Traveling Across Indian Movie Worlds

Author's Note:

Attarintiki Daaredi - The grandson of a rich businessman promises to bring back his daughter, Sunanda, home for his eightieth birthday. Years ago, he had disowned her after she married Rajasekhar.

I recommend people to watch this if they haven't.

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After a long journey, we finally touched down in Hyderabad. As the wheels of the plane kissed the runway, a mix of familiarity and anticipation surged through me. I had an advantage here—knowledge of what was about to unfold. Every event, every encounter, was mapped out in my mind. And today, I knew exactly where I needed to be.

Shekhar, Sunandha's husband, would be arriving at the airport at this very moment. He had just returned from Chennai after completing some work. This was no coincidence—it was the culmination of carefully planned moves. The timing was everything.

You might expect the original protagonist to be here too, ready to step into his role. But that's where you'd be wrong. His arrival was delayed, thanks to a "technical issue" that forced his plane to make an emergency landing in Dubai. And who was behind that? Me, of course. A few strategic bribes to the right maintenance crew ensured the delay. Nothing serious—just enough to ground the protagonist's plane for a day or two. That's all I needed.

The best part? No one would ever trace it back to me. By the time the protagonist finally landed in India, I would have already woven myself into the fabric of the family. I'd have the chance to learn their strengths, their weaknesses. By the time the protagonist arrived, his task of connecting with his aunt and her family would be far more difficult than he could have anticipated.

Omisha and I moved through the busy terminal. She was composed and elegant, playing the role of my secretary effortlessly. The glasses she wore were a perfect touch, making her appear every bit the professional I needed her to be. Together, we blended into the sea of travelers.

My eyes scanned the crowd until I finally spotted Shekhar. He didn't look well. His hands trembled slightly, and his face was pale. He seemed to dismiss it as fatigue or indigestion, grabbing a glass of water and mixing in some ENO before gulping it down. But I knew what was coming—he was on the verge of a heart attack. He had no idea, but I did.

Shekhar, appearing slightly relieved, left the airport and headed to his Mercedes. I followed him at a distance, Omisha by my side, as we trailed behind in my Land Rover Defender. Praveen and the security team were close behind in the black Toyota Fortuner, keeping a discreet but watchful eye.

"Keep an eye on him," I muttered to Omisha. She gave a brief nod, her eyes sharp, as we tailed Shekhar's car. We followed him for a few minutes, heading out onto the highway, but I knew his time was running out. The car started to slow, veering off the road and onto a grassy field. It finally came to a stop.

I pulled over immediately, knowing what was happening. I ran toward Shekhar's car and found him slumped over, struggling for breath. His condition had worsened. Without hesitation, I smashed the window with a quick strike of my wrist, opening the door and pulling him from the car. He was limp, his breath shallow. Omisha grabbed his belongings and phone, while I carried Shekhar to my vehicle and laid him in the back seat.

We sped to the hospital. Omisha, calm as ever, used Shekhar's phone to call Sunandha. It took two attempts, but the accountant finally picked up, and Omisha conveyed the urgency of the situation. As we approached the hospital, she provided the name and address, ensuring they would meet us there.

At the hospital, the staff acted quickly, whisking Shekhar into the emergency room for immediate surgery. I watched as they rushed him away, my mind already calculating my next move.

As I waited in the hospital lobby, I glanced over at Omisha. "Sunandha should be on her way. We have time to figure out our next move," she said quietly, her voice calm but sharp. I nodded, with already a plan in mind.

Shekhar's POV:

What is this pain in my chest? My left arm... I can't move it. Panic started to rise as I realized my body wasn't responding. I tried to pull over, but I lost control, my car veering off the road and onto the grass.

I tried to gain control of my hands and body but to no avail. Then I started feeling huge pain in my heart and then it dawned on me that I was going to die. My mind started thinking about my family, especially my two daughters and not yet having done atleast one auspicious activity in the family which is my daughters's marriage, and now I feared I might not have the chance. 

All these thoughts kept running in my mind and as I drifted between consciousness and darkness, I saw a figure approach the car—a young man, handsome, confident. He didn't hesitate, smashing the window and pulling me out with care. His actions were quick and decisive, yet gentle. I couldn't speak, but as he carried me, I began to wonder... Could this be a sign? Perhaps this man could be the match I had always hoped for my eldest daughter. He seemed capable and strong, the kind of son-in-law any father would dream of. My mind started imagining what would it be like if he married my eldest daughter Prameela.

I doubt if I can bring such a match for my daughter. As my mind clouded further, I clung to that thought. I needed to survive. I needed to know this man, to ensure that he might one day marry my daughter.

When we reached the hospital, I was barely aware of the movement around me. They pushed me into surgery, but before the doors closed, I tried to raise my hand—to call him. I couldn't. My body betrayed me.

I only hoped that I would see him again, once this was over.

Shekhar's POV End:

After about 30 minutes, the operation was over, and Shekhar was moved to an individual room under my orders. The doctor had come to check on him, so I went out and sat down in a chair in the corridor with Omisha, Praveen, and the other security personnel standing beside me. Just then, a woman turned the corner of the corridor and walked up to me, having identified the clothes and belongings that belonged to Shekhar, her husband. Seeing her approach, I kept my face straight like a good man, but in my mind, I was thinking about how this woman still looked so attractive at her age, in her late 40s, despite having two daughters in their early 20s.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as Sunandha grabbed my collar and asked why I didn't take him five kilometers further to a better hospital. Right on time, the doctor who had gone in for a check-up came out and heard her question. He replied, "In just two kilometers, there is a cemetery. He brought him here right on time, or else you would have been visiting the cemetery. You better thank him," saying that, he walked away.

Hearing the doctor's words, she released my collar and walked into the room to see her husband. She felt guilty for treating me like that, but her pride didn't let her apologize. As she entered the room, a smirk crossed my face as I thought about how to punish her for her behavior in the future. But in a moment, I changed my expression back to normal, as I would soon have to enter the room to implement my plans.