'Rang de tu mohe gerua ..'
Shahrukh gasped. He immediately reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out his phone that kept ringing.
"Must be from Kajol, right?" Guess Karan.
Shahrukh nodded while giving Karan a code to receive that call.
'Hello..'
'......'
'I'm with Karan right now.'
'......'
'Yes I'll be back soon.'
'......'
'Yeah.'
'......'
'It is late. You better go to sleep, no need to wait for me. '
'......'
'Or do you want me to bring you something?'
'......'
'Ok. I'll be home soon. Don't worried me too much. I am okay here.'
'......'
'Yes. See you in home. '
'......'
Shahrukh kept his phones back and approached Karan.
"Uff, it seems someone at home is missing you huh?" Karan teased with a big smile on his lips.
"Ah, not really. I'm going to have to go home now. Thanks for the offer of this role. I'll think the best I can." Said Shahrukh.
"Yes, thank you for taking your time to come here too. Don't forget to read the manuscript and tell me as soon as possible." Karan replied while shaking Shahrukh's hand.
"Yes, I say goodbye."
"Don't forget to give my regards to Kajol."
"Sure."
Shahrukh stepped out of his friend's office and headed straight for his car. On the way back he didn't stop paying attention to the road that looked deserted. He glanced at his watch. It's 11 o'clock in the night. No wonder the main streets of Mumbai are usually stuck now looks lonely. He leaned his head against the back seat of his car. He felt very tired that day. Maybe a little sleep can reduce the fatigue.
******
(Shahrukh Khan Residence -Mannat- , Mumbai India. April 2011)
"Shahrukh, wait." Cried a woman from behind the man who kept walking without regard to the call.
"Can you listen to me for a while? Shahrukh!" he still ignores it.
"We need to talk about this." Still no answer for a moment.
"Shah I-"
"Don't bother me. I don't want to hear it again." Shahrukh cut quickly as he opened the door of his room. Shahrukh the proud man. Yes, he is the one.
"You can't just blame me, this is an accident."
Shahrukh was silent. He took off his hoodie jacket and his shoes without a sound. Currently he is not in the mood to interact with the woman who has statues as his wife. His mind was too tired, his heart was too sick to accept the bitter reality of today.
"I'm sorry, I really don't think this will be happened."
"There's no point in regretting this time. You should be able to think of that regrets before you do that." Shahrukh replied coldly. He sat on the edge of his bed. His brown eyes stared straight at the window that had been soaked with rain.
Kajol, the woman who is currently with Shahrukh can only crying. She switched to sit beside Shahrukh and tried to hold her husband's hand, but was quickly denied by Shahrukh. Her tears are more excited to stagnate in her eyelids.
"Shah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't keep your trust. I know you're very angry with me. But for this time, open your eyes, I'm not completely wrong in this case." She said shakily.
There was silence for awhile. Only shahrukh's breath and sobs came from Kajol. This atmosphere lasted for a few moments, until finally Shahrukh opened his mouth again.
"I'm going to London tonight." Said Shahrukh heavily.
Like being struck by lightning during the day. That's what Kajol is currently feeling. Her beautiful eyes were rounded in shock and her lips tightly closed. Too lax to just say a word.
"For what ?" She asked in surprise.
"There's little work there." Shahrukh replied.
"But you just got back from Dubai."
Shahrukh didn't answer. He got up from his seat, walked over to his closet and pulled out his suitcase.
"Shah, please answer me. Why are you leaving? Why when I need you to deal this condition, you are-"
"Can you stop talking? Do I need to use my hand-slap again to keep you quiet ?" Shahrukh pressed his voice loudly. He quickly closed his suitcase zipper. He backs on his shoes and jacket and pulls his suitcase out of his room. But the weight step stopped when his wife's hand gripped his arm firmly.
"I beg you don't go anywhere, please ... I'm sorry .... I need you here .." said Kajol softly in between tears.
Shahrukh took a deep breath. He immediately jerked his arm firmly until the grip broke loose. He didn't turn around at all and went on. He ignored a soft voice that constantly called his name. He stops at the door and turns his head, looking at his wife who seems to bend her head and dissolve in her tears.
"I'm sorry I can't forgive you right now. Because I know, that word sorry and your tears can't return our child who have gone .." there is a tone of sadness implicit in his words. He closed the door and walked to the front door of his house.
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