DESTINY'S CHILD

Destiny's Child - Sorry Guys , I am not even going near Beyonce Knowles now .(Just for the record - her song "Crazy in Love" ,from her debut album is one of my favorite of her songs). Then "Who is this Destiny's Child Now ?" is what you may ask me . Hmmm .

PREVIEW : I once read a story on broken relationships , and the journey back into the life . It was a serious story with heart breaking facts of life . Although I admired the writer who enlightened with some provoking thoughts , I have given a thought on my side , and I felt it can also be told in a much better way . In Life , there will be many heart breaks but life doesnt stop there , it moves on (sometimes slowly) , and you see a better future and often you think of the past ( People like me after a drink :-P ) , and you will realize its a roller coaster journey with a unteachable learning for life.

I have extrapolated that situation ,started living those characters and explored with my charcters a bit more , added my point of views and credited this story as 'Destiny's Child . Go ahead and read now .

OPENING SHOT - ROMANCE IN THE AIR :

( A Lovely beach resort with a man in a pathan dress walks over the sand . Camera pans in )

KHAN : Hi, My Name is KHAN and I am a HAPPY person . What ? , Did I surprise you ?. But I am not surprised if in case you are surprised . In this fast paced lives , and these self centered attitude of people , I rarely hear that someone saying 'I am Happy' from the bottom of their hearts , but all said and done I am HAPPY and I AM LUCKY .

(Voice from the Background : Haan Ji , I am waiting for you Here . Our table is Ready ).

KHAN : Yeah Coming Darling . ( A Smile ) . Thats my Wife , Ruksaana . She's the Reason for my Happiness . She has filled the empty spaces and has connected all the dots in my life . I got to rush now . My Wife is waiting and our dinner table is ready.....

[Half past Nine in the night , A Moonlight Lawn , Curtains floating around , Melodious Love Songs from the 80's playing , the sound of Waves whispering in the ears asking them to come and play with them , the roses dancing to the sweet-scented cool breeze drifting across the gardens, and above everything , Her eyes speaking to KHAN's eyes in silence while Ruksaana spoon feeding Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani to KHAN. Boy you once fall for it ,you are in the trap forever . Jokes Apart , What else could be the most romantic part for a married couple ? . ] ....

KHAN : ( Speaks out to Camera again , chewing his food) . There was a time , I was in dark , I never knew I will be again Hungry for Life . And I never knew there was light at the end of the tunnel . And then Ruksaana Walked into my Life . We both got married four weeks back , after we were engaged for a mere 10 days.

My Parents had found Ruksaana through an online matrimony and had chosen her after scanning many profiles . Whenever My Mom says "Maine Dulhan ko tere liye lakho mein pakada tha " ( I have chosed the bride from thousands of girls ) . I remember the famous Dharmender dailogue from Sholay " Kameene Chun Chun ke Maaroonga " . I was almost pretty sure that , a girl in my life will not only make my life miserable , which is already full of chaos , but also hers . And my mom made me realize that everytime she repeated the same dialogue . Incidentally as the fortune favours the brave , Ruksaana was BRAVE enough that her fate was in the same company . Yes , she was also working in the same company ,playing typical female MBA graduate's home-run job - "Human Resources Department Manager".

It all Started here in the same lawn , The first meeting was a good one . Our parents gave about an hours time in private to know each other and for me , it was more like an HR round of some walk-in interview. It was a clear case of injustice that day .And all I get to ask is an initial "Hi" , and then she took over the scene completely . She had thrown me so many questions , that I was thinking of going and buying Glucon-D , after answering ALL . Anyways I was not keen to find out anything about her . I had already said Yes even before meeting their family . My "Yes" although comes from me , was only for my parents . I thought atleast Let them be happy THIS TIME ,and then life changed altogether .

( Light fades out and the camera pans in on the waves on the beach . Signs of the Flashback ! )

[ SCENE 2 - EARLY DAYS OF FRESH FLOWERS - KHAN and RUKSAANA got engaged the previous day and they planned to meet again in the famous Forum Mall . As they strolled around and chit-chatted , KHAN called out "Hey Ruku , lets go there " . Ruksaana's pet name was Ruku . " Ruku kutty " was the name called by KHAN when he wants to tease her and even she liked it. He felt she was so childish , even after accounting that she was 4 years less than him ) .

KHAN : Rukku , Have you realised its not even 10 days for our marriage now .

RUKU : Yeah , and I am warning you now itself . Go live your life , live it to the fullest , and be done with your bachelorhood .Dont repent afterwards. She smiled with a barbie doll cuteness.

(He didnt react much . He stayed glued to that cute smile with a serious face .)

RUKU : Hey What Happened . Are you Scared ?, she asked with a Serious face .

KHAN : I was still serious , this time seeing the transition from cuteness to seriousness

(Only girls can look cute in one second and serious in another second .He thought) .

KHAN : I took a gasp out and replied , No I am ready for it ,just that its all happenening so fast and I was wondering how could you agree so fast ?.

RUKU : Khan Saab , When my parents told me that someone is ready to take me as his wife and he works in the same company , I was very comfortable . I started peeping into your records and your sal slips and.....(she stopped).

KHAN: ( With anticipation ) .. AND ??

RUKU : I did google on you and I read your website too . I read everything about you before I actually knew you .

KHAN : Website ???? . Oh you mean my Blog .

RUKU : (Romantically Saying )....Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

KHAN : Its not a web site , mind you , its a blog .

RUKU : Whatever opens in browser for me is a web site , she said flying Pop corn in the air .

KHAN : (Thinking - its anyways waste of telling what is what to non-technical species , so he ignored the line said before ,Otherwise given a chance I would have failed her in the current walk-in interview which is goin on now ) . So ? , What made you feel I was good ?.

RUKU : I was really impressed by your articles (KHAN smoking in his mind : Come on , its a blog not an article) specially the article - "Leaf's departure is because of Winds pursuit or Tree didnt ask her to stay ".

KHAN : What you just fell for me , by reading an ARTICLE written for someone else ? .( After the slip of the tongue by saying 'ARTICLE' , he felt -'How quick girls change you too' ) .

RUKU : Well Not Exactly !! .

KHAN : Now what ?

RUKU : The only way you express your love to a girl is by words and not by giving roses . I know you have written each word there right from your heart. I just imagined that you have written everything for me and I was ready to be your wife .

KHAN : (Disgusted he raised his voice ) - How can you imagine everything about me by reading some crap. How sure are you now that I am good ? . I am not good now what will you do .(Khan said folding his hands) .

RUKU : Who said your articles are crap . They are very good . My Husband is a Good writer.(Smiling...)

(Silence prevailed there for sometime).

RUKU : Looks like to make myself not look like a fool , I have to confess something now .

KHAN : ( The tention is back on his face now . Its a thriller movie which is running in front of him ).

RUKU : I actually inquired about you in your team .

KHAN : Holy S**** ! . Now I know why I was the only guy not invited for 'Meet your HR' one-on-one program last week.

KHAN : So , You took advantage of your position . You know what does that mean ? . I will report to the management now ?

RUKU : VeVaVeVaVeVa....( She giggled making strange sounds and winked her eye ).

[ Only girls can make such noises and still look convincingly beautiful ] .

KHAN : (Thinks : What I see in front of me is not my wife smiling , its an evil mind . Somebody just like that did not say -"Girls are both Beauty & the Beast". I see it now .)

(Khan realised he has got a chance to see a transition from a cute smile to a serious smile and now to a evil smile . He has also experienced her playing the role of a kid and then changing into a matured woman and then to a calculated woman )

RUKU : I listened to your team members opinion about you . And I formed my opinion about you . Its better than a normal guess right ? . Hope you are now OK with my decision.All this while I couldnt see your crooked face, Now that I have told you the truth ,dont keep your face like that darling . plssssssss....

( If someone asks you like that , what else can you do .KHAN smiled )

KHAN : (Thinking : Boy , Did I marry a Bond Girl ? I wish there are no cameras now in my house . I feel Im being spy'd now ) . First things First . I need to change the job first. Atleast for my wife .All said and done , I am finding my lost love in Rukku now .

(The thought of lost love provoked him to ask a question ).

KHAN : Shall I ask you one thing ? . Dint you had any boyfriends ?

(After a pause and a little thought he added )

KHAN : Specially after you being so beautiful .

(The move quite worked out )

RUKKU : Smiled !! . I did . Four till date.

KHAN : ( Hiding his anxiety and trying to act normal) - Then What happened ?

RUKU : They were good boyfriends but they dont make right husbands.

KHAN : Why they cant write articles or what ? ( Sarcastically )

RUKU : (Seriously) Why are you getting so anxious ? . Before you ask anything , let me tell you . I gave myself to you . You know what I mean right ?.

KHAN : Laughed ! . It doesnt matter as long as we both are together as one soul . ( KHAN said trying to create a romantic atmosphere after sensing sensitive road ahead)

(Khan tapped himself invisibly , Man that worked out - She Smiled back ).

RUKU : Anyways I dint ditch them , they went away .

RUKU : Thats my story . What about you ? You never told me about the girl you used to write in the blog .

( Hearing the right term -'blog' this time from her made him happy but also called in for another trick )

KHAN : Hey In Shopper Stop , there is 50% off on Ear Rings . You want to check them out?
(Ruku was mad at ear rings , she's got different different hangings for each top.He used that weakness to his trick)

RUKU : You Bet ! . Chalo ji Chalo andhar chalo jaldi ( Come one lets go in quickly )

(KHAN has been lucky today , all his tricks has worked out to plan . But Anyways its damn easy to divert a woman's mind , he thought ).

[ SCENE 3 - FLASHBACK CONTINUED -EMOTIONS IN MOTION - Like every Weekend KHAN & RUKU went on to explore new restaurants in the city .This time they got hold of the new BARBEQUE restaurant in Indira Nagar with a Nice roof top and soft live music playing in the background . It was a perfect gateway for a family or a couple on any day . KHAN preferred a corner seat , so that no one can disturb them , sorry a small correction , so that no one can disturb Ruksaana's talking . ]

(Suddenly a cute little kid walks closer to the table and touches KHAN from backside . RUKKU loved kids and she got up from the seat )

RUKU : Chowww Chweet ...She started stretching his cheeks .

RUKU : Looked into KHAN's eyes , raised her eyebrows ,drawing strange symbols and winked her eye ,signalling KHAN that this is the kind of kid she always coquetted to have with him .

( A Familiar Voice from behind shouting "Sam Come here , Sam Come here , You are becoming naughty day by day " . RUKU complemented the woman that their kid is lovely)

RUKU : Your Kid is very very cute . How old is he ?

XXXXX : Thank you ! . He is almost 2 .

(Again the voice seemed familiar and KHAN turns back and she turns right and words get stuck in the throat .She looks at her husband , and then picks the kid and walks away without uttering a single word with Ruku . Ruku came back and shrugged her shoulders not understanding the lady's sudden reaction (walk) back to her husband .Silence took a new entry between them . Thats a rare thing happening when Ruku's is around . KHAN's mind was totally fazed out . Finally he broke the silence.)

KHAN : Lets go to some other place, I am kind of not liking it here .

RUKU : What happened ? . 5 minutes back you said its lovely here .

(Silence reappeared there again. Ruku was also calm uncharacteristacally)

RUKU : (This time Ruku broke the silence) I can sense that you are totally disturbed and unnerved . What is that which is bugging you ?.

(All this while , RUKU was not silent , she was studying KHAN's mind ).

RUKU : Come on tell me KHAN . I always thought you are really heavy at heart . Even your laugh comes out with great difficulty . I didnt want to tell you , But I cannot see the spark for me in your eyes . I feel you are troubling yourself all the time . Are you not happy with me ? .

(She touched his hand .KHAN lifted his head hearing such serious question , but went down again , after finding that RUKU was seeing straight into his eyes and may be with some tears .He was not sure whether they were tears there . He couldnt dare to find it ).

Already KHAN was fighting his heart out inside , he had to also handle this emotional blackmail also . For once , he spoke out .

KHAN : Its Nethra .(Clearing his throat , he repeated ) Its Nethra .

(She took back her hands , and folded her hands and was sitting as if a movie is going to start now ).

KHAN :Thats the name of the woman who just came here sometime back . She was my college mate and in Electronics department . I was kind of attracted initially towards her. I then approached her for friendship . We became good friends , we started going out . and then I proposed to her in the final year .

(RUKU came front lying her hands on the table and with her eyes wide open ).

KHAN : She accepted immediately . We Started missing each other even if it is for 5 minutes and then we planned to get selected in the same company . Everything went by our plan . We got seleceted in the same company . We even had the names of our children ready. With Nethra , I could really see the world . I mean literally. It was a beautiful feeling .

KHAN : We went to our homes on holidays and I told my parents . There was a sudden outburst immediately. Appa said -"We are Muslims , they are Christians . How this is gonna work". I just said one line . If I am marrying anyone its got to be Nethra . They were dowm emotionally for some days , and then finally after understanding my stand on her , accepted her whole heartedly . I introduced her to my family and they even liked Nethra . They wanted to talk to her parents too.

( Ruku's eyes were gleaming , its not that she did not expect this flashback from KHAN ,she always knew there is someone in his past after reading his blogs , but the way Khan was explaining her as 'her life','I could really see the World' ,etc . Those were the kinds of words she always expected KHAN to associate her with ,which she failed to listen from him in the last few weeks after marriage . Its something poking her inside . Sometimes even if they dont want to , jealousy takes over them easily)

KHAN : But before they tell them , Nethra wanted her parents to listen from her first . She revealed this in their home . Theres was a conservative family and they did not have a good opinion on love marriages . Nethra was very much emotional about her parents and specially her sister . She tried hard to make everyone understand the situation . Same night , Nethra's father had a cardiac arrest and reports said that it was because of his recent emotional low . Her mother fall on her legs , and saidplease save your dad . Make me happy . He always wanted you to get married to Kurian Uncle's son . They are best friends from childhood . Now your father is worried he can never show his face in the society and to his friend .

( Took a deep sigh and his words were shivering with time signifying he is emotional . He was blowing out air and gathering energy to speak out . All signs of an emotional volcano breaking out inside)

KHAN : She came back , and dropped a nucleur bomb on me . She succumb to pressure and then she left me stranded . RUKU has closed my doors to world , I still dont blame her . I always knew she was very sentimental towards her parents . I even understand their parents emotions , but ultimately I couldnt make myself understand .

KHAN : I still remember that day . She said "Lets be friends like before " . I did not accept . I explained "I am still your friend, I cant be beside you with that feeling" . I said " Take Care Nethra , Be happy " . She left with a note " I am really very sorry Khan , Will miss you for Life . Take Care ! " .

KHAN : I got to know that she even quit the company and I never tried to contact her after that .

KHAN : They say ,Time heals everything . I dont know why it showed its back on me ,it never took care of me . I was there in the same web for atleast 3 years . Sometimes , Nethra's words come to me in my dreams , sometimes when I sit silent in the night . I sometimes hear her chuckling laugh in my ears,sometimes I see that dazzling smile on an imaginary screen ,sometimes I feel she is just standing beside me . I went into solitude ,searching for a bit of joy all the time .Sometimes I really want to know "How she is doing " , and then finally I started a blog , to vomit my emotions now and then ,which you have also seen . It helped me a lot .

KHAN : One fine day , Mom & Dad came with your photo to me , and they started crying . I had no other chance , This time I had to surrender to pressure . I said , I would marry any girl that they would put in front of me .

( RUKU was listening each and every word of his . This time she became emotional , she wanted to ask , "So was I a compromise ? . Was I just someone " . She didnt wanted to interrupt then ,she thought she would wait to hear more from the man who dares to call her a 'Compromise' ) .

KHAN : Tears this time passed the finish line , it now rolled down his cheeks .

(Ruku was thinking is it the right time to ask what she wanted )

KHAN : BUT.....( he continued wiping off his tears).

Its You , who treat me as a Gain ,

Its You, who taught me live life Again.

Its You, who taunt me in my Dreams ,

Its You , whom I want to be by all Means.

Its You, who takes care of my Health ,

Its You, who thinks I am as your Wealth

Its You, with whom I have lots of Fun

Its You, to whom I promise we will always be One

Its You, who comes in my Dreams

Its You, who fits in all Frames

Its You , who has a smiling Face

Its You , who will always be my Ace

You and only YOU , will always be inside me till the day I am alive ,

For which YOUR LIFE IS MY LIFE .

You are ME and I am YOU and

I SEE ME IN YOU .

I LOVE YOU ,

I LOVE YOU

I LOVE YOU

(Saying this looking straight into her eyes , Khan Broke Down , Ruku Stood over and came and sat beside him . She hold his hand tightly and hugged her from beside.KHAN never felt like this when she hugged him before. )

( This time Tears not only crossed finish line , but it went to other race course . Ruku started crying . The tears coming out of her are not her emotions , it was all her doubts of 'Compromise' she had . Their Souls purified themselves within no time . )

RUKU : Khan Listen to me . Stop Crying .Look at me First . Promise me you will never leave me .

( Even though KHAN heard only one line of request to be promised , he sensed many in her eyes . He found out that , she asked him to be the ONE in her life and all that she wanted is a little love in return for everything of hers . He nodded his head ).

RUKU : Come , Lets go out somewhere else . I will prepare food for you at home today .

(They started back , and both not aware of each other , have seen Nethra from the corner of the eyes . Khan noticed Her Kajal spreading out indicating tears crossing boundaries this time ,and Ruku has seen whether she is more beautiful than her or not . And then she unanimously declared to herself that She is no comparision to her in beauty .After walking few yards ....)

RUKU : I LOVE YOU KHAN .

KHAN : I LOVE YOU TOO !!!.

( Khan refreshed his mind , that he has once got a chance to see her playing the role of a cute girl , and then in a matured woman , and then in a calculated woman , and then in a jealousy woman , and then in a romantic woman . Now he feels he can add an emotional woman , caring woman , and more than anything a woman who is his better half in the true sense to that list).




SCENE 4: Revived Life

( Camera pans out and focusses on Khan again, Khan is still in the pathan dress and sitting on the edge of the Beach .Looks like now Tears have crossed time-spaces . Its now managed to get back from flashback to present ).

KHAN : First time , I could feel RUKU speak to me without actually not uttering a single word . The Silence around her and the touch of her hands on me was speaking everything for itself .Its just that moment , the words -"I LOVE YOU KHAN " , made me feel I am already in Love ..Again .... Those were not the words of expression of love . Those were the vows we took for having each other . That was the day when I actually got married to her , from my heart .

Nethra taught me what is to love . Ruksaana has showed me how to love , she taught me what is living in love . Both are important to me . I loved one and now , other made me love her. I cannot blame any of them except my fate . I have got no regrets now . I have come to terms with Life now .

That day , What shook me more compared to me seeing her again is she naming her kid "Sam". Nethra and I had planned our kid name too . She wanted it to be "Sam" if it is a boy (and "Sanjna" if its a girl) ,so that it could match with both our religions and my name. I wanted her to forget me , even though somewhere I feel she wont ( May be we cant ) , but she couldnt forget me. After being with Nethra for so many days , I could very well read that she was not not only shocked when she saw me , but she was still living with that guilty feeling . I just hope she buries all the hatchets and be Happy forever .

They say "Marriages are made in heaven ". Made or not , I do not know , but one thing , the one whom you are going to marry , would have already been decided by someone whom the world calls as "Destiny" . He sends his angels down here to make it happen . Not many can see those angels , but I could see. If that day , Sam wouldnt have walked to my table, I wouldnt have fallen in love with Ruku again . He made that happen . Im sure after seeing me with Ruku together, he made Nethra realize, that I have crossed the waters and its time for her to move on . Nethra must have named him "Sam" , but he is the shadow of our destiny . Sam is our Destiny's Child who have brought life back into our life.

( Ruksaana is seen playing out on the beach with some kids in the background).

After losing on Love once , I have renovated my life a lot .Now I know the actual importance of Love in my life and its time to get better of it . Let me have my share now .

(Khan Runs back to Ruku , accompanying her on her child pay ) .

(Turning Back )

By the way I never told you my full name. My Name is 'SAM'EER KHAN . I WISH YOU all the LOVE.Nice Meeting you ......

PS : Please dont tag this story to my life . I had to say this explicitly coz on my last post , there were lots of "suspcious minds" trying to fit me in some character or the other.Please dont drag me on the screen with the characters , I am better off behind the scenes :-)

All Said , Looking forward for your comments and your point of views on this post.

Love ,

Vicky