Shabbir is home alone that morning. His family has gone to his in law's place to prepare for his grand birthday celebration that night. He couldn't afford to take off even on his birthday due to Abhi-Pragya track in Kumkum Bhagya. He finished his daily work out and took a shower. Getting dressed in white and black, he stood in front of the mirror adjusting his hair. He thought about calling his wife to listen to his baby boy of 2 weeks.
Before he could act on that thought, he was taken aback to notice that his mirror image is wearing a leather jacket and yellow dogtags, which he surely didn't remember wearing. Before the shock seeped in, the mirror image laughed.
"Hello Mr. Shabir oh Shabbir Sebastian Ahluwalia. It's me Abhi"
"Abhi?!!!!" Shabbir asked in horror.
"Yeah, Rockstar Abhi"
Shabbir felt dizzy and was about to faint. Abhi came out of the mirror and saved him from falling to the ground. Guiding Shabbir to the nearby sofa, Abhi made him sit there. Shabbir was shell-shocked to say a word, but he gathered himself. Before he said anything, Abhi took out a gun from his jacket and pointed at Shabbir.
Abhi: You are not asking any questions. You will just answer. This is your punishment for putting me through hell. You go and play my character everyday on the sets of KB, have you ever thought what I go through? I can't meet my girlfriend, my wife, that Chashmish, does her bak bak every minute, my Daadi has me dance to her tunes, my sister always expects me to do crazy things, I have to behave so badly with my wife that India Forums hates me for it and you know what, I can't even go out and take some fresh air, my fans just fall on me like... Dude, enough is enough.. From today, you will be Abhi and I will be Shabbir. But to make that happen, you have to answer all my questions. I have to know everything about you. You live my life and I live yours. We both will be happy. But if you try to act too smart, this bullet will go straight into your head...So, shall we start?
Shabbir: Bu...
Abhi: Now you please don't start your bak bak. The faster we go through this, the better. And I always have this (points gun at Shabbir). So you want to start?
Shabbir: *nods his head slowly*
Abhi: Good... Umm...actually, do you have an iPad?Shabbir being too shocked to say anything slowly pointed at his iPad that's on the table.
Abhi: Thanks!
Abhi grabs the iPad with one hand, but with the other, still points the gun at Shabbir. Shabbir's still in shock, but slowly reality is seeping in. 'What in the world is happening? How can Abhi be in my room? He's only a character...'thought Shabbir. He then recovered from his shock as he recalled what Abhi said earlier about him wanting to switch lives with him. Meanwhile, Abhi finds the iPad, and sits down on a chair across from him.
Abhi: As I already know your name, you can tell me your...umm..age.
Shabbir: Is this necessary...
Abhi: Of course it is...Now TELL ME.
Shabbir: Okay, fine. 35.
Abhi: Where were you born?
Shabbir: Mumbai
Abhi: Okay, now I need some brief, background information about you- like where you studied, your parents and all that stuff.
Shabbir: Seriously...
Abhi: Yup. C'mon dude, co-operate. Otherwise this gun...
Shabbir: Fine, we don't have to get violent...I was born to a Catholic mother and Punjabi, Sikh father. I completed my education from St. Xavier's High School, Vile Parle, West, Mumbai and University of Maryland, College Park, US...Good enough?
Abhi: Perfect. Married ya single?
Shabbir: Married.
Abhi: What's your wife's name?
Shabbir: Now, why do you want her name?
Abhi: Well, when people ask me who my wife, I mean your wife, (Shabbir's wife) I can't say Chashmish, right?
Shabbir: Point noted... Her name is Kanchi Kaul.Abhi: Is your wife a Chashmish too?
Shabbir: What?
Abhi: Jokes *winks *. Okay, And I just need you to tell me all the TV shows and films you acted in...
Shabbir: Now this is too much... How do you expect me to remember all of this?
Abhi: (aiming the gun at Shabbir): Would this work? Or do you need even more encouragement...
Shabbir: *sighs* I'll try...Okay first it
was Hip Hip Hurray, no..Kyunki Saas Kabhi Bahu Thi, or was it Kasam Se
Abhi: You know what? You write it down all yourself.
Abhi passes iPad to Shabbir, who is evidently annoyed but somewhat scared too at the freakishness of the whole thing. Shabbir starts typing.Abhi: And also list the...
Shabbir: I know, I'm listing the films I did too
Shabbir completes his job and gives the iPad back to Abhi
Abhi goes through the list.
Hip Hip Hurray as Shweta Salve's brother
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as Aniket
Kahin To Milenge as Shashank
Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii as Soumil Dixit
Kahiin To Hoga as Rishi Garewal
Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat - Kabzaa
Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat - Kohra as Aman
Kkavyanjali as Vansh
Nach Baliye 1 & Nach Baliye 2 as Host
Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa Guest appearance
Fear Factor as Participant
Kasamh Se as Sandeep Sikand/Sandy (Cameo)
Kasautii Zindagii Kay as Omi
Kayamath as Milind Mishra
Dhamaal Express as himself
Dancing Queen as Host
Meethi Churi No. 1 as Host
Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi Level 3 as himself
Guinness World Record - India as Host
Laagi Tujhse Lagan as Dutta Bhau
Kumkum Bhagya as Abhishek Prem
Shootout at Lokhandwala as RC
Mission Istaanbul as Khalil Nazi
Abhi: Anything else you have done? Like achievements, your pastimes blah blah..
Shabbir: Well I hold a Guinness record for riding a bike in a fire tunnel.
Abhi: WOW!!! I am impressed.
Shabbir: And I love sports, I play cricket for Boxy Boyz, football...
Abhi: You are multi-talented. I am just a Rockstar. Good, but one thing is missing...oh yeah...what's your date of birth?
Shabbir: Well it's tod...August 10th
Shabbir was pinching himself to make sure he was not dreaming and when it hurt, he started thinking how he could stop it. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. He took a sight of Abhi pacing back and forth trying to memorize the facts. He felt like he knew Abhi. In fact, he was the one who gave Abhi's character life. He was the biggest Drama Queen and as much as he tried to act rough and tough, the simple and innocent Abhi shined through. He grinned as Abhi started reciting the words on the iPad like a child does with multiplication tables. But the image of the black shiny gun (why was it so shiny by the way?) that Abhi was casually holding, erased all images of Abhi's innocence. You don't call someone who's holding a gun, and threatening to kill you, innocent. Even if it was an Indian soap opera character. He mentally face palmed himself. 'I am scared of a TV character?' he thought. But he couldn't take any chances.
Meanwhile, Abhi was still reciting the facts.
Abhi: Gosh, this is hard to memorize...
...Until something on the wall caught Abhi's eye. Guilt struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Abhi: It is the tenth of August today...which meant it was Shabbir's birthday and I was... without him being at fault, Oh No'
Abhi: I'm in a good mood today, so you are free to go..
Shabbir is shocked, yet again.
Shabbir: What the... First you threaten to kill me and force me to switch lives with you, and now you let me go.
Abhi: Well...the thing is, your life seems to much hard work even to memorize. I can't act, be a host, play sports and be a family man too. That's a lot of stuff, man! And today is your birthday too.
Shabbir: Oh yeah...with a gun on my head on my birthday..
Abhi: Galti ho gayi mujhse, I am sorry... and happy birthday.
Shabbir: Umm...well...thanks.Abhi: I will let you go on one condition. Can you please have the creatives of Kumkum Bhagya make my life better? I mean get me out of that stupid misunderstanding and let me be with my sweet Chashmish, you know. I actually...
Shabbir: Dude, got it, I will try.
Abhi: Thanks Bro. BTW, it was just a water gun. * winks*
Shabbir laughed and hugged Abhi. Abhi walked back into the mirror magically.Shabbir grinned at the mirror. The mirror image grinned back.
Shabbir laughed. The mirror image laughed exactly like him.
Oh, It was just imagination running wild! He had gotten too much into his character. His eyes fell on his blue-strapped watch and noted the time.
Shabbir: Shoot! I'm late for my shoot!
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