~ Flashback. January 2011 ~
Two weeks have been passed. The tiring-two weeks for Shahrukh and his team. After a long negotiation, the problems finally arrived at the completion stage. The producer of the old film allowed Farhan & Shahrukh to release the sequel this year. Shahrukh is the first one to be relieved when this decision was made. He has been sacrificed many things during the process. He was grateful the fate of his film ended in a good destiny.
Today is their last meeting. Shahrukh arrived at the Red Chillies office on time. In the meeting room he had been awaited by several people from his team. All seemed busy preparing the meeting. He approached Pooja, Karuna, and Farhan who were sitting in the corner of the room. He greeted them one by one.
"Shahrukh, how do you feel right now ? For the past two weeks you have been the busiest among us." said Farhan.
Shahrukh took a seat next to Farhan. "I'm happy, of course. After this I'm ready to go onto the next filming schedule."
"Shahrukh the workaholic, I had expected before that he will answer like that." said Pooja.
"But Shahrukh, you were on vacation with your family when Pooja told you about this problem. You had lightly cut off your vacation time. Does your wife not mind about that ?" Karuna asked.
Shahrukh grinned at the question. "She is jealous of my work." His words invited the laughter of three people before him.
"No, no. I'm kidding. At first she was mad at me. But after I explained the entire matter to her, she could understand." He continued.
"I believe Kajol is a smart actress. Someday I will cast her to take a role in my film." said Farhan.
"That can only happen if you have a good script." added Shahrukh. They laughed together again.
Shortly after the guest they were waiting for finally arrived. They immediately began the meeting, start from final discussions then reading the memorandum of agreement. The meeting ended with the signing of the agreement by the old producer and Red Chillies, represented by Karuna as co-producer. Shahrukh was very relieved when the agreement was signed. He shook hands with people there with a smile on his lips.
After the meeting, Shahrukh intends to visit his mother-in-law's house before returning home. He wanted to inform Tanuja and Tanisha about this good news as well as take Aryan to go home with him, remembering that in the next three days the boy must return to London. He sent a short message to Tanisha that he would come. After that he got into his car and told the driver to leave.
On the way to Maharashtra, his phone suddenly rang. He grabs his phone and sees the name of the contact. He smiled while pressing the green button on his phone screen.
"Hi, honey. What's up ?" he said.
"Shah, can you go home as soon as your business is over ?" Kajol asked from across the phone. Her voice doesn't sound good.
Shahrukh frowned. "My business is over. Now I'm on my way to maa's house. I'll pick up Aryan there. What's wrong with you ? You doesn't sounds well."
"I don't know. Since you left this morning, I felt my head spinning. My stomach feels nauseous and I feel like I have no strength."
Shahrukh was silent. He suddenly remembered the moments of a few years ago.
"Shahrukh ? Are you still there ?"
Shahrukh woke up from his reverie. "Yes, I'm here. Listen, now you should take a rest. I'll go straight home after see Aryan."
"All right. Come home soon, okay ?"
"Haan, thik hai."
Kajol disconnected. Shahrukh puts his phone back and thinks about his wife. There is a feel of worry and fear that envelops his heart. Is his wife pregnant ?
Arriving at the Mukerji's house, Tanisha welcomed him at the door. The two shared a warm hug and walked towards the living room where Tanuja and Aryan were sitting together and talking about something.
Shahrukh bend down and touch his mother-in-law's feet while Tanuja touched his head and wishing him for happiness. Aryan approached him then hugged him.
"Daddy ! I miss you." said Aryan.
Shahrukh chuckled and ruffled his son's hair. "Hey, little monster! My house feels empty without you, you know ? How was your vacation here ?"
Aryan took off his arms and showed his two thumbs to his father.
"Aryan behaved very well. He never asked for anything strange." said Tanuja.
"He was also given many gifts by Ayan." Tanisha added.
Shahrukh frowned. "Ayan ? Is he visiting Aryan ?" Tanisha nodded.
"Have you thanked him?" Shahrukh asked Aryan.
Aryan nodded. "Of course, dad. I can't forget to say that."
They then sat together. Shahrukh told the purpose of his arrival and informing them that the problem was resolved. He also told them why he's rushing to go back to India. He told everything from beginning to end. Tanuja, Tanisha and Aryan were very happy to hear that.
"Thank God. You can be more relaxed now." Tanuja commented. Shahrukh nodded and smiled.
"Nisha, help Aryan to packing his things. I want to talk briefly with Shahrukh." Tanuja said to her daughter.
Tanisha nodded and left with Aryan to upstairs. After they disappeared, Tanuja looked at Shahrukh straightly while he just looked down at his fingers.
"How are you with your wife ?" she asked.
"We're okay." Shahrukh answered without raising his head.
"There is no problem between you two ?"
Shahrukh shook his head slowly. "We have resolved it. There are no problems between us."
Tanuja nodded her head. "Then how is my daughter ?"
Shahrukh raised his head. Tanuja didn't change her gaze. He gulped down and took a deep breath. "Kajol is fine."
"Nothing bad happened to her ?"
Shahrukh was about to answer that question when his phone rang. He reached for his phone and stared at the screen. Yassen, one of his bodyguards called him. This rarely happens, except one thing...
"Yassen ? Kya hua ?" Shahrukh asked directly.
"Sir, I am sorry if I disturbed your time. But I must inform you that your wife fainted. Rashika found her falling near the stairs."
Shahrukh was stunned. His heart seemed to stop beating. He was surprised. His Kajol is injured. "Call ambulance. Take her to the hospital now. I'll come soon. Thank you for the information." He ordered while disconnecting the calls. He stood briefly while typing several short messages on his phone.
Tanuja got up from the sofa while watching Shahrukh's face that turned into panic. "What's wrong, Shahrukh ?"
At the same time, Tanisha and Aryan came from upstairs. Aryan drag his suitcase in his left hand. Both of them were surprised to see Shahrukh and Tanuja standing awkwardly.
"Kajol fainted. She is on the way to the hospital. I will follow her." Shahrukh answered quickly.
Three people before him also seemed surprised to hear the news. The atmosphere became tense.
"Jeeju, let us come with you. We also want to see her." said Tanisha.
Shahrukh paused for a moment then nodded quickly. They immediately left to the hospital.
**
Shahrukh walked quickly past the hospital entrance. In the corner of his eye he caught a crowd of reporters are trying to get close to him. He accelerated his steps leaving Tanuja, Tanisha and Aryan behind. In front of the emergency room he met Yassen and some of his men.
"How is she ? Has doctor told
something ?" Shahrukh asked Yassen immediately.
"Madam is still under doctor's examination, sir. It's been fifteen minutes." said Yassen.
"You take care of it." Shahrukh ordered while pointing his thumb back, asking Yassen to take care of the paps who kept trying to approach him. Yassen nodded quickly then left with his men.
Shahrukh sighed and rubbed his face. He looked back and saw his mother-in-law looking questioningly at him. He could only shrug his shoulders, not knowing what had happened to his wife.
Two women in white coats come out of the emergency room. One of them just left while the other remained there. She pocketed her stethoscope and closed the door behind her. She smiled when he saw Shahrukh in front of her.
Shahrukh is shocked to see Doctor Riya. Riya is an obstetrician who has been managing Kajol since her miscarriage problem six years ago. "Doctor Riya ? Is she alright ?" Shahrukh asked quickly.
"Mr. Khan, can you come with me for a minute ?"
Shahrukh frowned in surprise. What was so serious about Kajol that the doctor had to talk privately with him ? With all the question ringing in his head, he followed Riya into her room.
"What really happened to my wife ? Is that serious ?" Shahrukh asked again when they were sitting in Riya's room.
Riya smiles seeing Shahrukh's enthusiastic response. She knew how much this man loved his wife. "Calm down. She's fine."
"Then what made her collapse like that ?"
"Something happened to her and I'm sure it will surprise you."
Shahrukh frowned, not understand what she's saying. Riya then said something to him, making his eyes widen in surprise and his heart seemed to stop beating.
~ TO BE CONTINUED ~