Posted:
Hey Friends!
Today was my lucky day to meet with the man a lot of us love. I am obviously overwhelmed and I want to share with you my little encounter with him.
I have been his fan from Rishi days- a decade ago- and when I heard he was going to be near a city around where I live, I could not resist. I had plans to go to the India Parade NYC beforehand and it was more than a bonus that Shabbir was going to be there.
I reached Madison Avenue before 12 noon and the first thing I wanted to find was Shabbir and Zee booth. I had a commitment to drop someone close to me to the airport and hence I wanted to meet Shabbir as soon as possible so that I could leave.
But the organizers misguided me in the opposite direction and I had to walk a lot and walk back annoying my friends before I ended up where Shabbir was. I missed his entry which I really wanted to witness.
Nevertheless, I saw a man I have seen so many times on TV for real finally. I almost felt a moment of eerie to witness him live in his blue shoes, blue strapped watch, while shirt and jeans- all I am so familiar with. He was a bit shorter than I expected him to be (in the soaps, he looks way taller than his heroines) but there was his characteristic broad chest and appealing gait. He was his smiling self politely taking pictures with fans who were eager to meet him. I stood watching him for a few minutes before I joined the queue.
I took some pictures as I moved in the slow queue. The organizers were joking if I am excited to meet Abhi, I said, No, to meet Shabbir!
We were asked to fill up a lucky draw before meeting with him. And when it was almost my turn I went and stood on the side, waiting for the person before me to finish.
When I moved in front of him, he smiled at me. I smiled too and walked up to him and said Hi. He also replied with a Hi and another smile. He was wearing sunglasses (me too), it was hot/sunny and for some reason I felt he would be jet lagged and would have puffy eyes if he were to take his sunglasses off.
There were so many things I wanted to tell him but I just told him "Shabbir you are truly truly amazing", he said "you are so sweet" (his voice was sweeter than I have ever heard on screen and a bit deeper too) and the organizer guy I had given my camera to was ready to take a picture. Shabbir came close and put his arm around my shoulder almost hugging me by the side, my head pressed to his chest! I tried to hold him too but I don't know if I did. All I could feel was a luxurious leather couch, so firm and comfortable (his arms/shoulder/chest)- yes leather sofa is what came to my mind!
And I realized I could use those few moments to talk to him, I asked him who chose his tee shirts he wears for Abhi. He said "everyone, my designer, my (wife?)". I said I love them and I want to steal some. He laughed a bright laugh. I looked at his teeth for some reason.
I know that he smokes and I expected him to smell a bit like cigarette for some reason but he didn't. I thought he smelled some dull woody fragrance.
I then realized that a selfie is taken by yourself using your phone and I tried to take one with my phone too. But my phone was not in pic mode. So it took me a moment to get it there and Shabbir patiently waited. The organizers said 'one pic only'. I took a couple of selfies, Shabbir again bent towards me and we finally have two perfect selfies for me to keep for life.
As I moved away, I felt like I should have asked him about his hurt foot, but when I looked back I saw the next person was already there. So I had to walk out.
I then messaged on Twitter and saw a message from Harisha asking me if I asked him about the blue strap watch. I really wanted to and was sad that I didn't. But then since my friends left to bring the car, I decided to stay around the Zee booth and found a chance to ask him from the side- "Shabbo" I called out. He looked at me, and I asked what was it about his blue strap watch that he wears from such long time! He smiled and said it is his lucky watch. The bouncer gave me a weird look and I had to move back.
I watched him for a few good minutes, doing his job gracefully and patiently. I saw that he was special nice to elders and very loving to kids.
And it was time for me to leave for airport to drop this person off and I left.
This encounter humanized Shabbir all the more for me and I love him more than ever now. He is a genuinely sweet and polite person but I could also see he was doing his job and his real self lives within himself somewhere hidden.
PS: At one point, he gulped almost a whole bottle of water and the sight will stay in my memory for the longest time.
Today was my lucky day to meet with the man a lot of us love. I am obviously overwhelmed and I want to share with you my little encounter with him.
I have been his fan from Rishi days- a decade ago- and when I heard he was going to be near a city around where I live, I could not resist. I had plans to go to the India Parade NYC beforehand and it was more than a bonus that Shabbir was going to be there.
I reached Madison Avenue before 12 noon and the first thing I wanted to find was Shabbir and Zee booth. I had a commitment to drop someone close to me to the airport and hence I wanted to meet Shabbir as soon as possible so that I could leave.
But the organizers misguided me in the opposite direction and I had to walk a lot and walk back annoying my friends before I ended up where Shabbir was. I missed his entry which I really wanted to witness.
Nevertheless, I saw a man I have seen so many times on TV for real finally. I almost felt a moment of eerie to witness him live in his blue shoes, blue strapped watch, while shirt and jeans- all I am so familiar with. He was a bit shorter than I expected him to be (in the soaps, he looks way taller than his heroines) but there was his characteristic broad chest and appealing gait. He was his smiling self politely taking pictures with fans who were eager to meet him. I stood watching him for a few minutes before I joined the queue.
I took some pictures as I moved in the slow queue. The organizers were joking if I am excited to meet Abhi, I said, No, to meet Shabbir!
We were asked to fill up a lucky draw before meeting with him. And when it was almost my turn I went and stood on the side, waiting for the person before me to finish.
When I moved in front of him, he smiled at me. I smiled too and walked up to him and said Hi. He also replied with a Hi and another smile. He was wearing sunglasses (me too), it was hot/sunny and for some reason I felt he would be jet lagged and would have puffy eyes if he were to take his sunglasses off.
There were so many things I wanted to tell him but I just told him "Shabbir you are truly truly amazing", he said "you are so sweet" (his voice was sweeter than I have ever heard on screen and a bit deeper too) and the organizer guy I had given my camera to was ready to take a picture. Shabbir came close and put his arm around my shoulder almost hugging me by the side, my head pressed to his chest! I tried to hold him too but I don't know if I did. All I could feel was a luxurious leather couch, so firm and comfortable (his arms/shoulder/chest)- yes leather sofa is what came to my mind!
And I realized I could use those few moments to talk to him, I asked him who chose his tee shirts he wears for Abhi. He said "everyone, my designer, my (wife?)". I said I love them and I want to steal some. He laughed a bright laugh. I looked at his teeth for some reason.
I know that he smokes and I expected him to smell a bit like cigarette for some reason but he didn't. I thought he smelled some dull woody fragrance.
I then realized that a selfie is taken by yourself using your phone and I tried to take one with my phone too. But my phone was not in pic mode. So it took me a moment to get it there and Shabbir patiently waited. The organizers said 'one pic only'. I took a couple of selfies, Shabbir again bent towards me and we finally have two perfect selfies for me to keep for life.
As I moved away, I felt like I should have asked him about his hurt foot, but when I looked back I saw the next person was already there. So I had to walk out.
I then messaged on Twitter and saw a message from Harisha asking me if I asked him about the blue strap watch. I really wanted to and was sad that I didn't. But then since my friends left to bring the car, I decided to stay around the Zee booth and found a chance to ask him from the side- "Shabbo" I called out. He looked at me, and I asked what was it about his blue strap watch that he wears from such long time! He smiled and said it is his lucky watch. The bouncer gave me a weird look and I had to move back.
I watched him for a few good minutes, doing his job gracefully and patiently. I saw that he was special nice to elders and very loving to kids.
And it was time for me to leave for airport to drop this person off and I left.
This encounter humanized Shabbir all the more for me and I love him more than ever now. He is a genuinely sweet and polite person but I could also see he was doing his job and his real self lives within himself somewhere hidden.
PS: At one point, he gulped almost a whole bottle of water and the sight will stay in my memory for the longest time.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
