As I answered the telephone, little did I realise how my life was about to change. “Good morning! Is this Anjali Sharma.” familiar male voice exclaimed. “Yes…” I stammered - “Well guess what, you have been chosen for our startling television quiz show `Who wants to be a Millionaire?'”. While I was putting the receiver down my hand was trembling, it was beyond my wildest dreams. “Thank you…” voice stuck in his throat and it was all I could utter.
It my country each and every person's dream was to participate in this venture, but it has always been restricted to those privileged, and now me, an orphan from a shanty town was given a chance of my life. I was said to show up at 10 a.m. for an audition next day in the head office, so I did. The first thing I noticed after entering was a lavishly decorated interior with many unknown faces inside. Scared to death I approached towards a reception desk and diffidently introduced myself “Anjali Sharma to Mr. Singh”. Receptionist looked at me with disdain and told me to enter Singh's office. When I was sitting there in the darkest corner he came in with the air of authority. With his white smile and swarthy complexion he resembled more a famous Abhishek than a plain TV presenter. “Oh! Here you are Miss…” he made a small pause as he was trying to recall my name “Sharma, Anjali Sharma” I whispered. “Yes, of course. To cut the long story short. You are not allowed to go beyond 10 000. We wouldn't want to shock our viewers, would we?” he smiled mischievously. “I don't understand Sir” I articulated. “Well you see my dear child” I could almost fell the mockery in these words “People like you should accept their destiny” he continued. “With all do respect Sir, my destiny is to win this contest” was it really me saying this, I was never that confident. “We shall see” he responded scornfully. Few hours later I was sitting in front of him in that psychedelic broadcasting studio, audience was applauding and I was about to answer the first question. “Who plays the main character in the movie Bluffmaster from 2005” When he read the answers it was clear to me that the destiny was on my side “B. Abhishek Bachchan”. I felt an enormous relief. I was able do it. After 30 minutes of breathtaking game I was not only a wealthier person but also more self-certain one. I was facing a watershed, the last question, any more lifelines and all I could subconsciously see was my mother making a dinner “She would so proud” I thought.
“Anjali, are you sure you want to continue? We are all been kept in suspense.” “Yes, this is my destiny”.
All I could remember from that day was a little girl saying to me “You really showed them all”. Since I had always been a modest person I knew that such a sum wouldn't be any good for me so I donated almost all of it to the orphanage and kept enough to have splendid tomb built to my late mother.