1

‘DADDU’

a film by samar khan

Scene 1A - PROLOGUE
EXT. INT. Palace – Jaipur / Day

We open to a grand palace that has seen better days. The camera
travels through the corridors and the rooms, The staff of the palace is
running helter-skelter, as DJs offload speakers etc. A young Caucasian
woman is giving instructions to people. A man in his fifties, the head of
the palace staff, ‘Bhuvan’ tells her that the wiring cannot be hanging
form the façade,

Bhuvan:
Do sau saal puraani building hai. It is a heritage building madam. We
will get into trouble if you put speakers.

The woman, arrogant, says,

Woman:
Why don’t you talk to your Kunwar himself? He is the one who let me
do this.

Insulted, Bhuvan walks away. He mutters to himself,

Bhuvan:
Roz nayi girlfriend aa jaati hai. Aur harr kissi ko lagta hai ki bass ab voh
maalkin hai!”

We travel to the Kunwar’s private quarters with Bhuvan, the rooms are
strewn around with bottles, half-eaten food, clothes, dvds. The Beatles
hum through the speakers. Silhouetted by the window, a tall man in his
mid-sixties stands in his boxers and vest, scratching his back. He’s
looking out, his back to us. This is Vishwambhar Chauhan.

Bhuvan says,

Bhuvan:
Aapki yeh girlfriend ko boliye zara tameez se baat kiya karey.

Vish takes a swig of his beer, turns, smiles and says,

Vish:
Bhuvan uncle, Aap hamesha itne uttejit kyon rahte ho? Bichaari mera
 2

birthday party plan kar rahi hai.

Bhuvan:
Aapki party nahin, apni party! Kaise kaise logon ko bulaaya hai aapko
idea hai.. Already kuch saatth hazaar ka bill aa gaya hai!

Vish:
Mere paise hai na? Kharch karne do usse.. Shaadi toh main uss-se
karoonga nahin toh mera birthday manaake hi khush ho legi.

Bhuvan:
Voh aapse shaadi bhi nahin karna chahti. Bass istemaal karke chali
jaayegi. Kitni aayin kitni gayin..

Vish:
Bhuvan mere dost harr koi istemaal hi karta hai. Koi kissike liye kuch
nahin karta. She is beautiful Bhuvan. She is just exquisite. Usse main
kaise manaa karoon? You know, kal raat..

Bhuvan:
Nahin nahin! Mujhe nahin sunnaa! Agar aapne shaadi kii hoti toh aaj
aapke apne gharwaale.. pota poti aapke liye party rakhte.”

Vish:
Please Bhuvan! Ghissi pitee baatein matt kiya karo. Bahut kamm logon
ko naseeb hoti hai yeh rockstar ki zindagi. Yeh aazadi..

Bhuvan:
Aur phir bhi.. iss ladki mein hi sahi, aap bass kissi ka saath dhoondh
rahein hain. Kaash aapne itni ladkiyon mein se kissi ek ka bhi haath
thaam liya hota.”

Just then the DJ does a shrill and loud sound check. They both get
startled.

Bhuvan:
Ek zamaane mein aapne unhe istemaal kiya… Aaj yeh aapko istemaal
kar rahi hain.

Vish just smiles and teases him,

Vish:
Tum ho na meri biwi ki tarah mere peeche padne ke liye.

Bhuvan:
 3

Bas Sir! Yeh..Yeh aapke liye ek chitthi aayi hai.

Bhuvan hands him a letter, smiles and leaves. Vishwambhar sits back
on his armchair, pumps up the volume and starts reading the letter.
We stay on him for a moment, as his expression changes.

Party music takes over on the soundtrack.

CUT TO

Scene 1B
EXT. INT. Palace – Jaipur / Night

A magnificent party in progress, almost all of Jaipur has turned up to

wish Vishwambhar on his birthday. It’s a rave kind of party. Lots of
young people mill about getting drunk. Bhuvan and the house staff are
serving them. Vish feels like a stranger in his own house. His ‘girlfriend’
comes and drags him to the dance floor. We see that he is preoccupied
with some thought. He doesn’t want to dance. But she forces him to.

On the dance floor, some other woman also dances with him. He is a
little ill at ease. The other woman is pulled away by a guy. Vish is left
alone. As he tries to walk away, she tries to stop him. The guy she is
dancing with says,

Guy:
Let him go. He must be tired, right?

But suddenly Vish just turns around and slaps him and then, starts
clobbering him. Everyone stops in shock! Nobody has any clue what
has got into him!

The boy’s friends run up to save him when Bhuvan walks up and
separates Vish from the guy. He holds him against the wall and says,

Bhuvan:
Kya? Kya ho kya gaya hai aapko? Kya hua kya hai aapko?

Vish looks at Bhuvan, panting,

Bhuvan:
Oh God, I shouldn’t have..

CUT TO

Scene 1C
 4

INT. / Palace – Jaipur / Night

The party is over, as the remains of the revelry lie strewn around. Vish
sits on a chair like a lonely old man. He calls out to Bhuvan and asks
for the letter.

Vish:
Bring me the letter again, Bhuvan!

Bhuvan looks at him, hesitant,

Bhuvan:
Let it be, sir.

Vish:
Why?

Bhuvan:
This is not you. If you both never knew about this all these years, then
why dig these graves, now?

Vish:
You are saying this? You who wanted me to marry every woman I
danced with? You?

Bhuvan:
Yes sir… You have made many mistakes in your life. I have never
stopped you. But I have never seen you like this. Never. I shouldn’t
have given you the letter. It’s my mistake. But I don’t want you to
make another mistake.

Vish:
I think you forget sometimes, who you are talking to. You think I can’t
handle this? I have handled all sorts of women.

Bhuvan almost looks a tad disappointed, let down, as he says,

Bhuvan:
Wohi toh, Sir..She is not just any other woman, sir. And you know that.
And that’s why you want to seek her out. Look for her… And find out
who she is. So much interest in a woman… I have never seen that, sir.
And you know what… You have lost your time of being able to care for
anyone beyond yourself. You will only mess this up.
(pause)
You have broken the hearts of too many people… You have trampled
over too many dreams. You can only do bad. That’s what you are!
 5

Vish:
Maybe! But Bhuvan… How can I NOT go? After knowing all this,
Bhuvan? Why don’t you want me to go?

Bhuvan:
“Why do you WANT TO go?”

Vish:
I don’t know… Kaash yeh khatt aaya hi nahin hota… Parr ab toh aa
gaya hai na? Ab kaise na jaoon, Bhuvan? How can I not go?

Bhuvan looks unsure.

Vishwambhar:
Get me the letter Bhuvan.

As Bhuvan moves to get him the letter,

Vishwambhar:
I am just going to see her once Bhuvan, I promise I won’t mess up her
life.. I promise you.. I will have nothing to do with her. I need to see her
once, Bhuvan..

CUT TO

Black Screen – PRESENTER TITLE

CUT TO

Scene 2 - TITLE SEQUENCE. PBS 1 (OPENING TITLES BEGIN)

(Through the following montage, a song plays on the soundtrack.)

Scene 2A
INT. Anoushka’s House – London / Morning

An alarm goes off. Hands grope around, looking for the phone on a bed
in a room that’s rather threadbare yet beautifully done up. Feet step
out of the quilt onto the wooden floor, we follow the feet as they make
their way through the room and outside, almost stumbling over
someone in a sleeping bag. We hear disapproving noises. Hands pick
up stray clothes and paraphernalia.

A cupboard. The hands take out a dress, crumpled. The same pair of
 6

hands enter the kitchen to start the iron and instead the juicer comes
on. With juice flying all around the place, Music kicks in.

We reveal Anoushka, a pretty twenty-something year old who at the

moment is looking rather exasperated.

With much difficulty she takes a shower. We realize how her house is
falling apart for now she has to hold the shower with one hand, while
bathing. She shuts her eyes under the jet stream of water.

CUT TO

Scene 2B
EXT. London Roads & Underground / Day

Anoushka steps out into a gloomy London day, clutching a few sheets
of paper in her hand. She looks at the sheets periodically, mouthing
lines as she waits for the underground. She pushes a punk with a
purple Mohawk aside in the jostle to get in and in her hurry to get a
seat lands bang in the lap of an old lady who glares at her. Anoushka
mouths a ‘sorry’ and gets up hurriedly, dropping her sheets all over.
CUT TO

Scene 2C
INT. Shabby Theater / Day

Anoushka enters a theater where auditions are being held. She hands
over her photographs and a resume to the assistant and waits a while
before she’s called in.

The music stops.

She begins her act with an uncertain smile, recites the monologue but
seems unnerved and forgets lines. She asks for another go and tries
really hard but can’t seem to nail it at all. She stumbles again and
looks apologetic. The people taking the audition ask her to leave by
just pressing on the buzzer to call in the next candidate. Anoushka
looks disappointed and humiliated as she walks away.

The music resumes.

CUT TO
Scene 2D
EXT. London Roads / Day
 7

Anoushka alight from a bus and half runs-half walks, looking towards
her feet, carefully skipping over every single one of the cracks
bordering the tiles that pave the sidewalk. She comes to a breathless
halt outside a very large bookstore and walks in, taking off her
overcoat as she does so. A man comes to the door after Anoushka but
doesn’t go in. All we can make of the person is navy gloves and a
fawn hat and the fact that he stands there and watches through the
door as Anoushka takes her place behind a counter.

JUMP CUT

The same man observes her from across the glass window. Anoushka
tries to gift-wrap a book with great precision, taking time to get it just
perfect even as the customer finally walks off in exasperation.
Anoushka looks defiant as her boss yells at her.
CUT TO

Scene 2F
EXT. London Roads / Evening

Anoushka meets a young man at a crossing. This is Dev, 26. He and

Anoushka share an easy sense of familiarity as Anoushka hands him
her bag. They walk away together. Across the road, the blue-gloved
stranger follows them. We see him in stray shots but never his face.

Dev seems to be doing most of the talking, stealing frequent looks at

Anoushka. Just then a man walks up and snatches her purse and starts
running. The man who is following starts to help but stops himself.

Anoushka yells, runs after the mugger, Dev also follows her. In the
chase, the stranger who was following Anoushka, loses them. We stay
with Anoushka as she manages to nab the thief. The thug lets the bag
drop to the road and, scared, starts running again. Once again,
Anoushka starts running after him even as Dev catches up. Dev yells
behind her

Dev:
“Your bag! Anoushka… He has left your bag here! Come back.”

Anoushka continues her chase but loses the man this time.. She stops
short, out-of-breath. Dev gets to where she is.

Dev:
Here! Your bag! Why in the world were you still running after him??
 8

Anoushka:
(gasping)
“How can anyone just walk up and snatch your bag? What kind of
manners are these?”

Dev finds this cute as he repeats,

Dev:
Manners?
(Pauses to smile)
Achcha dekh lo… sab kuch theek toh hai na?”

She smiles, he prompts,

Dev:
Credit cards?

Anoushka:
Empty

Dev:
Debit?

Anoushka:
Empty.

Dev:
Money?

Anoushka:
Nada.

Dev:
“Toh phir?”

Anoushka:
Bas! It’s just wrong!

Both of them burst out laughing. Dev slips his hand into Anoushka’s
but she slowly eases hers away from his. He grins at her, as if he
expected this and places his arm over her shoulder in a casual buddy-
buddy sort of way. She rolls her eyes. They walk away. Last beats of
the song play out.

CUT TO
 9

FILM TITLE APPEARS

CUT TO

Scene 3A
INT. Anoushka’s House / Night

Anoushka and Dev walk up a small lawn towards Anoushka’s ground

floor apartment. She unlocks the door. The apartment now looks like it
has been hit by a tornado.

Anoushka stops short even as her flat-mates, Kia, a large, very

pregnant Nigerian girl; Rashid, a rather good-looking Pakistani boy and
Tanya, a petite Russian girl hurriedly remove empty coke cans, plates
etc. It’s almost as if Anoushka is the angry matron they are all scared
of.

Kia:
Hey sweetie, Rashid was too tired to cook so we ordered Pizza..

Rashid:
Pepperoni.

Anoushka just looks at Rashid and says,

Anoushka:
You know… Save the sorry for when you REALLY mean it! And then act
upon it. All I ask is that you keep the house clean but no! Every day,
every single fucking day I walk back into a pigsty!

She storms into her room. Dev follows her in.

CUT TO

Scene 3B
INT. Anoushka’s Room / Night

Anoushka sits on her bed, miserable, buries face in pillow. Dev holds
on to the box of Pizza. She mumbles.

Dev:
Hain?

Anoushka pulls her head out the pillow and repeats,

 10

Anoushka:
Nani never used to yell at me when I messed the house up.

She talks about how this house was the same house where she grew
up with her grandmother after her parents passed away.

Anoushka:
And if it weren’t for Kia, Rashid and Tan moving in here and helping me
with the rent I’d be on the streets. I shouldn’t yell at them but I just
can’t help it!

Dev nods sympathetically.

Anoushka:
I mean..I know it may not be the nicest house, if fact it’s a dump.. but
it’s all I have really and it’s all I want that feels like family. I can never
give it up and one day when I’m a broadway star
(she grins)
I’ll have enough money to by this place off that old hag, Mrs. Smith.

Dev:
Yeah, and then you can fix those ugly brown curtains too..

Anoushka smiles,

Anoushka:
Shut up! I like those.

Anoushka suddenly seems to perk up and go on..

Anoushka:
Then we’ll turn the store-room into a nursery for Kia’s baby, with pretty
yellow walls and a little crib..

Dev smiles,

Dev:
Done!

Anoushka:
And Rashid will have this most fabulous kitchen – like Monica’s – in
FRIENDS.. and then he won’t ever feel like not cooking!

Dev:
Butter Chicken!
 11

Anoushka:
Oh And Oh.. we’ll make the attic into a studio for Tan, easel et all and
then we’ll put up all her paintings and Nani’s photos in those pretty
oak-wood frames from Paul Smith’s in the living ro..

A knock on the door interrupts Anoushka’s spiel. Kia’s head pops in,

Kia:
Mrs. Smith came again, said we’ll have to get out if we can’t give her
the hiked rent..

Anoushka, suddenly pissed off..

Anoushka:
Oh tell her to fuck off!

Kia:
(sarcastically)
Yeah lets! Should I start hunting down new places?

Anoushka:
I’ve lived here for eighteen years, I’ll sue her if she tries to throw me
out!

Both Dev and Kia keep looking at Anoushka.

Anoushka:
What?

Kia:
Nothing.

Kia lets herself out. After a moment of silence Dev goes and stands
next to Anoushka, by the window,

Dev:
So yeah, we were saying..Rashid has his kitchen..

Dev reaches out and pulls Anoushka to him.

Dev:
Tanya has her easel..

Anoushka eases up in his arms.

 12

Dev:
Kia has her baby and baby has it’s crib..

Dev kisses Anoushka’s eyelids,

Dev:
And Anu is a superstar..

Anoushka smiles.

Dev:
And when she walks the red carpet, she wears a gorgeous sari
designed by Dev..

Anoushka giggles,

Anoushka:
A Sari! Oh please! Do go corny on me again!

Dev:
Why? A brown sari fashioned out of antique curtains.. made by me on
Nani’s heritage sewing machine in my little workshop in the garage.

Anoushka withdraws and looks at him queerly.

Dev:
Whaaaaat? Everyone has something… And I don’t get MY workshop in
the garage?

Anoushka laughs him off..

Anoushka:
“Mr. Dev Ray Chaudhuri… You will go back to your father’s saree shop
in Kolkata after you are done here!”

Dev:
What if I don’t?

He starts kissing her but she withdraws gently,

Anoushka:
“Why won’t you? You will leave when you have to. So No… I don’t see
you in this house, in the future. And neither should you. Now come
on… finish what you started.”

She goes back to kissing him. In his eyes, we see that he really loves
 13

this girl and that he meant it when he said he’d stay back.

CUT TO

Scene 4A
INT. Bookshop / Day

Anoushka walks in affirming to herself,

Anoushka:
(Muttering)
Smile. Show. Serve. Customer is God. Smile. Show. Serve. Customer is
God. Smile...

She pulls her face into an amicable smile, we realize how pretty she
actually is. She shows customers around and leaves them to browse in
peace. She walks by the ‘Interiors’ section, a book catches her eye and
she pulls it out. We back a little to see someone standing there, looking
at her. A hand advances, as if to tap her shoulder, then hesitates and
withdraws. Anoushka is absorbed.

Gruff Male Voice:

Anoushka?

Startled, Anoushka whips around. From her POV we see an old man,
rather well turned out and stylish. He looks like he comes from money.
We know him as Vishwambhar Rathod but Anoushka seems to have no
idea who he is. She gives him a once over. He clutches a small bouquet
of tuberoses.

Anoushka:
Yes?

The old man keeps staring at her. This unnerves Anoushka.

Anoushka:
Do we know each other?

He tries to say something but can’t. Anoushka begins to get nervous.

Her voice comes out louder than expected.

Anoushka:
How do you know my name?

Old Man:
I..uh..I..ah..I asked at the..
 14

He points vaguely in a random direction.

Anoushka:
Oh really? You asked my name? And why?

Old Man:
Because.. Because I wanted an Indian person to help me.

Anoushka:
I am not Indian. I am British.

Old Man:
Oh!

Anoushka:
And what would it be that you need help with?

Old Man:
Uh.. (Looks around) Books?

Anoushka wavers between walking away and sticking by her day’s

‘Customer is God’ mantra. She finally puts on a smile,

Anoushka:
Of course. And what books?

The old man says the first thing that comes to his mind.

Old Man:
India.. Books on India.

She leads him through the rows of books on India. He, on the other
hand barely listens to what she has to say as he gapes at her, unable
to take his eyes off her. Anoushka gets more edgy by the moment till
she finally snaps, surprising the old man by the sudden change in her
demeanour.

Anoushka:
You really want to buy something?

Old Man:
I.. I.. ah.. you.. I mean..

Then, without warning, he pushes the bouquet of flowers into her

hand, turns and strides out of the bookshop, almost breaking into a
 15

run. Anoushka stares after him, the expression on her face changing
from surprise to anger.

Anoushka:
Weirdo!

CUT TO

Scene 4B
EXT. Bookshop & London Street / Day

Vish walks out of the shop, panting, as if making an escape from there.
He’s never felt this kind of ‘cat got the tongue’ feeling in his sixty-five
years! He walks hurriedly on the pavement, as if the faster he runs
away from the situation, his embarrassment would cease to be.

Epic Music plays on the soundtrack

CUT TO

Scene 5A
INT. Hotel / Afternoon

Vishwambar rushes by the Lobby, up the stairs and into his room in a
daze. Panting, he starts throwing things into his suitcase, his face is
red, the veins on his fore head throbbing as he packs like a maniac,
possessed!

Suddenly he stops, he freezes and falls to the floor, holding on to his

chest. He writhes on the floor in a sudden pain, something he has
never felt before.

He yells out a name,

Vishwambhar:
Bhuvan!

CUT TO:

Scene 5B
INT. Hospital / Evening

The doctor is standing over Vishwambhar, who now seems to have

recovered.
 16

Doctor:
You need to take it easy, a sudden surge in blood pressure such as this
can lead to a stroke Sir.

Vishwambhar nods.

Doctor:
Take a holiday, I’m not giving you any medication but I’ll definitely
prescribe a holiday with the family.

The doctor smiles.

Doctor:
You’re absolutely fine now, I’m letting you go.

Vishwambhar is wheeled out into the recovery room of the hospital. A

rather officious hotel bellboy stands by him. Beyond a glass wall is
general hospital chaos. A little girl stands with her face pressed against
the wall, looking right at Vishwambhar. He looks away and watches as
families meet, she is still looking at him. She makes a face at him,
trying to get his attention. He is in no mood to indulge her but she
begins to imitate him until she draws him into her world, playful little
silly world. Vish is oblivious to his surroundings till,
Hospital Staff:
So your travel insurance company says they will clear the bill.
Congratulations. But you must take care, keep down the excitement
(the guy winks) We can’t have you shooting up your blood pressure
like this

Vishwambhar grunts, he’s looking at the little girl.

Vishwambhar:
Yeah, thanks.

He sits up as suddenly the little girl is called away by her parents. She
runs off without a second look at him.

Hospital Staff:
Are you on some business visit here? Or leisure? Or are you visiting
family?”

Vishwambhar looks up at him, he’s silent.

CUT TO

Scene 6
EXT. Café & Anoushka’s House / Evening
 17

Vish is at a café across the road from Anoushka’s house, the woman at
the counter is jabbering about the area. She looks up with great
interest as a middle-aged Caucasian woman walks up to Anoushka’s
House and rings the bell impatiently.

Woman:
Here comes my daily dose of entertainment!

Vishwambhar watches as Kia opens the door and calls Anoushka. A

slandering match starts between Mrs. Smith, the Land Lady and
Anoushka, voices rise. Vish watches.

Mrs. Smith:
You can’t just go on like this!

Anoushka:
Over my dead body you will get someone into this house!

Mrs. Smith:
I’m letting out Radha’s room from next week.

Anoushka:
No, you are not! You can’t

Anoushka’s voice is a little panicked.

Anoushka:
I’ll pay you the extra rent!

The Land Lady’s voice becomes gentler,

Mrs. Smith:
You asked me for two months, it’s been four. I have four mouths to
feed!

Vish is following the exchange ardently.

Anoushka:
(incredulous)
Yeah! Four Cats! How much does a cat eat? You are just mean, you
know!

Mrs. Smith loses it again.

Mrs. Smith:
 18

Shut the fuck up you little witch! I swear I’m gonna throw you out.. The
only reason you’re still here is because Radha was such a beautiful
person! All those years! But you.. You are absolutely nothing like her!
Nothing!

She turns and begins to walk away and Anoushka, stunned, blinks back
a tear. At the gate, Mrs. Smith turns around,

Mrs. Smith:
I am letting that room out. I am!

Vish puts money on the counter and walks out of there.

CUT TO

Scene 7
INT. Pub / Night

Vishwambhar makes his way through a crowd in a small pub. He

pauses as he nears the bar and walks up to stand next to a bar stool
on which sits Mrs. Smith, leaning in and talking to an amicable white-
haired woman. Vish asks for a malt and drawing Mrs. Smith’s attention
to himself, smiles at her. She smiles back, and soon, smooth and easy,
he’s sitting with the two ladies and chatting away nineteen to a dozen.
He flirts unabashedly with Mrs. Smith, buys them drinks and somehow
leads the conversation to where he wants to lead it,

Mrs. Smith
(wide-eyed)
Ohhh.. You are a prince, are you?

Vish:
(with a flourish)
At your service my Lady.

Mrs. Smith giggles, and shares a look with her friend, Daisy.

Daisy:
So what are you doing here in London?

Vish sighs,

Vish:
It’s a long story..

We can see that he’s in his element. Mrs. Smith eggs him on,
 19

Mrs. Smith:
Oh tell us! Do!

Vish tells them a bull-crap tale of how he woke up one morning and
realized he had it all but still felt empty and so decided to set out on a
journey of self discovery. The women hang on to his every word as he
regales them with stories of how he lived with Greek fishermen and
carpet sellers in Turkey and peasants in Italy before following his quest
to London.

Vish:
I really like London, I think I’m going to be here for a while..

He suddenly seems to come out of his reverie and looks at Mrs. Smith
who by now is completely smitten with him.

Vish:
Say, you know of a place around here I can rent for a few months.. a
room or something..

Mrs. Smith looks at Daisy.

Mrs. Smith:
Well actually..
Daisy whispers to her.

Daisy:
But he’s Maharaja! He ain’t gonna stay in that dump!

Vish:
You know a place..?

Mrs. Smith:
Actually.. I have a room to let out.. but I’m sure you’re looking for
something more fancy..

Vish jumps at this,

Vish:
No! No! Nothing fancy! I want to live like a real person does.. you
know..

Mrs. Smith:
But it’s got these kids staying there..
 20

Vish:
(grins)
Are you trying to tell me I’m an old man?

Mrs. Smith giggles, thrown off..

Mrs. Smith:
But..

Daisy gives her a look as if to say, ‘What’s your problem? Give him the
room!!!’

Mrs. Smith:
But.. I have some fifteen applications for the place.. and I’m
interviewing these guys tomorrow..

Vish:
Oh come on now! I’ll pay double! And I’ll pay in advance! Let me buy
you girls another drink.. it’s my lucky night!

He whips out a cheque book.. and gives Mrs. Smith another winning
smile..

CUT TO

Scene 8
INT. Anoushka’s House / Afternoon

Mrs. Smith enters the house with Vish and announces that he will be
staying there from now on. She introduces him as Vijay Sharma. He
extends his hand forward with a big smile, Rashid takes it skeptically.
Kia whispers to him,

Kia:
He’s OLD dude.. How can he stay with us?

Both of them stand back stonily as Mrs. Smith leads him through the
house, showing him around.

She opens the door to a room we have yet never seen,

Mrs. Smith:
(calling out to Kia)
Why hasn’t Anoushka cleared up her grandma’s things from here?

Kia:
 21

Ask her!

We enter the room with Vish. He stands at the door, awestruck. The
quaint room has Anoushka’s grandma’s things kept around like she is
going to walk in any moment. Vish walks up to the bed stand and picks
up a framed photograph of baby Anoushka with her parents and
grandmother. He can’t take his eyes off it.

Mrs. Smith:
That’s Radha, she stayed here many many years. Poor dear died of
Cancer six months ago.. And now her granddaughter Anoushka lives
here.. See her there, the baby.. yes, lost her parents in an accident and
came to live with Radha.. Still remember her then, was no bigger than
this.. (does appropriate action).

Just then Anoushka walks into the house loaded with the groceries for
the week. Kia makes a face and points Anoushka towards the room.
Anoushka swears and drops the bags to the floor before running into
the room.

Anoushka:
Give that to me!

She snatches the photograph from Vish before looking up at him,

Anoushka:
Ohmygod! It’s.. It’s.. What are you doing here?

When Mrs. Smith tells Anoushka that he’ll be staying in the room from
now on, Anoushka drags Mrs. Smith into the next room,

Anoushka:
Please No! Anyone but him.. he’s really strange! I know him.. he was at
the bookstore yesterday and he’s a complete nutcase.. He can’t
possibly live here!

Mrs. Smith:
(airily)
Oh shut up Anoushka.. I know the man, he’s just on a quest to find
himself..

Anoushka:
Find Whaa..

Mrs. Smith:
(she whispers)
 22

And he told me not to tell anyone but he’s a Maharaja..

Anoushka:
Yeah Right he is.. Really Mrs. Smith, living with those cats has made
you loopy..

Mrs. Smith:
And he’s paid me double the rent, in advance..

Anoushka:
No... Mrs. Smith!

Mrs. Smith:
He’s staying here!

Anoushka:
Please..

Mrs. Smith:
(with a tome of finality)
I have spent the money he gave me. He is staying here.

She walks off.

Anoushka:
Bitch!

CUT TO

Scene 8A
INT. Anoushka’s House / Night

Vish is in the bedroom, going through things. He has emptied out his
suitcase and made a mess. Anoushka comes in.

Anoushka:
It took you all of half an hour to mess up the room, didn’t it?

She begins to collect her grandmother’s things as Vish stands there, at

a loss..

Vish:
I.. if you want.. you can let the things stay here.. I don’t mind..

Anoushka whips around,

 23

Anoushka:
But I do mind Mister!

Vish:
I’m sorry.. I ..

She turns around and pulls some things out of the wardrobe. Goes out
and dumps them somewhere and comes back in.

Vish:
I.. you were very close to your grandmother? And your parents?

Anoushka looks at him and stops doing what she is.

Anoushka:
Never again. Never ever ask me anything about my family. For that
matter, never ask me anything. Actually, NEVER talk to me! Get it?

Saying this, she walks out of the room. She slams the books down with
the other things on Kia’s futon,

Anoushka:
Try not to touch them. I will ask Dev to sort them out.

Kia looks slightly put off as she redials a number.

Kia:
Oh for Gods sake Anoushka! Shut up and stop throwing a fit! I AM the
one who’s hormonal and bloated and fucking FAT! I’m the one who
can’t get through to my husband! I’m the one who’s a month away
from having a baby and that asshole still hasn’t got his visa..’ I’m the
one who should be throwing a tantrum not you, okay..

Anoushka sits down next to Kia.

Anoushka:
I keep telling you not to wait for that good for nothing bastard.. He’s
not going to come! That’s what men are like!

Kia:
That’s the last thing I need Anoushka. Keep your cynicism to yourself.

Anoushka:
Babe I am telling you this cos I really care for you..He has just knocked
 24

you up and left you to be! He ain’t showing up!

Kia just walks away. Vish hears the whole conversation.

Anoushka walks out into the cold balcony, looking lost. Dev walks in
and seeing her, goes to the balcony. He holds her, but she removes his
hand. Vish sees her through the window of his room. Dev notices this.
As soon as he realizes that Dev has seen him, Vish quickly draws the
curtains.

CUT TO

Scene 9
INT. Anoushka’s House / Day

Vish stretching in bed, groggily

Vish:
Bhuvan!

This repeats itself a few times over till Vishwambhar Chauhan realizes
he’s not in his palace. He gets up and ventures out of his room. The
front door opens Rashid runs in, grabs a book and runs out again even
as Vish collects his bearings and manages to say..

Vish:
Tea?

Just then Kia wobbles out, hands him a bag, which he holds as she ties
her shoes, takes the bag and walks out.

Kia:
Morning!

Vish walks into the kitchen and gets startled on seeing Dev there,
making tea. The television is blaring out an India-South Africa Cricket
game. Dev gives him a tentative look.

Dev:
So you are the new guy?

Vish replies without a beat,

Vish:
And you are Anoushka’s boyfriend?
 25

Dev:
That’s really none of your business!

Vish:
Oh.. so you want to be her boyfriend.

Dev:
Excuse Me?

Vish positions himself in the most comfortable chair at the little table
and picks up the days newspaper.

Vish:
Before you start your interview, can you make me some tea, as well..

He says this as a statement not a question. Dev, albeit taken aback is

slightly amused by Vish as he places a cup of tea in front of him. India
loses a wicket. Dev curses.

Vish:
Kya karte ho?

Dev:
College. Fashion. History of Textiles.

Vish:
Toh tum bhi idhar rehete ho?

Dev answers distractedly..

Dev:
Require run rate seven runs.. oh yes.. I mean..nahi.. I don’t stay here
but..

He pauses, not knowing what to say.

Dev:
I.. I..

Dev suddenly glares at Vishwambhar like a helpless kid glares at the

school bully.

Dev:
I don’t stay here, I visit and now I have to go.
 26

Vishwambhar suddenly almost looks like he doesn’t want him to leave.

Vishwambhar:
Jaa rahe ho? Match abhi khatam nahi hua.. ek aur cup chai peete hain..

Dev:
Main class ke liye late ho jaaonga.

Dev realizes Vish is actually harmless. He pauses,

Dev:
Bye.

Vishwambhar looks around curiously, trying to figure out the house.

We realize he has never been on his own, doing his own thing.

CUT TO

Scene 10
INT. Anoushka’s House / Evening

Vishwambhar is like the child in ‘Home Alone’. He’s made a complete

mess of the house and turned everything upside down. Into this mess
enters Anoushka, Dev behind her.

Vish walks out and sees Anoushka’s angry face and says,

Vish:
“Hey… the maid didn’t come today!”

Dev stands behind her with a sheepish grin,

Anoushka:
I am sorry sir. Room service and housekeeping are on a national
holiday today. Please pardon us for our faulty services… Listen, dude…
this is not a fucking hotel… This is a fucking house and you have to do
your own stuff here.

She proceeds to give him a guided tour of the whole house. The
washing machine, the detergent, the kitchen, the bathroom manners,
as if she is chiding an imbecile. Rant over, she goes off to her room.
Dev stands there smiling.

Vish:
I really thought there was a maid, coming in. You mean, I actually have
 27

to do all this?

Anoushka yells out, “Dev. No need to entertain him!” Suddenly, Vish

pins Dev against the wall. Dev is taken aback. Vish whispers,

Vish:
How can I make it up to her? You have to tell me! Or else, I won’t let
you go! Seriously. I won’t.

Anoushka keeps calling Dev. Finally, caught in a situation,

Dev:
Biryani! She loves Biryani.

He gets out of Vish’s clutches and runs in to Anoushka’s room.

CUT TO

Scene 11
INT. Department store / Day

Vishwambhar walks into a supermarket as if he owns it. He gets a

trolley and hauls out a sack of the only thing he knows goes into
biriyani – rice. He then looks around, lost. Seeing an Indian lady, he
goes up to her,

Vishwambhar:
Excuse Me, yeh.. Biriyani mein kya dalta hai?

The woman sees the sack in his trolley and smiles at him.

Woman:
Ek minute..

She scribbles something and hands him a piece of paper. It has a

telephone number “Hyderabadi Spice” on it. Vish looks up she walks
away, making a ‘call them’ gesture. Vish sighs and then, an idea
strikes him. He pulls out his phone.

Vish:
Hello? Hello Bhuvan? Haan suno.. yeh Biriyani mein kya dalta hai?

A pause. Music Kicks In

Vish:
 28

Haan Haan.. Biriyani..

In a series of jumps cuts we see him at different racks, stuffing things

into his trolley, looking for something, finding it, pushing the
overloaded trolley to the counter, paying the bill..

CUT TO
Scene 11A
INT. Kitchen – Anoushka’s House / Evening

The montage continues as, again in quick cuts we see him actually
cook the biriyani, all the while on the phone with Bhuvan. Finally, he
stands back, and we see his handiwork. Apart from the fact that the
kitchen is a right royal mess, the biriyani looks nothing like it’s
supposed to. It’s a burnt mass of something that doesn’t remotely look
like rice or meat!

Vish is thoughtful as he reached into his pocket and pulls out the piece
of paper the woman at the supermarket gave him.

CUT TO

Scene 12
EXT. London Street & Anoushka’s House / Night

Anoushka and Dev are walking home, she’s telling him about a book
reading she is to conduct at the bookstore tomorrow.

Anoushka:
It’s Cinderella.. it’ll be tough to do so many characters.. I was thinking
I’ll do Mrs. Smith’s voice for the evil stepmother.

She stops short and looks down in dismay.

Anoushka:
Oh shit!

Dev:
Kya?

Anoushka points to the pavement, her foot is on a crack.

Anoushka:
I stepped on the crack.

Dev:
 29

Punishment.

Anoushka turns towards him and does a strange little ritual, she turns
around on the spot, crosses her arms in front of herself twice and
touches her ears. Dev looks on with a bemused expression. As she
finishes and they begin to walk again.
Dev:
I can think of a better punishment.

He tries reaching for her hand, she withdraws.

CUT TO

Scene 12A
INT. Anoushka’s House / Late Evening

Shouts and cheers from the kitchen greet Anoushka and Dev as they
enter the house. Vish and Rashid are having a beer guzzling
competition! Kia and Tanya are cheering them on. The table is strewn
with plates and beer cans, a live U2 concert is playing on the TV.
Anoushka pauses at the door to the kitchen, Dev behind her. Kia sees
them, waves out a hello. Vish pauses with the bottle in his hand.
Rashid finishes his beer and whoops! Tanya seems rather drunk as she
tries to pull Anoushka into the room.

Tanya:
Come! Come! Eat this..

She shoves a plate of fantastic looking biriyani under Anoushka’s nose.

Tanya:
It’s soooooo good! Vijay made it! He’s so much fun. He even knows
how to roll joints!

Anoushka seems miffed,

Anoushka:
Oh no, you guys carry on having fun.. I have work to do.

She stomps off. Dev wants to stay but follows her reluctantly only to
have the door banged shut in his face. He smiles and goes back into
the kitchen.

Dev:
Can I join you guys?
 30

Vish:
Only if you promise to get as drunk as we are.

Vish hands him a beer. Rashid excitedly tells Dev,

Rashid:
You know what, Vijay was telling us he’s met Brian Lara! Tell him the
story Vijay!!

Kia makes a face,

Kia:
No! Not again!

Tanya:
Have you met Shah Rukh Khan?

CUT TO

Scene 12B
INT. – EXT. Anoushka’s House – Balcony & Terrace / Night

Anoushka walks up and down the tiny balcony rehearsing lines from
Cinderella. Sounds can be heard in the background. We gradually
move away from her and travel up to the terrace.

Vish, Dev, Kia, Rashid and Tanya are sitting around in a circle, playing
truth or dare. They are all rather high. The bottle spins and stops in
front of Tanya, she chooses the ‘dare’ and begins a hilarious
performance of ‘Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy, Aaja Aaja Aaja..’ from Disco
Dancer. Vish is most amused as she sits down panting, Kia and Rashid
have collapsed with laughter, she tells him she loves Jimmy and grew
up watching Disco Dancer almost every week.

Vish spins the bottle and this time it comes to a stop with the mouth
pointing to Dev. Dev chooses truth, Vish ponders,

Vish:
Hmmn! Do you love Anoushka?

Dev:
Hey! Come on...

Rashid:
Of course he does!

Kia:
 31

Yeh! But he’s too chicken to ask her out!

They rib Dev who throws his hands up..

Dev:
Wasn’t I supposed to answer the question?

Vish:
So, tell us..

Dev:
Well.. Anoushka and I are not seeing each other, we are just ‘good
friends’.. and..

Kia coughs.

Dev:
And we’ll never see each other..

Vish:
Why?

Dev:
I’ll finish my course in a month and go to India and Anu.. will stay
here..

Dev just shrugs. Tanya hugs him,

Tanya:
Ohhh Dev don’t go! We’ll miss you!

There is a small silence and Anoushka’s voice floats up as she

rehearses. Vish asks,

Vish:
What is she practicing for?

Dev:
She’s doing a book reading tomorrow to make extra money for her trip
to Manchester..

Kia:
She’s goin there for an audition..

Dev:
She has to read out the story of Cinderella, so she’s nervous. She’s
 32

mostly nervous only..

He says it almost fondly.

Vish:
What’s the deal with her? Why is she so.. you know..

Kia:
There is no deal, she’s just.. she’s just scared I guess..

Dev:
Yeah, there’s no deal. All the.. you know.. is just a façade, she’s
actually a very lovely person but she just doesn’t .. she can’t.. show it.
She keeps a distance.. she’s scared of getting too close to anyone.. I
mean she was awfully close to her grandma..

Kia:
Yeah she was..

Tanya:
She died of cancer six moths ago..

Rashid:
But she was suffering so much so it was better she..

Kia:
And she saw her grandma suffer.. not just the cancer..

Dev:
Yeah, Nani spent all her life pining for this guy..

Tanya:
So romantic..

Kia:
But he never turned up!

Dev:
And I think Anoushka always hoped he’d come one day but he didn’t..
and Nani died.. she’s lost all the people she loved.. her mum, her dad,
her Nani..Pinku so she’s scared of getting too close to anyone..

Vish:
Pinku?

Dev:
 33

Her dog.

Vish:
Pinku?

They suddenly find this very funny and burst out laughing. Just then
Anoushka walks in and they see her and burst out laughing again,
rolling on the floor.

Anoushka:
Oh, you guys seem to be having a lot of fun up here. Well, I’m off to
bed so good night. I’ll see you all at the reading tomorrow. 12.30.
Kia makes a noise.

Anoushka:
What?

Kia:
Doc’s appointment. I’m sorry baby..

Rashid:
They put me on the Day shift this week..

Tanya:
I’m sorry too.. I have a lecture..

Anoushka turns to Dev, who smiles at her,

Anoushka:
I suggest you don’t come either! Find something else to do! Or
someone else to hang out with, okay.

She walks out of there. We stay on Vish looking at her.

CUT TO

Scene 13
INT. Bookstore / Day

Anoushka is dressed up bright and pretty as she sits amidst starts to

 34

read out the story of Cinderella. Dev and Vish walk in and take their
seats.

Anoushka starts to stumble over sentences and make a mess of the

whole thing. Dev smiles encouragingly at her. Vish eggs her on.
Anoushka looks irritated but continues with an effort. Finally when Vish
eggs her on a third time, Anoushka turns to him and says,

Anoushka:
Why don’t you come up and tell us a story?

It’s Vish’s turn to look stumped. Dev looks like he’s wishing he never
came. Anoushka invites Vish to come up in front and claps as Dev
pushes him to go, the kids follow suit. Vish is apprehensive as he
approaches Anoushka, she stands there, clapping, smiling at him. Vish
clears his throat. Anoushka takes her seat.

Vish:
Story..

Anoushka:
Go on..

Vish:
I don’t know any..

Anoushka waves at the children,

Anoushka:
We can’t disappoint them, can we?

Vish shuts his eyes. Anoushka smiles at the kids and opens her mouth
to address them when a gentle hum makes her turn around. Vish. Eyes
still shut is humming, he begins a song.. the kids turn their attention to
him as he calls out to them to listen to his story in sing-song verse.

They listen, and he tells a story. He tells the story of a Prince who had
everything in the world but wasn’t happy… essentially, the story of his
own life! He takes them through the store in a dance, they follow him
as if he is the pied piper himself. He has them enthralled.

Anoushka is taken aback.

Reference Song: “Mere paas aao mere doston”

CUT TO
 35

The song ends, and Vish waves a goodbye to the kids and comes
happily towards Anoushka. In his head, he’s done something
wonderful, and he’s rather taken aback to see Anoushka looking really
pissed off. A man comes to Vish,

Man:
Sir, please do meet the manager before you leave, we have a small
compensation for the book reading you just conducted.

Anoushka walks away in a huff.

Vish:
But she’s the one who told me to tell a story!

Dev:
Yes! Tell a story! Not upstage her!

Vish looks crestfallen.

Dev:
Yes, you just fucked up again.. Maybe you should just quit trying to
make it up to her, at least you won’t make things worse..

Vish:
I’ll get it right someday! I will..

Dev shrugs.

CUT TO

Scene 14
INT. Anoushka’s Room / Evening

A fist knocks on a door, Anoushka pulls the door open and stops short
on seeing Vish there, almost as if she is amazed at his audacity. She
doesn’t say anything.

Vish:
Uh.. Can I come in.

Anoushka:
No..

But she turns around and walks over to her bed and continues to do
what she was – stuffing some clothes into an overnight bag.
 36

Vish makes as if to enter.

Anoushka:
Stay there.

He stands there awkward,

Vish:
I came to say.. I am sorry.

Anoushka is silent. Her bag is done, she take one last look around the
room. Vish repeats.

Vish:
Sorry..

Anoushka picks the bag and walks up to the door. She gathers herself
to all of her 5 ft 4 inch frame and looks Vish in the eye.

Anoushka:
It doesn’t matter. What you do or say doesn’t matter, and I wish you’d
understand that. You are of absolutely no consequence to my life, you
are just something I have to live with.. Like.. like this ugly pink toilet.. I
have to live with it because I don’t have the money to change it.

Anoushka marches out into the kitchen. We stay on Vish, taken aback,
and stumped. We hear Anoushka’s voice in the kitchen, speaking to
Kia.

Anoushka:
I am taking the train to Manchester tonight. Will be back tomorrow
Please remember to pay the power bill. Today’s the last day.
(pause)
Please keep an eye on your new friend! I don’t want him screwing
anything else up!

Vish is about leave the room when something catches his eye. A small
model of a house stands on the table, he takes a closer look at it, it’s a
beautifully done up little house with wallpaper cut out of magazines,
and miniature furniture. He touches it and then he notices some
photographs kept next to it Photographs of Anoushka’s grandmother,
they are old photographs from when she was younger. She looks
stunning in them. He picks up the pictures and stares at them for a
moment.
 37

He starts as,

Dev:
What are you doing here?

Vish spins around.

Vish:
Oh.. have you seen this? I.. I came in here to say sorry and..
Dev looks at the model,

Dev:
Oh this.. it’s her dream for the house.

Vish:
For this house?

Dev:
Yes, it’s all she wants..

Vish touches the model,

Vish:
(thoughtfully)
I have an idea.

JUMP CUT

Kia, Rashid and Tanya are also in the room,

Vish:
I have a plan!!!

Kia:
Okay! Okay! Calm down!

Vish:
No! Okay! I’ve never done this before and I need you guys!
Please! This is it!

Rashid:
This is it?

Vish:
This is our chance to make Anoushka happy!
 38

Tanya:
But what is the plan?!

Vish smiles..

Vish:
Bhuvan kehta hai..apne haaton se kuch karne ka mazaa hee kuch aur
hai.. chalo yeh bhi try kar lete hain!

Kia:
Care to translate?

Vish:
You’ll know.. come on now!

CUT TO

Scene 15
INT. Audition Hall / Day

As Anoushka waits for her turn, she looks disconcerted. She looks
around a couple of times at the rather dingy hall, choc-a-bloc with
children and their parents and few young women scattered around.
Anoushka goes up to the counter,

Anoushka:
Excuse me? Are you sure my name is down for the audition?

Woman:
Haven’t yeh already checked it on the list?

Anoushka:
Yes.. but.. I think there has been some mistake.

Woman looks up,

Anoushka:
I mean.. I came here for the Manchester Playhouse Theater Company
Audition.

The woman:
Then you’ve come to the wrong place darling! This is the Manchester
Playhouse Easter Theater Festival, not the Manchester Playhouse
Theater company..
 39

She waves her hand around the room,

Woman:
We’re auditioning kids for the Easter Play up by the city centre, you
should come for that!

Anoushka:
Are you sure? I was told..

Anoushka looks crestfallen as she walks out. She kicks the door.

Anoushka:
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

She is almost in tears as she walks away and we follow her on her
journey back home through a montage,

CUT TO

A Montage as Anoushka makes her way back to London.

Scene 15B
INT. Train Station / Day

Anoushka, waiting at the rail station. Buys herself some coffee but it’s
horrid, she throws it away and gets on the train when it comes.

CUT TO

Scene 15C
INT. Train / Day-Night

Anoushka on the train, looking out of the window as day turns to night.

CUT TO

Scene 15D
EXT. London Streets / Night

Anoushka walking on the streets of London. A band of raggedy

musicians play street-jazz by a street corner, she stands and listens to
them for a while feeling most melancholic.

CUT TO
 40

Scene 16
INT. Apartment / Night

Anoushka comes into the apartment to find it in darkness. She flips on

a switch but the darkness prevails. She groans,

Anoushka:
I knew it! I knew you guys won’t have paid the bill!

She turns on her phone and through the slivers of light falling around
the room, she can see her grandmother’s pictures hung on the wall.
She is confused and then her light falls on a familiar face. It’s Kia,
smiling.

Anoushka:
Kia? What’s going on..

And just as suddenly, the lights come on. Anoushka gasps! The house
looks completely transformed; it looks like it has manifested itself from
the model into real life. The walls are freshly painted, a red couch sits
in the living room, Nani’s pictures are up on the wall with Tanya’s
Paintings. Anoushka looks at Dev, Tanya, Rashid and Kia, drops her
bag and runs around the house entranced and shocked,

Anoushka:
Ohhhhh Myyyyy Goddddd!

It’s magical to see her this way, everyone is smiling as she comes
running back! Her eyes shine with happiness and she does a little jig
and plants a kiss on Dev’s cheek. She turns around to the others,

Anoushka:
Oh My God, you guys! I don’t know what to say.. How?

She turns to Dev,

Anoushka:
You?!

Dev shakes his head and points towards Vish, standing at a little
distance.

Dev:
He did this..

Anoushka looks at Kia for conformation, Kia nods. Anoushka stands

 41

there looking rather surprised. Slowly she walks up to Vish and stands
in front of him, hands akimbo.

Anoushka:
Why did you do this?

Vish:
To make you like me..

There is a pause, then he says,

Vish:
Sorry but I couldn’t change the pink toilet.

Anoushka looks at the wall and narrows her eyes,

Anoushka:
Hmmn..Deep Purple would have been a better choice… though this
isn’t that bad..

The other’s smile,

Dev:
She’s trying to say thank you!

Anoushka smiles too,

Vish:
Thank you aise nahin chalega…

Anoushka:
Phir kaise.. don’t ask me to say it, okay..

Vish:
I have a better idea..

Party Music on the soundtrack

CUT TO

Scene 17 – PBS 2
INT. Night Club / Night

Loud Beats. Thumping Music. At the bar,

Dev:
 42

Uhh Whiskey and Coke,

Anoushka:
Vodka and Tonic.

Tanya:
Beer!

Rashid:
Tonic Water Please.

Kia:
Can’t drink fucking baby!

Vish:
Tequila Shots.

He turns to them with a sneer.

Vish:
THIS is called drinking

He downs shots in a row. And then proceeds to sing a song - A wild,

fun, completely popular Hindi film song, mad fun through which Vish
proceeds to get awfully drunk, so much so that he has to be carried
home.

CUT TO:

Scene 18
INT. Anoushka’s House / Night

As Dev leads a sloshed Vish into his bedroom, Vish pats him on the
back before flopping on the bed. He sits up suddenly as Dev is leaving
the room and calls out to him.

Dev goes up to him,

Dev:
What Mr. Tequila? Want to puke?

Vish slurs,

Vish:
Don’t you fucking leave her, okay..
 43

Dev looks a little taken aback, but almost pleased to have met Vish’s
approval. Vish flops back on the bed muttering to himself. Dev smiles
and is walking out of the room suddenly he seems to realize something
and stops short. He turns around and looks at Vish, a strange
expression on his face.

CUT TO

Scene 19
INT. Anoushka’s House / Day

Vish wakes up groggy and disoriented to the sound of thunder. He

tumbles out of bed into the living room where everyone is watching
DDLJ on TV. Everyone except Anoushka who’s telling Tanya that it’s a
whole load of crap.

Vish is greeted with claps and whoops as he enters! He blinks a couple

of times, Tanya gets him a glass of something, he looks at with
distaste.

Tanya:
It’ll help with the hangover.

Vish doesn’t say anything. He just walks out of the front door into the
pouring rain.

Kia:
You think he’s still drunk?!

They all go up to the door and watch in amusement.

Anoushka:
He’s lost the plot!

She gets an umbrella and goes out after him. Vish takes the umbrella
from her and throws it into the air, he takes her hand and leads her in
a silly little dance. The others burst out laughing, soon everyone is in
the lawn, it becomes a magical moment. Anoushka falls into Dev’s
arms, laughing, it’s rare to see her this way. She seems a different
person.

CUT TO:

Scene 20
INT. Kitchen – Anoushka’s House / Night
 44

Anoushka is in the kitchen, rehearsing, when Vish walks in.

He picks a few sheets and begins to read the lines..

Vish:
You are playing Athena?

Anoushka nods, holding her hand out to take the sheets back, she is
slightly disconcerted. Vish turns away and walks to the table, sits
down. Anoushka follows him. He reads out a line, muttering that it’s a
rather silly dramatic dialogue. She stares at him blankly. He says, as if
to a small child,

Vish:
Main tumhe cue de raha hoon.. now you speak.

He repeats the line, Anoushka is still surprised.

He says the line a third time, this time Anoushka responds.

JUMP CUT

Vish and Anoushka are in the living room, practicing the lines when
Dev walks in and sees them there. He walks into Anoushka’s room to
keep his bag. As he’s coming out again, he sees the door to ‘Nani’s
room’ ajar. He stops, pauses and looks towards the living room as he
contemplates whether he should go in.

Vish’s voice trails in from the living room, Dev pushes the door open.
We follow him in as he enters and looks around.

CUT TO

Outside, Vish and Anoushka continue their rehearsal.

CUT TO

Dev looks around the room but he doesn’t know what he is looking for.
He turns to leave when something catches his eye. There is a black
overcoat that Vish always wears hanging at the door. Suddenly Dev
knows what to do. He looks in the pockets and in the inner breast
pocket of the overcoat, he finds an envelope. He quickly pulls a letter
out and begins to read..

The letter, is the one Vish received in the very first scene, It’s from
Radha and it now plays out in her voice over a montage of Radha’s
 45

photographs, over clips of Vish and Anoushka rehearsing, over Kia and
Rashid cooking in the kitchen, over a patch of tuberoses in the garden..

Dev Reads, (something along these lines)

Vish,

Tumhaare ussi patey parr yeh khatt bhej rahi hoon… jahaan hum
aakhri baar miley theye. Haath se hi likh rahi hoon… Lifafe parr mere
handwriting se hi tum pehchaan gaye hoge … Kuch cheezein kabhi
nahin badalti Vish… bass umr kabhi kabhi humein dhokha de jaati hai.
Tumhaare bare mein khabrein aati rahti hai India se… Bahut baar
mann kiya tumse ek baar aake miloon. Parr badi mushkil se khud ko
roka maine. Aur ab... iss khatt mein picchley chaalis saalon ki ranjish
daalna chahti hoon… Parr daal nahin paa rahi. Tum mein hamesha voh
baat thii… Hazaar galtiyaan karogey… parr tumhe dekhke kissika
gussa bass yun pighal jaayega.

Asal mein… Shayad yeh khatt bhejti hi nahin main tumhe, agar mere
paas kahne ko voh nahin hota, jo main kahne jaa rahi hoon.

Vish, Unnis sau painsath ke Polo ki uss aakhri season mein tumne jab
mujhe saaf kah diya ki tum apne aap ko kissi rishte mein baandhna
nahin chahte… maine bade style se ‘I understand’ toh kah diya thaa…
Parr, badi mushkil se maine khud ko tootne se roka… Aur phir, London
waapas aake mujhe pata chala main pregnant hoon. Nahin, mujhe koi
gila nahin thaa… Naa hai! Mujhe laga ki yeh ek ishaara hai… Tumhare
saath agar yeh umr guzaar nahin paayi… toh hamare iss bachche ke
saath apni zindagi guzaar doongi. Aur jitni ranjishein thii tumse…
unnke liye, ek badla lena chahti thii tumse… to hiss khabar ko maine
raaz hi rakha.

May mahiney mein hamari beti Meghna paida hui. Maine usse koi last
name nahin diya. Kabhi usse tumhari kami mehsoos nahin honeye dii
maine. Khoobsoorat… chirpy little Meghana.. Dekhte dekhte bees saal
ki hui. Robert naam k eek ladke pyaar bhi hua usse… aur shaadi kii
don one. Ikkis saal ki umar mein ma bani ek choti si bachchi ka…
Anoushka… Aur Anoushka jab teen mahiney ki thii… Robert aur
Meghana ek lambi si drive pe gayein… aur kabhi nahin laute. Gehri ek
khaai se unnki bodies mili, teen mahiney baad.

Teen mahiney ki Anoushka ko maine apni beti jaisa paala hai.

Aaj Anoushka baaees saal ki hai. Aur uss mein mujhe tum nazar aate
ho, Vish. Vahi alhadpan. Vahi zidd. Vahi zindagi se roothna… vahi khuli
hassi, vahi kupp sa gussa.
 46

Maine tumhe yeh sab aaj tak kyon nahin bataya? Aur ab kyon bata rahi
hoon? Shayad nahin bataati, agar yeh doctors ne time pe cancer ka
ilaaj nikaal liya hota toh. Parr kya karoon? Doctors bhi zaalim hamari
pyaar ki tarah nikamme nikle. Dekho na… kahte hain bass kuch din
bache hain… Bass mujhe Anoushka ki fikar hai. Behadd masoom hai…
Khulke jeena chahti hai… parr jaise hamari kuch galtiyon ne usske parr
baandh rakhein ho.

Shayad yeh khatt main tumhe kabhi nahin bhejti… Parr aaj, usski
zindagi mein aisa koi bhi nahin hai jisse voh apna kah sakey, sivaaye
tumhare. Tum maano ya na maano… Tumhari hi poti hai voh, Vish.

Mere jaane ke baad, yeh khatt mere lawyers ko milega… will ke

anusaar tumhe yeh post kiya jaayega… ek hi cheez maang rahi hoon
tumse… Bass Anoushka parr, ho sakey toh door se nazar rakhna. Parr
usske paas matt aana… Tumhaare baare mein… maan lo… khush
fehmiyaan nahin hai usse koi… Meri hi chand galtiyon ka nateeja hai
yeh.

Mujhe laga, yeh mera farz thaa tumse kahna… so kah diya…

Alvida.
Radha.

As the letter ends, Dev looks up unseeingly.

CUT TO

Vish reads, Anoushka responds, Vish says some lines again, where his
character seems to be apologizing to Anoushka’s character. As
Anoushka waits for her turn, she slowly sits up as Vish seems to have
been taken over by his lines.

When he finishes the apology she gapes at him.

Anoushka:
One sec. Hang on! Are you an actor or something?

Vish snaps out of the moment, he doesn’t smile as he says,

Vish:
I.. I guess you just have to feel the emotion..

CUT TO

Dev places the letter back in the overcoat. He lets himself out of the
 47

room, shutting the door behind him.

CUT TO

Scene 21
EXT. Polo Grounds – London / Day

Vish, Anoushka and Dev are at a Polo match. Anoushka loves the whole
game, even as she behaves like one of the boys and hurls abuses. Vish
leans back, enjoying the sun.

Vish:
I know exactly what we could do with right now!

He excuses himself to go get some beers. Dev follows,

Dev:
Lemme help you!

As they buy the beer, Dev confronts Vish about his real identity. He
hands him the beers,

Dev:
Here’s one for me.. One for Anu and one for the Kunwar Saab himself.

Vish is taken aback to say the least. Dev says,

Dev:
I found the letter. I’m sorry, I was snooping but I knew it was you and I
just had to..

Vish sighs, Dev shakes his head and looks at Vish,

Dev:
YOU are the man, she hates so much??? What do you want from her?
Why have you come now?

Vish looks towards the grounds.

Vish:
I had no idea about her.. till this letter came to me… I know… I am to
 48

blame… but I wish Radha had told me once. But alas..It was me, who
asked her to never bring these sort of things up. Those were carefree
days of youth… You moved on easily.. I wish, she hadn’t listened to me
and told me we had a daughter. Can you believe I never met my
daughter?

Vish is silent for a couple of moments. Both men lean against the
railing, looking out into the grounds.

Vish:
I had to come..

Dev:
So what now? Don’t fuck her up even more..

Vish:
I know… I know… Even Bhuvan said, ‘don’t go’. I know she is all over
the place… But I think I can undo the mistake that was caused because
of me. Her misunderstanding of life, love… everything… stems from
me. Let me have that one chance to undo my mistakes.

Dev looks skeptical

Vish:
Please. I can make it happen, I feel. Don’t tell her..

Dev is silent.

Vish:
This… Her phobia for commitment etc… is all because of me. And I am
the only person who can sort it out. Please let me. I know she can
change.

Dev:
Yes… I know… I am the one in love with her.

Vish:
So is she… in love with you. I can see it. I know she is. It’s in her eyes.
She has her grandmother’s eyes… Those eyes… which can’t hide
love… but her heart has closed all doors… because of how her
grandmother was hurt. Her grandmother let go… and I hurt her. But
you? I know you love her… that you won’t hurt her. I want to remove
this bitterness she carries within. Please let me.

Unable to respond, Dev remains silent and then walks away.

 49

They walk up to her and she says,

Anoushka:
Where the hell were you guys?

She asks Vish to sit next to her. The three of them sit together, rather
like an odd trio. Anoushka’s team wins. She turns to Vish and says,

Anoushka:
I’m so glad we came here. My grandmother loved Polo. We used to
come here so often. I am coming here after so long. I owe you one.

Vish:
You mean, you are saying Thank You?

Anoushka:
Shut up!

She thinks for a moment and says,

Anoushka:
Tum naye ho na London mein?

Vish:
Nahin… I mean… pahle bhi aaya hoon…dekha hua hai..

Anoushka:
Voh toh tumne Bollywood ka London dekha hai… Parr Anu ke London
mein toh pahli baar aaye ho, na? Chalo… aaj meri treat… Tumhe
Anoushka apne shahar ka guided tour degi

Dev and Vish’s eyes meet over Anoushka’s head. Dev still looks slightly
reluctant.

A song begins on the soundtrack

CUT TO

Scene 22 – PBS - MONTAGE

In a series of cuts we see Dev, Vish and Anoushka through the city of
London, a London we have never seen before – Anoushka’s London!
Anoushka looks more interested in explaining things to Vish, rather
than Dev who looks sulky. While she is ahead,

Vish:
 50

Tum vahaan khade khade dedh saal ke bachche ki tarah shaklein hi

banaate raho, jisski ice cream kissine chheen lii hai! Bhai main koshish
toh kar raha hoon. Tum toh voh bhi nahin kar rahe ho.

Dev:
Main koshish nahin kar raha hoon? Haath tak toh pakadne nahin deti
mujhe.

Vish:
And what are you doing about it?

Before Dev can reply, Anoushka comes and drags Vish away. Dev is
rather miffed by Vishwambhar.

The SONG resumes.

Dev tries to push himself into moments where Anoushka and he can be
like a couple, like a photograph, but she drags Vish in too.

She shares her ice-cream with Vishwambhar.

At a dingy theme park, Anoushka and Vish pose as Micky and Minne
Mouse, Dev looks on exasperated. It’s as if Anoushka is almost
unaware of Dev’s presence.
CUT TO

Scene 23
INT. Anoushka’s House / Night

As they reach home, tired and weary after the long day out Anoushka
says she has to rehearse the lines for the next day’s audition one last
time. She goes into her room.

Vish tells Dev,

Vish:
Miyaan aapki koshish dikh rahi hai, zara memsahib ko patta kamm
do… zara unhe ignore karo… zara unhe mehsoos karne do aapki
kami… phir deho, kya rang laati hai!

Dev doesn’t like this, he’s still miffed about the whole day. Vish
continues,

Vish:
Ek kaam karo… usse drop karne matt jaana audition pe, kal!
 51

Now Dev is baffled.

Dev:
What? Khaa jaayegi mujhe! Kachcha! Nahin nahin… bichari ka bada
audition hai kal!

Vish:
Aur tum mummy ho usski… badi bachchi hai… sambhal jaayegi!

Dev now suddenly does a double take,

Dev:
Ohhhh…. Hohohoho… Tum mere na aane ka faayda uthaake, brownie
points kamaana chahte ho? Vaah ji vaah… bade smart ho!

Vish:
Miyan trust me. Aapke tareekon se kuch toh nahin hua… ab hamara
tareeka aazmaake dekho, ek baar! Bass venue pe late pahunch jaana.

Dev looks unconvinced. Just then Kia and Rashid walk in. Kia looks
rather ill, and Rashid concerned. As Kia goes off to bed, Anoushka
comes in looking worried.

Anoushka:
Is she okay?

Rashid:
Took her to the doc. We’ll have to take her into hospital next Sunday,
she’s due on the 10th. She’s just upset her husband doesn’t have the
visa yet.

Anoushka:
Bastard! I always knew he won’t come.

Dev looks at Vish as if this is his fault.

CUT TO

Scene 24
EXT. Audition Hall / Day

Dev hides inside a phone booth. Vish is with Anoushka.

Anoushka:
Where the fuck is Dev? He was supposed to be here half an hour ago!
 52

It’s almost my turn to go in!

Vish:
He must have got caught up with something.

He gives her a pep-talk,

Vish:
GO GET THEM TIGER!

Anoushka:
(amused)
Grrrr!

As she goes in, Dev walks up.

Vish:
Did you see her asking for you?!

Dev still doesn’t think this is going to work.

Dev:
She’s going to kill me!

CUT TO

Scene 24B
INT. Audition Hall / Day

Inside, Anoushka stands up on stage. She says the same lines that she
practiced with Vish. She overcomes her initial nervousness and lets the
lines take her over, actually doing a passable job. For once she does
not stutter or stammer.

Anoushka:
Can I do it once more?

The guy in the front row looks back and the other nod at him. He
smiles at her,

Judge:
There is no need for you to go again.

Anoushka is crestfallen. The man continues,

Judge:
 53

Come back for round 2

Anoushka looks up, scarcely believing what she hears.

Anoushka:
Serious?

CUT TO

Scene 24 C
EXT. Audition Hall / Day

Anoushka comes bounding out of the hall and jumps in the air with a
whoop!

Anoushka:
I got it! I got a call back!

She runs up to Vish and Dev and on seeing the latter, melts,

Anoushka:
Tum subah kyon nahin aaye?

He tries to make up an excuse. She says,

Anoushka:
Doesn’t matter. Ab toh aa gaye ho, na! Bass… kuch kuch perfect
perfect si lagne lagi hai life achanak!

She slips her hand into Dev’s and holds it tight. Dev steals a glance at
Vish, disbelief writ large on his face. Vish smiles. The song from the
previous scene kicks in again. Dev and Anoushka walk hand in hand,
as a host of pigeons fly around them. Vish stops and looks at them,
lovingly.

CUT TO

Scene 25
INT. Anoushka’s House / Night

A cricket game on TV. Vish and Dev are watching attentively, they
exclaim simultaneously as India loses a wicket. The match goes into a
break.
 54

Dev:
You know.. this last week, it’s been.. it’s been so nice. Anoushka and I..
it’s never been like this.

The doorbell interrupts their conversation. Dev looks at his watch,

Dev:
At two in the morning?

He gets the door, standing there is a tall, well built man of African
origin. Dev takes a step back,

Dev:
Yes.

Man:
I.. am. Is Kia there?

Dev:
Oh fuck! You’re her husband! Oh my God!

The guy nods and puts out a hand. Dev has run in to call Kia so Vish
takes the hand and shakes it.

Man:
Tunde..

Vish:
Vijay..

A scream is heard from inside and Kia comes waddling out into the
kitchen hurling abuses, she goes up to Tunde and beats against his
chest and hugs him and hits him all at the same time. The commotion
brings the whole house into the kitchen and suddenly Kia lets out a
scream!

Kia:
Oh My GOD! I think my water broke! Fuck!

There is panic. Rashid calls the ambulance, but Kia is already flat out
on the floor. Tunde holds her, and Anoushka tells her to breath deeply.
Vish tells Kia to get hot towels and boil water. Dev doesn’t know what
to do. Kia yells in pain, the baby is coming, the ambulance won’t be
able to get here. Kia yells at Tunde that it’s all his fault, he holds her
and calms her down, telling her to relax,
 55

Tunde:
I’m here, it’s okay.. it’ll be fine.. just calm down.

Tunde and Vish take over. Vish has no idea what he is doing but
something seems to be telling him what to do. He tells everyone to
stand back and with Tunde’s help, he delivers the baby. As the cries fill
the room, there is not a dry eye. Vish holds the baby in his hands and
looks at it in wonder.

Tunde:
Baby, it’s a little girl, she’s glaring at me just like you do.

Kia, holds her hands out for the child. Daddu hands her over. Daddu’s
eyes meet Anoushka’s and hold. There is a moment between them.
She comes running to him and hugs him.

Anoushka:
Oh My God!

Over Anoushka’s shoulder, Daddu meets Dev eyes. Anoushka goes to

hug Kia. Kia smiles at her,

Kia:
I told yeh he’d come..

Dev and Daddu stand by the door,

Daddu:
If you love her, you’ll know what you have to do..

Dev looks at him,

Dev:
I know..

CUT TO

Scene 25B
EXT. – INT. Anoushka’s House / Night

Kia is wheeled into the ambulance. Tunde, Kia and the baby leave for
the hospital. The others walk back into the house.
Dev holds Anoushka’s hand and pulls her into the garden, Anoushka
smiles and hugs him. They kiss. Dev withdraws and cups her face in his
hand.
 56

Dev:
I am going back to India now.
Anoushka:
Let’s not talk about it.

Dev:
No Anu… We can’t keep pretending that I am not going back. I am! But
that doesn’t mean…

Anoushka:
No Dev. I don’t want to talk about it.

Anoushka draws back and walks into the house. Dev follows her into
her room, where she goes into the bathroom and begins to wash her
hands and face. Over the running water,

Dev:
Anu, I was thinking… What if you come with me, to meet my parents?

Anoushka:
No Dev…

Dev:
What’s wrong? I am just going to India. Not dying or something.

Anoushka comes out of the bathroom, wiping her hands on a towel.

She looks at Dev as if telling him to stop kidding,

Anoushka:
Shut up, Dev.

Dev:
Anu… I mean it… I want you to meet my parents.

Anoushka:
For what, Dev?

Dev:
No I mean… I want to know… whether I want to go back there… Or I
want to be back here with you?

Anoushka:
What’s there to know? You always wanted to go back to India and take
over your dad’s saree shop!
 57

Dev:
No… but you know… Plans change. And that is life!

Anoushka starts shaking, unnerved. She sits down on the bed.

Anoushka:
No Dev… Dev Please. I can’t take this responsibility of your plans
changing. Please go back. Why do you want me to meet your parents?

Dev:
Because I love you. And you love me!

Anoushka:
(Her voice rising)
That’s very presumptuous of you. I never said that. I mean… Who the
fuck? What the fuck gave you idea that I love you?

Dev just stands there. Anoushka lowers her voice,

Anoushka:
Dev I don’t want to break your heart but there is nothing between us.
There never was, I made it clear from the very first day. If you are not
mature enough to understand that just because we have slept
together, we don’t necessarily become a couple, then that’s really your
problem… Because from day one… I have told you, this is what it is.
This was just sex. We have nothing here. I am sorry, but I always made
my stand clear on this. So don’t blame about this, baby. Your course is
over. You were always gonna go back. So go back. What do you want
to take me back with you for? I am not some souvenir from London.
‘Look ma… Look Baba… Look I got back Desi girl!’ No. That’s not how it
works, sweetie. I am fine here alone. Don’t try to change my world.
Don’t behave like an idiot! At least keep your dignity!!!

Anoushka is almost panting as she finishes her monologue. Now he

looks Anoushka in the eye,

Dev:
I’ll leave Anoushka.. I’ll leave if that’s what you want me to do.

He pauses and it’s almost as if it’s difficult for him to say this,

Dev:
And I’ll never come back..

Dev looks at Anoushka, she at him. She’s silent. He leaves. We follow

him into the kitchen where Vish is still up, reading a book. He looks up
 58

with a smile and realizes something is horribly wrong. He has never

seen Dev like this,
Vish:
Dev.. Kya..

Dev:
I’m done wasting time here, I think you should leave too.

Saying so he walks out. Vish looks at Anoushka who followed Dev into
the room, she’s glaring at him.

Anoushka:
You put him up to this, didn’t you? He would have never done this by
himself! I should have known it was you, putting ridiculous ideas into
his head!

Vish:
But what happened?

Anoushka:
I thought you were my friend!

CUT TO

Scene 26 – MONTAGE

Through the next day, Anoushka assumes her fight with Dev is just
another one of ‘those’. She goes about her day as usual, Vish on the
other hand looks rather somber unlike his usual gregarious self, is
quiet at the breakfast table. As Anoushka leaves, he watches her go
from the window.

CUT TO

Bookstore. Anoushka tries to call Dev during Lunch, he doesn’t answer.

Anoushka is slightly taken aback but not worried, as she tells her
colleague,

Anoushka:
Dev’s throwing a tantrum, being a complete chick!

It’s only later in the day that she begins to get slightly worried. Having
got passes to a book launch that evening, she calls up his hostel and is
told by the operator that ‘he can’t come to the phone right now but will
call back’. She narrows her eyes as she cuts the call.
 59

CUT TO

Anoushka waits for Dev at the corner till she almost misses her bus
and has to sprint to it. As she gets on the bus, panting, we see her call
him again. There is still no answer.

CUT TO

Scene 27
INT. Anoushka’s House / Evening

Anoushka enters the house to find Vish, Tanya and Rashid in the living
room, they are all rather quiet.

Anoushka:
Hey guys! I got us free passes to this fancy book launch tonight at the
Savoy!

They don’t react like she expects them to,

Anoushka:
Umm.. why so glum? Is everything okay? Is it Kia?

Tanya:
Dev was here.

Anoushka looks at her,

Anoushka:
Oh he was? Where the fuck is he? I’m so pissed with him, he’s not
returned my calls all day, I’m gonna..

Rashid:
He’s left.

Anoushka:
Well, I’ll tell him to pick us up in an hour, that gives us enough time to
get all doffed up..we can all go together..

Rashid:
Anu.. he’s left London..
 60

Anoushka takes a minute to understand the impact of what Rashid just

said. She looks at Vish who‘s been quiet throughout this whole thing.

Anoushka:
Oh..

She walks off towards her room. We follow her in, she looks like she
doesn’t know what to do, flops down on the bed in an almost despair
like situation and stops short on seeing a photograph of Dev and
herself on the wall. In sudden rage, she pulls it off and dumps it into
the dustbin.

After a moment she picks it out of there and looks at it.

A mellow love-song begins on the sound track

CUT TO

Scene 29 – PBS 3 - Montage

Early autumn days set in and we see Anoushka in this song, as she
realizes Dev’s absence and misses him.

She is walking to work one morning when she suddenly stops short.
She’s stepped on a crack. Anoushka does the punishment by herself.

CUT TO

The next morning Anoushka walks into a room to ask Vish why he is
creating a ruckus. Vish points at the mess around him and tells
Anoushka that he is only making the crib Dev promised Kia he would
make for the baby.

Vish:
Someone has to fill in for him, right?

Anoushka:
Oh fine! I’ll help you.

Anoushka realizes this is all what Dev was about. At one point Vish
asks her Dev would have approved of this shade of green. Anoushka
begins to answer, stops short, looks at Vish,

Anoushka:
What are you doing?
 61

She walks off from there. The song resumes.

CUT TO

Anoushka walking by the corner where she used to wait for Dev, she
looks around almost as if expecting him to turn up out of the blue.

Anoushka walks distracted, she steps on a crack. She does the

‘punishment ritual’ all by herself.
CUT TO

Anoushka goes to Dev’s residence hall, she watches from afar as

someone else moves into his room.

CUT TO

Scene 30
EXT. – INT. Audition Hall / Day

Anoushka, rather disheveled, goes up in front of an audience to

perform her audition, this is her call-back audition – the second round.
She glances at the sheet. The bell rings, her time starts.

Anoushka stutters, but manages to read the first line,

Anoushka:
I can’t do this, I can’t wait anymore, not a single day can I stay away
from you..

It’s a scene where a woman is pining for her lover, all the spotlights are
on Anoushka and in a rather ethereal manner, a strange magic seems
to take her over. She begins to feel one with the character as she
speaks those lines, each pause, each pained intake of breath, each
half-sob coming from deep within her, she is stunning.

A loud applause, she blinks. Anoushka looks a little dazed, as if she has
no clue what just happened.

The judges confer amongst themselves before telling Anoushka she

has the part even before she gets off the stage. Anoushka stands
there, stunned. It’s what she’s always wanted, to perform on stage, a
stage as exalted as the West End.

Anoushka:
Oh my God! I... Thank You!
 62

The judges look pleased,

Anoushka:
But.. I.. I’m sorry I can’t do it. I have to go.

And just as suddenly, Anoushka turns and runs out of there.

CUT TO

Scene 31
INT. Apartment / Evening.

Vish is in the kitchen with a mug of coffee and a book when Anoushka
barges in, breathless. She bends holding her knees.

Daddu:
New exercise program?

Anoushka pants as she slowly looks up at him.

Anoushka:
I’m going to get him.

Vish feigns surprise,

Daddu:
Where? Who?

Anoushka:
I want to go to India.

Daddu:
Really?

Anoushka:
Start packing.

Daddu:
Me?

Anoushka:
Yeah.. You are coming with me whether you like it or not!

She smiles at him and he winks back at her.

 63

INTERVAL

Scene 32
Ext. – Int. Dum Dum Airport / Day

We follow a flight over the Kolkatta skyline as it lands.

As the plane taxis, Vish and Anoushka fill in the disembarkation form.
He surreptitiously hides his from her while he writes his name.
Anoushka notices this,

Anoushka:
Why are you covering up your form?

Caught, he grins,

Vish:
I am scared you will cheat!

He laughs to cover his anxiety up. Still seated Anoushka muses,

Anoushka:
Well well well Never thought I’d ever come here. I mean, Nani broke
ties with India long ago..

Vish is silent.

Anoushka:
So, what is India like?

Vish now smiles, he gets up as the plane comes to a halt.

Vish:
That’s not something you’re told. That’s something you find out..

Anoushka:
Let’s find out then!

She pulls their bags out of the luggage hold and hands him his.
Anoushka and Vish make their way through the flight, into the airport.
Vish is amused by the way Anoushka almost has a culture shock.
Funny little moments happen.

As she sees a group of gulf travelers whisked away into another

 64

corner. She tries following them, thinking that’s the way to go, but Vish
pulls her away.

They come to the immigration counter. He goes to the Citizens line.

She goes to the Foreigner’s line. When the immigration officer reads
out his name, he starts talking loudly to drown his voice so Anoushka,
standing two booths away, can’t hear the real name.

They step out into Kolkata. He is scared how he will handle all this, the
dandy Maharaja that he is. He says,

Vish:
I have never done this myself.

Anoushka smiles cheekily,

Anoushka:
I will handle it! All you need to do is listen to me!

Vish goes to get a phone card. When he comes back, she doesn’t have
the luggage.

Vish:
Bags kahan gaye?

Anoushka:
Oh the porter took them, he’ll take them to the taxi.

Vish gives her an incredulous look:

Vish:
Porter? At the airport! There are no porters at the airport, only thugs!
Tum bhi na..

He starts dashing through the crowd, looking for the luggage.

Anoushka also follows. There are crowds, too many porters with too
many suitcases. As it turns out, Calcutta airport does have porters!
Anoushka runs after Vish, a little chase though the yellow-black cabs
and the crowds. He even loses her. And as he stops exasperated, he
hears some call out, “Vijay!” He turns to see Anoushka standing next
to a cab with the suitcases neatly piled up on top of it. She smiles and
he breaks out in a sheepish smile.

Anoushka:
Now tip him, mister cynic! I don’t have the Indian currency yet.
 65

He obliges,

Anoushka:
I told you.. all you gotta do is listen to me.

SONG KICKS IN

CUT TO

Scene 33 – PBS - Montage

Ext. Kolkata / Day

In a series of shots, Vish and Anoushka cab it through Kolkata.

Anoushka stares out of the window looking at the city, the roads, the
crowded streets.

CUT TO

At a traffic signal some eunuchs put their hands in and rub her cheeks.
She smiles.

CUT TO

A kid comes and wants to sell her a toy. She doesn’t have money and
asks Vish to buy it for her. He tells her it’s a useless toy. She still
insists. He gives in finally. She keeps annoying him with the toy.

CUT TO

The song ends with them entering the room at a plush room at the ITC
Sonar Bangla. Anoushka is awestruck by the grandeur and not sure
they can afford this.

Anoushka:
Wow! And just as suddenly, we are back in the First world!

CUT TO

Scene 34
INT. Hotel / Night

Anoushka and Vish are dining at the hotel’s restaurant. Laptop

propped up in front of her, Anoushka is doing a search for Dev on
 66

Facebook as Vish orders for them.

Anoushka:
Phone numbers, Facebook Account, Sab badal diya hai ussne. Usse ho
kya gaya hai!

Suddenly she looks up and says,

Anoushka:
Voh alive toh hai na?

She notices Vish is distracted. Anoushka repeats,

Anoushka:
I’m saying, Dev alive toh hai na? He’s just disappeared.

She asks him again and he laughs her fear off, but it’s a distracted
laugh. We see that Vish is trying to hide from someone, a woman (like
an Usha Utthup) at another table by covering himself with the large
menu card.

Vish:
I think we should go now.

She doesn’t hear what he has to say. Just then, the woman from the
other table leaves. He puts the menu card down and heaves a sigh of
relief. Anoushka looks up as she shuts her laptop with a note of finality,

Anoushka:
Well it’s very simple, we’ll just find him at his father’s saree shop!

Vish:
What?! What’s it called? Do you even know the name? You do realize
how many saree shops are there in all of Kolkata?

Just then, the woman he was trying to avoid shows up from behind him
and exclaims,

Woman:
Vish?!

He gets startled and gets up,

 67

Vish:
(stutters)
Ya! Ya… Ushaaa!! How I’ve wished.. we could meet.. I was..Hello!”

She looks taken aback,

Usha:
Really? We haven’t seen each other in what… three decades now?”

He starts to talk absolute nonsense, lest she give out his identity out.
Anoushka observes their interaction keenly. The woman watches him
blabber and realizes something is amiss. He keeps going on “So… Uh…
Okay…”

Anoushka asks,

Anoushka:
You guys are old friends?

The woman senses how uncomfortable Vish is and says,

Woman (Usha):
No… we just met once… long ago!
(Turns to Vish)
Well… Have a great evening. Nice seeing you.

Vish heaves a sigh of relief, as she leaves, he got saved by a hair’s

breadth. Anoushka says,

Anoushka:
Why were you being so weird with her?”

He skirts the question as the food arrives,

Vish:
Hmmm.. you must try the Malai curry, it’s divine.. So come… let’s start
tomorrow morning… looking for your boy at every saree shop in
Kolkata

CUT TO

Scene 35 MONTAGE

The song from earlier scene picks up again.

Anoushka and Vish look at various saree shops in the various crowded
 68

markets of Kolkata Finally, standing in the middle of a maze of shops

Anoushka says,

Anoushka:
That’s a Mitra saree shop… That’s a Gupta Saree bhandar… I know! His
last name is Ray Chaudhuri. So, simple! We will look for the Ray
Chaudhuri saree shop!”

Vish, exhausted by now, agrees

Vish:
Yeah! Okay!

He walks up and asks someone,

Vish:
Yeh Ray Chaudhuri ki saree ki dukaan kaunsi hai!

Man on Road:
Yahaan toh bade saare Ray Chaudhuri hai… Kaunsi waali dukaan
chahiye aapko?”

Vish looks confounded. Suddenly, Anoushka squeals,

Anoushka:
I think I found it.

She points to a banner, Vish reads, ‘POLTU FAMOUS SAREES’.

Vish:
Poltu Famous Sarees????

Anoushka:
That’s what they call him at home! Poltu. This has to be it!

Suddenly her excitement deserts her and she breaks into a cold sweat.

Vish:
(Continuing in nervous banter)
Great! Wow! This is it!” Columbus ko mil gaya America!

Anoushka:
Can you shut up for once? Please?
 69

He shuts up, she continues,

Anoushka:
Vijay, he is inside. Why am I feeling this way, Vijay? Why are my feet
frozen?

Vish:
Now that’s something even I don’t know. What to do? Should I carry
you there? Haan? Like a Hindi movie… Carry you in my arms and..

Anoushka:
No! Actually..You stay here! I will go on my own. I can handle this.. It’s
just Dev, right? I mean..I am going for love. And that’s a good thing,
right? I mean, I can do this right? It can’t be tougher than the Barbican
audition right? No? Yes? Maybe? Huh? Say something!”

Vish:
I don’t know! Even I am nervous!

Anoushka:
Great Thanks! You are all I need!
(pause)
If.. if you think I can do it, I am going..

He says,

Vish:
And if it comes to saying ‘Sorry’, then just say it. It’s okay. Its just five
alphabets, remember that! Okay? Two syllables… nothing great.
Everyone says it all the time… Just say it.

She holds his hand to get some support and his hands are shaking.

Anoushka:
Your hands are shaking? Or are mine shaking?

Vish:
I don’t know… I have never felt this nervousness before. Just go. This
suspense is killing me! I am here. I am fine! GO!!!

Vish waits outside while she goes in.

CUT TO

Scene 36
INT. Poltu Famous Saree Shop / Day
 70

Anoushka makes her way through the saree shop. People talking loudly
in Bangla. All kinds of sarees being displayed and thrown around. She
asks someone for Dev. The man looks confused and shouts out to
someone else…

Man:
Babu… chotobabu’r shombondhe jiggaash kortese kinaa dekhoon!
((She is asking for the young master)

The elderly man, evidently the owner of the shop and Dev’s father
walks up and asks her,

Dev’s Father:
Yes! May I help you?”

She asks him,

Anoushka:
Hello… I am looking for Dev. Dev Ray Chaudhuri!

Dev’s Father:
Baat hee ees not hiyaar!

Anoushka:
Oh!

He asks her who she is, she says she is friend of his from London and
then she tells him her name. His expression changes, he looks at her
and asks,

Dev’s Father:
What do you want? Why have you come here?

Anoushka:
Excuse me?

Dev’s Father:
I am his father, Onushka!

Anoushka:
Oh! Hello..

An assistant comes with tea. Dev’s Father offers her a glass, she takes
it unseeingly. Dev’s father looks at her thoughtfully before speaking,
 71

Dev’s Father:
You shouldn’t have come. What you have done to him already.. is
enough. It is.. enough..

She is taken aback. He continues,

Dev’s Father:
When he went to London, my son was such a different man. Full of life..
loving, giving.. dreamer.. And then, Two years later.. I was surprised to
see that he has changed so much. No emotion only. Only silence all the
taaim. His mother toh started crying only. Crying crying.. Poor woman..
Obviously any mother would, na? Who’s son was the naughtiest boy in
the colony.. So many windows he has broken with his football. And now
not going out. All day at home. And then..

Anoushka:
Where is he?

Dev’s Father:
He is not in Kolkata! And it shouldn’t matter to you where he is.
Dekho… He doesn’t talk to me much. But he spoke to his mother. And
she told me.. All about him. And you! Onushka, na? Beta, he is very
sentimental.. always has been.. Poet, artist, sensitive ekdom.. I am toh
businessman mentality..But he? Why did you have to do this to him?
You know, he had never loved any woman.. Arrey love ki re, he had
never spoken to any woman till he met you. And he was madly in love
with you. And what you did? Now see..

Anoushka:
(slightly panicked)
I..I have come to say sorry to him. Please tell me where he is.

Dev’s Father:
Naa. I can’t risk this. I am sorry.. he doesn’t want to keep any contact
with you and we don’t want you to keep any contact with him. If I give
you his wherabouts, I would be betraying my own son! I cannot do
that. Sorry but you have said enough. No need for anything more.
Please go back. You don’t deserve him!

She is shaken. Dev’s Father gets up and leaves. Anoushka stares at the
half-glass of tea in her hand.

CUT TO

Anoushka steps out of the shop walking like a zombie. Vish springs up,
 72

Vish:
WHERE IS HE????

She just looks at him and says,

Anoushka:
I am a bitch, Vijay! I am!

Vish:
Vish:
What? What are you talking about?

Anoushka is silent.

Vish:
Anoushka! Tell me what happened.

She starts kicking a tin drum in anger.

Anoushka:
I want to cry Vish! Please Vish… Mujhe rona kyon nahin aata? Vish!!!

Vish looks at her and says and he’s about to ask her again when he
stops himself and says,

Vish:
You want to cry? Well! Kolkata has a solution for that too!

She looks at him, curiously suspicious.

CUT TO

Scene 37
EXT. Bibekanondo Park / Evening

Evening visitors and crowds all around them as Anoushka and Vish
stand at a Puchka- Wala.

Anoushka is gobbling down one ‘phuchka’/ ‘gol gappa’ after another.

Vish has had enough, but Anoushka motions to the guy to keep it
coming. Her eyes are flooded with tears, from the chillies but she
doesn’t want to stop. She is almost possessed, punishing herself for it.

Vish:
 73

Stop now.. main tumhe beech raat mein hospital nahin le jaane wala..
vaise bhi uss couch par to neend nahin aati hai..

Anoushka puts her banana-leaf bowl out for one more.

CUT TO

Scene 37 B
EXT. By the Ganges / Kolkata

Sitting on a bench, by the Ganga, Anoushka guzzles down a bottle of

water, as if it were a bottle of beer. As she speaks, her voice has a ‘just
cried her heart out’ quality. She tells Vish that she was stupid to have
come all the way here.

Anoushka:
I don’t deserve happiness! I am just a bitch! My grandmother got her
heart broken here. And now me! The women of my family are just
cursed!”

That’s when Vish flares up and says,

Vish:
Who the fuck said that to you? Huh? Don’t judge yourself by what
happened to your grandmother! You deserve every little happiness
there is..You make me want to be young again and yet you are the
only one makes me feel wonderful about being my age… and all this…
me taking care of you! You are a bundle of contradictions… And that’s
what makes you special!

He goes on talking about how she is special. And how she was made to
be happy.

Vish:
You, me.. everyone.. HE (God) wanted us all to be happy… and then he
gave us sorrows and pains, so we could value these moments of
happiness more. Look at me, I mean..I am here with you. Finally!!!!

He stops short of making a blooper. She looks at him, he finishes the

sentence in a strange way.

Even though he makes an impassioned speech, she has made up her

mind about it and she says she will book the tickets back to London
tomorrow?
 74

Anoushka:
Are you gonna come as well? Should I confirm your ticket too?

He is taken aback by her sudden decision and just remains silent for a
moment. Anoushka continues,

Anoushka:
I guess… you wanna stay. Cool, I will just book my tickets then. You
don’t have to feel obliged to come with me.

Vish looks immensely worried. Does this mean the end of their
adventure?

CUT TO

Scene 38
INT. Hotel Suite / Morning

Vish jots something down on a piece of paper,

“I’m just stepping out to get some gifts for Kia, Rashid and Tania that I
want to send with you. Will see you in a bit and then will take you to
the airport!”

He leaves it on the coffee table.

CUT TO

Scene 39
INT. Poltu Famous Saree Shop / Day

Gregarious, loud, colorful and in his element, Vish has the entire saree
shop rapt in attention, as he talks about his ‘Kingdom’. Girls, salesmen,
women and even Mr. Raychaudhuri hear his story about his kingdom
and how he is planning his granddaughter’s wedding in the most grand
of styles,

Vish:
Toh ussne kaha… bass Dadaji main toh shaadi ka joda pahanke hi usse
manaane jaoongi.. Voh bhi Poltu famous sarees ki saree!

Women:
Achcha?

Vish:
 75

Haan. Hamare riyasat mein.. ladkiyaan apne mann meet ko jab

manaane jaati hai.. agar shaadi ke jode mein bhagke gayi, toh ladka
kabhi manaa hi nahin kar sakta!”

Mr. Ray Chaudhuri takes special interest in him as he realizes that he is

actually a potentially BIG client. Vish uses this opportunity to ask about
Dev.

Vish:
Beti ki shaadi kya hota hai, aapko toh pata hi hoga na.. Oh sorry!
Maine toh khud hi tayye kar liya aapki beti hogi.

Raychaudhuri:
Nahin nahin… mera ek hi lerka hai.

Vish:
Achcha? Ek hi lerka? Chota sa hoga? Kaunsi class mein hai?

Raychaudhuri:
Na na.. bohut baara hye. Aabhi toh mera business mein hi haath
bataane laaga hai.

Vish:
Achcha? Toh milwaaiye na… yaahin kaahin hai?

Raychaudhuri:
Nahin! London mein paadhai kaarke aaya hye na, bohut baara baara
baat karta hai. Papa shaaree ko Paris ke ramp pe lekarke jaayega.
Export karega! Ki ki shob bolta hye.. ki bolega aapko.. aaj ka
generation. Aane ke baad se sirf kaam kaam kaam. Abhi dekho na,
sheedha bag baandha aur haamaare wokshop ko chola gaya..

Vish:
Yahin hai workshop?

Raychaudhuri:
O ma… na na… ihaan nahin. O toh Benarosh mein hye!

Vish:
BENARAS???

Raychaudhuri:
Hain! Tai toh o shob korne chala gaya.. work shop mein baithke
kaarigor ke saath kaam karega. Paagol lerka hai, Ekhon dekhun.. haam
aapko bore kar raha hai.. aap chooshe koro shaari!
 76

Vish:
Benaras kyon gaya?

Raychaudhuri:
Hain?

Vish:
Nahin nahin..

SHARP CUT:

Scene 40
EXT. Taxi – Kolkata / Day

Vish and Anoushka loading their luggage into the taxi. Anoushka looks
edgy. Vish keeps talking about how he also decided he wants to go
back to London,

Vish:
You know.. yahaan kya rakha hai? Bloody hot and dirty country!

He is trying to provoke Anoushka. She is mostly edgy and silent till she
says,

Anoushka:
Please! Gloomy aur Gray London se toh better hi hai!

Vish smiles to himself, at her admission. He asks Anoushka,

Vish:
Kya hua? Itni chup chup kyon ho?

Even though she is thinking about Dev, she says,

Anoushka:
Nahin Main soch rahi thii..Vaapas jaake mujhe auditions phir se shuru
karne hain.

Vish:
Haan… Chalein? Time ho raha hai!

Anoushka
(looking around):
Hmmm!
CUT TO
 77

Scene 41
EXT. – INT. Howrah Station / Day

The taxi drives into the Howrah station. Anoushka is clueless about
what is happening. She says,

Anoushka:
Wow! This doesn’t look like the airport we landed in.

Vish:
(suddenly)
SURPRISE!!!

She is clueless. He tells her that he went to the saree shop and found
out about Dev and that he wanted to surprise her and hence, came to
the station!

Saying this, he gets off to unload the luggage, get a coolie etc.
Anoushka is taken aback. She gets off and says,

Anoushka:
But you should have told me before!

Vish:
Well, I wanted to surprise you!

Sayign this, he walks towards the train. She runs behind him.

Anoushka:
Hey hey hey! Where the hell do you think you are going? Huh? What
do you take me as? Some five year old girl? How can you make these
plans without telling me?

Vish stops surprised by her reaction.

Anoushka:
I am not going anywhere. I am not interested. I am not in love with
him. You want to go, go. But I am going back.
(pause)
I know what I want. You will never take my decisions! I have made up
my mind and that’s that. I am not going to love someone at the cost of
my self-respect. I value myself more than him.

Now Vish is absolutely hurt and shaken by her words. He takes her bag
and hands it to her.
 78

Vish:
Fine. Let’s go back!

This time he dresses her down. His voice reflects the anger and the
hurt that he feels…

Vish:
You know, I never wanted to come here to begin with. You dragged me
here. I really thought you were genuinely trying. I am sorry… But you
are only thinking about yourself. Pyaar mein self respect ki koi jagah
nahin hoti… You have to be able to make an ass of yourself in love…
Ussi ko pyara kahte hain… Parr tum shayad uss pyaar ke liye taiyyar hi
nahin ho. I am sorry Anoushka… Main… I thought you really loved him.
Come let’s go back.

Anoushka hears him and is a little taken aback, as he has never

spoken to her like this.

Anoushka:
Okay. Right. Thanks. Let’s go.

He walks away, having said his mind. She follows him, dressed down!
They start walking along the station. The train pulls out. The announcer
announces. People wave out, as they walk away. They walk along the
train. And SUDDENLY. She turns to him and says,

Anoushka:
Let’s go!

She starts running to get into the bogey. He asks what he is doing.

She says,

Anoushka:
Just run!

They run, She takes his bags. She runs and gets in. People help Vish
get in. He huffs and puffs as he gets onto the train.

Vish:
Never again do that to me again. If I die of a cardiac arrest, You are to
blame.”

She hugs him tight and says,

 79

Anoushka:
Achcha ji? I will never let you die. You are my little guardian angel! My
rockstar!

She keeps hugging him. He just smiles.

CUT TO
SCENE 42
INT. Train / Day to Night

Inside the train, they cross a motley bunch of people to get to their
seat. They sit among a group of army men, playing Antakshari.
Anoushka is absolutely new to this whole surrounding, she looks
around, taking in things.

Vish sits down and says,

Vish:
Yeh train kahaan tak jaayegi ji?

Someone tells him it goes till Patna. Anoushka is stunned he doesn’t

even know where the train goes. He says,

Vish:
Kahin toh jaayegi… Phir vahan se aagey ka raasta dekh lenge!

She glares. He says,

Vish:
Kya? Can you pardon me please? Maine bhi yeh sab pahle kabhi nahin
kiya hai!!!

Anoushka says,

Anoushka:
This is madness.

Anoushka:
Pata nahin main yeh sab kyon kar rahi hoon? Agar yeh sab pyaar vyaar
kuch hua hi nahin toh?

Vish:
Kaise nahin hoga! Pyaar Vyaar toh hai… Harr taraf hai

Anoushka:
Oho! Achcha? Kahaan hai? Itni badi bheed mein mujhe sirf ek hi idiot
 80

nazar aa rahi hai. MAIN!

Vish: Khud ko itna importance matt do. Saare hi yahaan idiots bhare
padein hain!

He shows her different kinds of love. The bond between the group of
army guys. An old couple sharing a samosa. A couple of siblings
squabbling on the upper berth. A young man on the phone, a shy smile
even as he whispers.

Even as he is doing this, the man next to Vish who was singing, turns
to him and says, “aapki chance” Anoushka finds it a little strange and
just to humour her, Vish starts singing.

Reference Song - Pyaar humein kiss mod pe le aaya!

In the course of the song, suddenly the six other brothers from Satte
pe Satta make an appearing, we see Vish with the ‘Satte pe Satta’
brothers, bonding. The other passengers – the kids, the old couple, the
army jawans, the young man – all join in, in typical popular hindi
cinema fashion. The song ends in a crescendo.

Day becomes night.

Anoushka and Vish make beds and sleep.

CUT TO

Scene 43
INT. Train / Day

Anoushka wakes up in the morning with sounds of coffee waalahs and

hawkers selling all kinds of breakfast. Under her bunk, a whole
universe seems to be thriving. Vish is, of course, the centrifugal force
of this cosmos. Various women, old and young, offer him all kinds of
breakfast. Anoushka gets off the bunk, groggy but smiling. One of the
old women remarks,

Woman:
Lo ji… Utth gai aapki poti.

She doesn’t understand… Another woman explains in English,

Woman 2:
Your grandfather love you so much. No no eat till you wakie wakie.”
 81

Anoushka:
My who??

Woman 2:
Your grandfather.. Daddu. You talking Daddu to teerath. Uh..God God..
Pranaam pranaam. Round round around Temple? You are such a good
granddaughter.

She looks at Vish and walks away. Vish looks embarrassed by her
behaviour and says,

Vish:
Uh… Bura sapna dekh liya hoga. Main usse manaake aata hoon. Aap
tab takk pattey baanto. Yeh round toh maine hi jeetna hai ji.

He walks out to the vestibule, where Anoushka stands looking out. He

asks her why she walked away. She remains silent for a moment and
turns and says,

Anoushka:
Why did you tell them I am your grand daughter?

Vish:
(Stumped for a moment):
Because it’s very difficult to explain what this is.

Anoushka:
We are friends, Vijay!

Vish:
Try explaining that, to them. Ek saatth saal ka Buddha aur ek baees
saal ki ladki.. Friends.”

Anoushka:
I don’t care how you explain to whoever… But please..remember..
never bring up this grandfather thing ever again! It’s not done. Okay?”

He just smiles and apologizes.

Anoushka:
Cool!

Just then the six brothers from Satte Pe Satta troop in to the vestibule,
their station is approaching. They exchange good byes,

Vish:
 82

All the best!

Brothers:
Yes Thank You! We really hope we find him..

Vish:
Who?

Brothers:
Humara saathva bhai.. tees saal se usse dhoond rahe hain, pata nahin
kaha chale gaye Bhaiya!

Vish:
Oh..

CUT TO

Scene 44
EXT. Bus Stand – Patna / Day

In a typical Indian ISD-STD Phone Booth, Vish makes a call to Bhuvan.

Bhuvan is furious that he hasn’t heard from Vish in so long.

Bhuvan:
Aap ho kahaan?

Vish:
Tum Benaras ke liye niklo abhi!!! Rai Baari mein Poltu hoga..Dev
Raichaudhuri. Usske baare mein pata karo!

Bhuvan:
Kyon?

Vish:
Bhai, hum apni poti ko laa rahein hain vahaan.. Dev hamara damaad
hai. Aadar satkaar karna usska.

He hangs up and comes out.

Vish and Anoushka are at the bus station in Patna, waiting for the bus.
She munches on a bag of chips, while he looks around like a dandy
prince stuck with the ‘dirty plebians’. She plays a game of random
questions, she probes him about his life.
 83

Anoushka:
You don’t have ANY family? Like no one..?

He is in a tough spot and stutters and stammers. She gets a little

curious now and says,

Anoushka:
Tum chhupaa rahe ho mujhse kuch?

He humours her and says,

Vish:
Haan.. Main chupa raha hoon. Bahut kuch..”

He tries to get out of the situation and suddenly she looks at him
curiously. The look holds. He gets a little nervous. He quips in
trepidation,

Vish:
Kya?

She pauses a second and then says,

Anoushka:
Nahin. Kuch nahin. Tum bataana nahin chahte ho, toh jaane do!

The bus honks and is ready to leave.

CUT TO

Scene 44
INT. Bus / Day

In the bus, DDLJ plays on the TV. Vish has gone off to sleep, covering
himself with sheets and bags to shut off the light and sounds.
Anoushka watches the film now, even as a kid next to her keeps
predicting the dialogues. Anoushka falls for the romance in the film,
she who used to scoff at it.

Suddenly the bus comes to a halt.

CUT TO
Scene 44 B
EXT. Bus – Highway / Afternoon
 84

Vish fights with the bus driver about not being able to get them
another bus. The unhelpful bus driver gets agitated and says,

Driver:
Ab tyre toh mere se pooch ke burst nahin hui na?

Anoushka drags Vish away. She tells him they will try and walk to the
closest town/village/bus stop and get another bus from there.

Anoushka:
God! You start fighting like a little kid! Now, YOU will listen to me! Do
as I say. WALK!

CUT TO

She carries his bag and walks on the road. The bag’s strap also breaks
and the two of them burst out laughing. They crack up and sits down
on the road itself.

Vish:
Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong!

JUMP CUT

Scene 44 C
EXT. Highway / Evening

Time has passed. The day has turned into dusk. They have given up
and sit at a deserted highway mazaar of a Peer Baba.

Anoushka:
Kaisi country hai!!! Ek bus bhi theek se nahin chalti! Kuch bhi theek se
nahin hota. Ek bus stop bhi nahin hai!

Vish just smiles at her spoilt child complaints. Anoushka says,

Anoushka:
Rashid kahta hai… Sab kuch Allah ki taraf se hamare liye ek sign hai.

Vish:
Achcha? Toh? Yeh kaisa sign hai? Ki humein uss bus ke theek honeye
ka intezaar karna chahiye thaa?
 85

Anoushka:
Nahin. What if yeh sab ek sign hai ki… mujhe Dev se milne ki koshish
bhi nahin karni chahiye?”

Vish says,

Vish:
Phir vahi baat? Hamare yahaan ek kahaawat hai… Agar tum kissi
cheez ko tahey dil se chahte ho, toh Allah tumse pareeksha leta hai…
uss raaste mein badi saari kathinaayiyaan daal ke… Agar tum unhe
paar kar gayi… toh voh tumhari cheez, hamesha ke liye tumhaari ho
jaati hai!

Vish tells her about the secret HAPPY place that he has. When he was
in college, he and his friends had gone on a shikaar holiday and they
had discovered this place,

Vish:
Ek chota sa sheher, ek chota sa hotel.. mamuli si ek terrace, saamne
ek khai aur uske peeche pahad, pahad ke peeche se jab suraj nikalta
tha toh sab kuch sunhera lagne lagta tha.. jaise ki.. anything is
possible, as if.. we were the kings of the world..

He tells her about the heady adrenaline of youth.

Vish:
Years have passed, my youth has passed but still, whenever I am in
doubt, I go to that small balcony in Fatehgarh, in my head.. and I know.
I can do it! Magic and miracles happen My problems are sorted out!
Someday I will go back to that place. Someday. I have a lot to that that
place for!

Anoushka hears this and says,

Anoushka:
Please, You sound like some weirdo when you say these things. Kaisi
Hallmark cards waali baatein karte ho, tum bhi, Vish!”

He challenges her and says,

Vish:
Tum dekhna… Close your eyes.

He tells her to imagine HER HAPPY PLACE. She shuts her eyes and tries
it. She smiles,
 86

Anoushka:
Naani.. me.. our backyard.. achaar..I am running around and she is
shouting at me. Mrs. Smith walks in and I drop the whole jar of achaar
on her!

She opens her eyes, as she comes out of the reverie. No miracle. No
nothing. She smiles and says,

Anoushka:
Kya hua? Kuch bhi nahin! Koi magic nahin honeye waala mere saath,
Vijayji!

Vish:
Muft mein hum dono ne apni happy place exchange kar lii!

Silence.

And then suddenly, a bus comes rattling down the highway.

The bus stops at the Mazaar. A large family comes there to pray. They
are all dressed up and Vish asks them where they are headed. The
man of the house introduces his daughter to Vish and Anoushka and
says,

Man:
Bitiya ki shaadi karaane ja rahein hain. Mirzapur. Bass yahaan raaste
mein, dua maangne rukeye theye.

Vish asks them for a lift till where they are going, if there is space in
their bus. The man extends his hospitality and how! He invites them
into the bus.

CUT TO

SCENE 45
INT. Bus / Evening

Inside the bus, old women make place for Anoushka while the men in
the family give Vish the best seat possible. The whole gaggle of the
family is introduced to Anoushka by the women. Anoushka finds this
large joint family bonding strange yet cute.

Woman:
Yeh bachchi ki khaala Tabassum.
 87

Woman 2:
Yeh Tabassum ke Nandoi ke bhateeje Farhaan. Yeh hain bachchi ke
chachajaan aur unnka bada beta Zahid. Yeh hain…

Anoushka looks fully lost between all these relations. She laughs…

Anoushka:
Itni badi family hai?

It’s all a new world for her. Then she is asked…

Woman 3:
Aapka naam?

Anoushka:
Anoushka?

Woman 4:
Aur aapke Dadaji?

Anoushka:
Actually voh mere.. Dadaji nahin.. uh.. actually (then to avoid
confusion)..Ji, Mere Dadaji. Unnka naam Vijay hai.

Vish hears this, from where he sits. He turns to the men and says,

Vish:
Ab dekhiye na Vilayat mein rahti hai hamari poti, pahli baar India aayi
hai aur hamari bus toot gayi. Kya sochegi India ke baare mein?

Man:
Shukar hai bus toot gayi. Varna aap aur hum milte kaise?

He smiles and exchanges a look with Anoushka.

Anoushka sits next to the bride, who is the only who looks glum in the
whole crowd. Anoushka tries making conversation with her, but she
doesn’t talk. Anoushka still tries,

Anoushka:
Tumhe inn sab ke naam kaise yad rahte hain. Already itne log family
mein… phir… usske baad shaadi karke apne husband ki family. Baap
re… Tumhe sab yaad rahega na? Won’t you forget?”

She shuts up realizing there is no response from the bride.

 88

CUT TO

Scene 46
EXT. INT Wayside Restaurant / Evening

The family has stopped at a wayside Rest-house.

Anoushka is in the restroom all by herself as she washes up. Suddenly

she hears someone call out,

Voice:
Aneesha ji?

Anoushka looks around for who is calling her. She opens a cubicle and
sees the bride is sitting staring in her direction.

Anoushka:
(taken aback)
Kya hua?

The bride is silent.

Anoushka:
Mera naam Anoushka hai. Anisha nahin… Tum kissi Anisha ko bulaa
rahi thii kya? Tum bataao kaun hai… Main bulaakar laati hoon usse.

The bride is silent. Anoushka is a little freaked out and doesn’t really
want to be here. Finally the girl speaks up.

The bride tells Anoushka,

Bride:
I can only tell you because you are a stranger.

Anoushka imagines the worst, having just seen DDLJ.

Anoushka:
Kissi aur se pyaar hai?

Bride:
Nahin!

Anosuhka:
Tumhe shaadi nahin karni?

Bride:
 89

I don’t know this person I am getting married to. How can I get married
and spend the rest of my life with a stranger?

Anoushka:
Baat toh sahi hai tumhaari!

Bride:
Please..I want to meet him.

Anoushka:
So you will meet him na? Obviously!

The bride says the families won’t let them meet before the marriage so
she will only see him after she is his wife. Anoushka is shocked! The
bride continues,

Bride:
The only person who can arrange a meeting between us is YOU!

Anoushka is taken aback with this sudden responsibility. She knows

she has to do it, seeing the bride’s expectant eyes.

CUT TO

Scene 46 B
EXT. Wayside Rest-house / Night

Outside, the men of the family tell Vish that he has to stay on for the
wedding, if he has come all the way. He looks like he is caught in a fix.
Just then, Anoushka runs up and drags him away.

Vish hears what Anoushka has to say and then freaks out,

Anoushka:
Paagal ho kya tum?

Anoushka:
We have to do this! Bada Love Shove ki baatein karte ho… Ab kuch
karne pe aayi toh mukar rahe ho? Come on now..

Just then, someone from the family walks up to them and says,

Man:
Kya soch rahein hain itna? Rukna toh aapko padega hi shaadi ke liye.

Anoushka says,
 90

Anoushka:
Ji! Hum rukenge!
CUT TO

Scene 47
EXT. – INT. Guest House, Mirzapur / Day

The bus reaches Mirzapur, drives into the guesthouse. Suddenly the
whole family goes into top gear about getting everything organized.
The matron distributes responsibilities.

Matron:
Aur baby ko parlour le jaana hai… Yahaan yeh baaju waala?

Anoushka immediately quips,

Anoushka:
Main! Main le jaoongi!

The other women insist she is a guest and she should not be made to
do any work. She insists and makes up things like she needs a facial
after the bus ride. The matron finally decides.

Matron:
Chalo… yeh bhi ho gaya!

Vish offers to go with the men folk with all the gifts for the groom’s
family.

CUT TO

SCENE 48
EXT. Groom’s House / Day

Various decorated gifts arrive in taxis. Menfolk of the bride’s family

emerge from their cars. And along with it all, is a ribbon wrapped
Maruti Zen car. Vish enters with the men and are greeted by the
groom’s family. The groom is introduced. The gifts are given one by
one. Everyone praises the gifts with,“Masha Allah! Vaah Vaah”

When it comes to the car, everyone gasps except Vish. Vish says,

Vish:
Yeh test drive karwaaya aapne?
 91

Random man:
Ji..?

Vish:
Test drive ke bagair??? Arrey, Itna lamba dulha hai, agar usske paiyr
iss gaadi mein fit nahin huye toh?

Everone is confused about why he is stressing about the car. He keeps

insisting and makes up random reasons and excuses,

Vish:
Gaadi hai… Dulhe miyaan ko dekhna chahiye ki nahin… Gaadi kaisi
hai. Aise hi Vaah vaah kar denge, phir baad mein gaali denge!

Everyone is silent. He looks at the groom and says,

Vish:
Chaliye miyaan! Drive pe!
Groom:
Ji?

CUT TO

Scene 48B
EXT. Patna Roads / Day

The groom is driving through the streets, all the while confused,

Vish:
Dekho beta, gaadi aur ladki hamesha test drive karni chahiye!

He gives directions for the parlour. The guys asks why. He says

Vish:
Vahaan ke raaste best hai, test drive ke liye!

He is fully confused but is overwhelmed by Vish and does as said. He

drives up to the parlour. Vish screeches as he asks him to stop.

CUT TO

SCENE 49
 92

EXT. – INT. Beauty Parlour/ AFTERNOON

Anoushka jumps up on seeing them. She opens the door and asks the
groom to get out. He is confused now,

Groom:
Aap log kaun hain? Mujhe kidnap kar rahein hain kya?

Anoushka says,

Anoushka:
No time for questions. Sorry for being so impolite. Chalo!

She pulls him by the hand, through the parlour and into the massage
room. She turns to see Vish and smiles, a smile of accomplishment.

Vish:
Yaar..Galat hai yeh! Ek toh beech highway mein unnse lift lii humne…
Upar se shaadi bhi tod ke nikal gayein. Tera pata nahin Tiger, mujhe
toh jannat jaana hai

Anoushka:
Fikar matt karo.. Hum saath jaayenge, Jannat! Haath mein haath daal
ke!

SHARP CUT

Inside the seedy massage room, the bride sits facing the groom. She
looks rather tense, but he looks worse. The nervous energy is too much
to handle, But there is a gentle romance in their discomfort.

Finally, the girl breaks the silence.

Bride:
Why are you marrying me? Kissiki photo dekhke tumne kaise decide
kar liya?

Groom:
Tumhari photo nahin.. Tumhaare photo ke peeche jo photo thii..

Bride:
Kya?

He takes out the photograph and shows a photograph of hers in that

pic, there she is standing in a blackbelt with trophies. He says,
 93

Groom:
Yeh! Mujhe pata thaa tum yeh nahin.. lehenge mein. Tum toh yeh ho.
Yeh blackbelt karate waali, Kung fu champion Rehaana.

She smiles an embarrassed smile and says,

Bride:
Toh?

He says,

Groom:
Actually na main yellow belt hoon!

Bride:
Tum yellow belt ho??

Groom:
Haan. Baaki tum sikha dogi, na?

They both burst out laughing. Then he adds,

Groom:
Rehaana, I have always gone by my instincts. And my instincts have
never failed me. And going by what I see, I know I am not wrong!

SHARP CUT

Outside, Vish and Anoushka sit in the car.

Vish
Usse bolo jaldi karey. Main usse Dilli nahin le gaya hoon test drive pe.

Just then the bride comes running out, beaming, looking for Anoushka.
She sees her, comes up, bends closer and says,

Bride:
Ji.. Issi se shaadi karni hai mujhe.

Music picks up.

The groom walks out smiling.

CUT TO
 94

Scene 50 – PBS – Montage

On the wedding song are cut moments such as,

Groom and Bride say ‘Kabool hai’. The guests greet each other in
traditional hugs.

CUT TO

It’s ritualistic that the bride try a taveez around a tree trunk. Anoushka
sees Rehaana do it, and later at night, when everyone is asleep, she
quietly goes out and does it all by herself

CUT TO

Anoushka has nothing to wear at the wedding, Vish tells her to wait. He
gives her a box in with POLTU FAMOUS SAREES written on it, and in it
is the most beautiful saree!

Anoushka has no idea how to drape it, she messes it up.

Vish falls on the floor in laughter when he sees her, helps her drape it.

CUT TO

A young boy at the wedding gives Anoushka a flower.

CUT TO

Anoushka takes Dev’s photograph out from her purse and looks at it.

CUT TO

The bride pulls Anoushka and whispers about her groom, “Handsome
hai na?”

CUT TO

A suitor asks about her. Vish says, “Usse kissi aur se pyaar hai!”

CUT TO

She observes the Kanyadaan (The Islamic equivalent of it).

CUT TO
 95

At the Bidaai, the Bride hugs her tight and whispers, “Thank You’. The
bride’s mother holds on to Anoushka’s hand and cries. Anoushka also
starts crying.

CUT TO

Scene 51
EXT. Benaras Roads / Day

Vish and Anoushka sit in an ambassador. They are almost at their

destination and Anoushka is feeling a certain kind of high. She turns to
Vish and says,

Anoushka:
Just adopt me! This is it. Nahin jaate Dev ko lene… Tum aur main… ek
eternal road trip. I want this life… Your life. We will go and sort out
other people’s love lives.

Vish:
Ya. Two people with screwed up love lives sorting others’ lives. Hah!

Anoushka:
I have a better idea! Tum, main aur Dev… teeno bhaag jaate hain!
Nahin?

Vish:
Kiss se bhaagenge?

Anoushka:
Sab se. Duniya se, ghosts se, mere past se. Sab kuch… Main, mere
voh… aur ek random man, jo pata nahin kaise, mere laakh na chahne
ke bavjood mera best friend bann gaya hai!

He smiles, hiding the secret deep within him.

Just then, they cross the checkpost into Benaras. She sees the Ganga
and the ghats from the taxi. She is amazed.

Anoushka:
Meri bhi Rehanaa jaisi shaadi hogi.
(Pause)
Oye, tum karna mera kanyadaan. Hai na? Aur kaun? It’s like.. You’ll be
the best man, na?”
 96

She keeps talking like an excited child, as he watches her,

Anoushka:
Ab agar Dev ne zyaada chu chu chaiyn chaiyn kii na toh bass that’s it.
Usse kidnap kar lenge aur zabardasti shaadi kar loongi main uss se.
Phir Mr. Raychaudhuri ko bandi banaake main vaapas London le
jaoongi.
(Pause)
Main kitni silly sound kar rahi hoon. Why don’t you tell me? Main bilkul
Hallmark cards jaisi sound kar rahi hoon! Na? Haan? Maybe?”

CUT TO

SCENE 52
EXT. Taj Hotel / Day

The cab drives into the Taj Hotel.

Anoushka:
But we should be going to where his place is, right? Why are we
checking in? I am sure he has a comfortable place..

Bhuvan walks up and greets them. Vish introduces Bhuvan to

Anoushka as his comrade, friend and guardian angel.

Vish:
I love him so much that I hate him!

He turns to Bhuvan,

Vish:
Aapne pata karwaaya yeh Rai Chaudhuris ke baare mein?

Bhuvan gives him details,that he has found out about one such Rai
Baari in Assi Chowk. Anoushka gets excited and says,

Anoushka:
That’s it! Let’s go! I can’t wait.

Vish says he needs a shower, then a swim and then some sleep before
he can head out. She gapes at him like she doesn’t believe it. And he
bursts out laughing. She is confused. He says,

Vish:
CHALOOOOO!
 97

CUT TO

SCENE 53
EXT. – INT. Rai Baari, Assi Ghat, Benaras / Day

Vish and Anoushka are led by Bhuvan into the lanes of Benaras.
Anoushka sees the sights and sounds of the place and is fully
enamored by the place. She looks around as they walk through the
myriad gullys, and tells Vish about the sarees here and the place and
people,

Anoushka:
How do I know all this? Because Dev has told me so much about this
place!
(pause)
You know, for the first time in my life, I feel like I have come home.

Bhuvan tells them that they have come to the Rai Baari. They look up
and see a dilapidated yet resplendent old house. Bhuvan goes inside,
pushing the delicate wooden door. Anoushka follows him in. She looks
around this quaint little universe of zardosi and fabric, sarees flying in
the wind, colours bathing the daylight. She’s entranced.

An old woman there slowly walks up to Anoushka and peers into her
face before she cups it with her frail hands and pronounces,

Old Woman:
Anoushka!

Anoushka is taken aback. The woman leads her through the courtyard
and into a room, and shows her this old room filled with photographs of
Anoushka’s.

Old Woman:
Yeh Baba ka kamra hai… Yahin rahte hain, kaam karte hain… din
raat… aur aapki baat karte hain.

Anoushka is moved to tears as she stands there, breathing heavily.

Vish and Bhuvan also walk in behind her stop short as they look around
are the many photographs of Anoushka. Vish and Bhuvan exchange a
look. Vish rests a hand on Anoushka’s shoulder. She turns around in a
daze,

Anoushka:
I.. don’t
 98

She turns to the woman and asks,

Anoushka:
Baba kahaan hai?

Old Woman:
Japan.

Anoushka thinks she hasn’t heard right and repeats her question.
That’s when the woman says that Dev has taken off for Japan to attend
a convention. Anoushka looks perturbed.

Old Woman:
Ab hi… kuch der pahle nikle..

Anoushka:
Oh!

Old Woman:
Kal shaam ki plane hai unnki. Dilli se.

Vish says,

Vish:
So great! Let’s go now… and we will catch him at the airport in Delhi.

Bhuvan:
Parr abhi toh yahaan se Dilli ki koi flight nahin hai! Jo hai kal early
morning hai… saat bajey ki.

Vish:
Let’s just call him. Unnka number kya hai?

Anoushka:
Nahin nahin! I have come this far.. I will not spoil it by calling him. I
want to land up. And.. That’s it! Like DDLJ. Stop him at the airport.

Vish:
That was the station.

Anoushka sticks her tongue out at Vish. She walks out into the
courtyard, where she sees women weaving the sarees.

Bhuvan:
Fikar matt kariye, bitiya… Dhoondhne pe toh Kunwar saab ko aap bhi
 99

mil gayin…

Midway through his sentence, Vish presses his hand hard and silences
him. Bhuvan is a little taken aback by Vish’s act. Not having heard
what Bhuvan said, Anoushka runs towards a saree being woven. She
sees a pattern on it and smiles. The woman who’s weaving it doesn’t
know what this about. Anoushka lifts up her sleeve and shows her a
tattoo which is the same pattern. The woman is amazed. The woman
takes out a small chit and shows Dev’s doodle on it, with his sign.
Anoushka stares at it.

CUT TO

SCENE 54
Ext. Ganga Ghat / Evening

As they walk back on the ghats, Anoushka talks about how she knows
it’s all going to work out now.

Anoushka:
I feel like I’m in a film! Like I’m living a film! Can you imagine.. all of
this. Me, here..

She sees some people bathing in the Ganges. She runs down the steps
and up to the river.

Bhuvan and Vish stand at the top of the steps.

Bhuvan:
Aapne bachchi ko abhi tak bataya hi nahin?

Vish:
Nahin.

Bhuvan:
Kyon?

Vish:
Please Bhuvan… Tum nahin samjhogey…

Bhuvan:
Nahin! Main nahin samjhoonga. Main toh kabhi samjha hi nahin
aapko… Phir achanak yeh utth ke London jaana. Mujhe laga shayad
aap pahli baar apni bhool ko… kuch galtiyon ko sudharne ja rahein
hain. Parr nahin. Aap khudgarz theye. Khudgarz hain. Khudgarz hi
rahenge. Aap bass aasaan raasta chunna jaante hain. Usse sach kya
 100

bataayenge? Yeh sab bhalaai na naatak kar rahein hain aap…

Vish:
Bhuvan! Main koshish kar raha hoon… Prayashchitt karne ki koshish
kar raha hoon.

Bhuvan:
Agar aap prayashchit karna chahte, sach mein… toh sach se shuru kiya
hota. Parr aap mein sach bolne ki taaqat hi nahin hai. Sochiye jab aap
usse bataayenge… toh uss pe kya beetegi? Aapko toh apna dost maan
baithi hai voh. Aur aap… Ek jhoothi kahaani ki aadh mein usska dil
jeetne ki koshish kar rahein hain. Iss se usse bhi dukh pahunchega. Aur
aap ko bhi.

Vish:
Toh kya karoon?

Bhuvan:
Kuch toh nahin milaa usse aapse. At least usse sach sunn ne ka haq
toh hai. Voh haqq bhi matt chheeniye uss se.

As Vish turns he sees Anoushka climbing up the steps, drenched from

the waist down, glee writ large on her face.

CUT TO

SCENE 55
EXT. Dasaswamedh Ghat / Dusk

A loud, colourful and soul-stirring aarti on the ghats of the Ganga. Vish
looks through the lamps and the people for Anoushka. He finds her
sitting by the ghat looking at the Aarti. He walks up to her, albeit
tentative. She is excited to see him.

Anoushka:
Tumne mujhe dhoondh liya itni bheed mein?

Vish:
Poori duniya chhaan ke tumhe dhoondha hai. Yeh toh kuch nahin.

She tells him how the Aarti is absolutely mesmerizing. Vish tells her
 101

that the Aarti is done to pay obeisance to one’s ancestors.

Vish:
It’s said if you set these lamps afloat on the Ganga, the river will carry
the glow to your ancestor.

Anoushka says she wants to set diyas afloat for her grandmother.
Before Vish can even say anything, Anoushka stands up and buys a
few diyas being sold by a little girl.

She runs back with the diyas and asks Vish to walk into the river with
her. Vish follows her into the Ganga as she says a little prayer and sets
the diyas afloat. Vish observes her fondly. She turns towards the
direction where the lamps float away.

That’s when Vish starts speaking.

Vish:
Radha must be smiling at us right now.

Anoushka wonders what he means.

Vish:
She never believed in rituals. But she wanted to get married. She was
a bag of contradictions… She would call me in the middle of the night
from London to tell me that she killed her first cockroach… little inane
details about her life… but never did she tell me we had a daughter.

Anoushka turns around to face him, unable to believe what is being

revealed to her.

Vish continues,

Vish:
Anoushka, I am not asking you for your pardon. But yes, you deserve
to know who I am. I know.. you hate me. I know.. I should have never
pretended to be this other person. But I couldn’t help it. I cannot
explain the feeling, when at the end of your life you realize, the joke
was actually on you.
(pause)
No I never came to feel better for myself. But I HAD TO see the one
person, who I could call my own in this wide world of strangers. Maybe
no lamps will carry their glow to me, whenever and wherever I am…
Maybe not. But this. Here. You. Me. I don’t think I deserve any more
than this anyway. I have done terrible things, child. And you are lovely.
I don’t even deserve your hatred. I…
 102

Anoushka, overwhelmed with tears, interrupts him,

Anoushka:
You know I always had that nagging feeling.. that constant fear.. what
if you were him? What if? And I stopped myself from thinking like
that… Everthing pointed to that, at all times… But I was hoping,
praying every moment the thought crossed me.. that you weren’t him.
But you are! You.. You are him! I am sorry.. you, whoever you are…
The joke is on me. Just when I thought.. Just when.. Why did you have
to make me feel so stupid? Why did you have to strip me of even that
last strand of faith I had? Why?

As he starts to speak, she interrupts him again,

Anoushka:
No. Please. Don’t say anything. Don’t. I will talk. You listen, old man.
You.. You deserve every misery. And you are damn right.. You don’t
deserve any happiness. Please. Don’t follow me.

Saying this, she walks away. Vish keeps staring in her direction.
Anoushka walks through the Aarti and the lamps, the lanes, the bylane
of Benaras.

A dramatic upswing as EPIC MUSIC picks up on the soundtrack.

CUT TO

SCENE 56 – PBS - Montage

In a series of shots and sequences we see Anoushka,

Anoushka packs her things at the hotel, almost like she is possessed in
a fit of rage.

CUT TO

She gets into a cab. It’s pre-dawn. She pauses and looks back at the
hotel once.
 103

CUT TO

Anoushka’s cab drives by the ghats, she looks away. The gorgeous
Benaras Sunrise.

CUT TO

Anoushka at the airport, all by herself.

CUT TO

Anoushka trips on something, and falls flat on her face, all over her
own and someone else’s luggage. Someone tries to help her but she
just breaks down.
CUT TO

Anoushka sits in the flight. She just dumps her luggage in the next
seat, which lies empty.

CUT TO

SCENE 57
EXT. IGI Airport, Delhi / Evening

Dev gets off a cab and offloads his luggage and suddenly something
catches his attention. He is shocked to see Anoushka sitting on the
pavement across, absolutely disheveled and distraught. But even
though she looks like she is falling apart, he breaks into a smile on
seeing her. He drags his suitcase and walks up to her calmly, taking a
deep breath.

She keeps looking down, even as Dev’s smile becomes even more
vibrant. Finally Anoushka quips,

Anoushka:
I need a haircut, na?

Dev:
You still can’t say you love me, na Anu? Just say it and I will tear up
this ticket.

She just looks up, thinks for a millisecond, grabs his ticket and tears it
violently and then calmly hands him the pieces.

He grabs her and kisses her. She kisses him for a moment and then
moves back and says,
 104

Anoushka
Dev, I have to tell you something.

Dev:
I think I know what this is about.

CUT TO

SCENE 58
INT. Coffee Shop – Delhi / Evening

Anoushka and Dev sit across each other. There are many empty coffee
cups in front of Anoushka. After a moment’s pause she says,

Anoushka:
So that’s it. That’s just how it went. And now it’s over. So… let’s not
talk about it. Ever again.

Dev:
“You’re not serious are you?

Anoushka:
What do you mean?

Dev:
You ARE going to repair this, right?

Anoushka:
Dev.. What do you mean? Repair this? Repair what? With that man? I
mean.. You know what happened to naani!

Dev:
Anoushka, Naani never told him they had a child.

Anoushka:
How do you know?

Dev:
Because I read the letter she sent him. How else do you think he found
out? Anoushka, I knew all along.

Anoushka is stunned to hear this.

 105

Dev:
Anu, he pleaded with me to not tell you. And something in his eyes told
me he meant only well, for you. Anu.. Don’t you see, he never came to
say sorry? He.. he just came to undo his mistakes, as much as he
could, and here.. here we are, Anoushka!

Anoushka stands up and starts walking out,

Anoushka:
Don’t defend him, Dev. Don’t! You know nothing about him.

He turns around and says,

Dev:
Maybe not. But itna toh jaanta hoon ki galtiyaan sab se hoti hain, Anu.
Kuch khushnaseeb hotey hain jinhe unhe sudharne ka mauka mil jaata
hai. Jaise tumhe mila. Dil toh tumne bhi mera toda thaa. He loves you,
Anoushka. He does… Khud se nafrat karta hai voh aadmi… kyonki tum
se paar karta hai voh. Galti ho gayi unn se… Isse tum nahin badal
sakti. Parr shayad apni nafrat ko maafi mein badal sakti ho. Nahin toh
nafrat tumhe khaa jaayega, Anu.

Anoushka is surprised at the angry tone is voice takes,

Dev:
You can’t really love till you learn to forgive Anu..

She stops in her tracks. Dev realizes she is shaking with sobs.

CUT TO

Scene 59
EXT. Cab, Delhi Roads / Evening

Anu and Dev are in a cab, calling various numbers They try the Taj at
Benaras where they were staying but no one seems to know anything
about him. Dev gives up.

Dev:
I wish he hadn’t done this false identity thing.

CUT TO
Scene 59 A
INT. Hotel Room / Night
 106

Dev is sleeping while Anoushka tosses and turns. She gets up, walks
around the room and stands at the window looking out at the rising
sun. Suddenly, she knows.

She turns and shakes Dev out of sleep.

Anoushka:
Dev, I think I know where he could be.

Dev looks at her in his sleep, curious.

CUT TO

SCENE 60
INT. Haveli-Hotel, Fathehgarh / Evening.

Anoushka walks into the haveli, which has been turned into a hotel.
Dev looks really unsure about this. He tells Anoushka that this is really
pointless and that there is no way, she can just randomly find him
here. Dev asks about Vish but the receptionist says no man with this
name has checked in here. Anoshka’s face falls. Dev says he is tired
and that they should check in to the hotel now. Anoushka asks about
the terrace with the view of a gorge and the mountains. The
receptionist smiles and sends a bellboy to escort them to the terrace.

Anoushka walks into the terrace and it looks nothing like what Vish
described it to her as. She sits there disappointed. Dev comes to the
terrace,

Dev:
You are mad! You really thought you could find him here?

Anoushka shrugs,

Anoushka
I was hoping!
CUT TO

Scene 61 B
INT. Hotel Room / Twilight

Dev sits by the window of their room. Anoushka walks up to him and
hugs him. They start kissing, as she looks for solace in his arms.
Sudden passion takes over, as if, they were coming together for the
first time ever.
 107

CUT TO

SCENE 62
INT. Hotel Room / Twilight

Anoushka wakes up early in the morning, in Dev’s arms. She turns in

bed languorously; her eyes fall on the window. And suddenly a curious
glint gathers in her in them. Anoushka jumps out of bed, and pulls on a
jacket, with a pressing hurry. Dev jolts up and asks what happened,
but by now she has run out of the room.

Anoushka runs out of the room, through the complicated corridors of

the hotel and onto the terrace.

At the other end, a man in a shawl stands overlooking the mist. She
breaks into a jog and starts running towards him. She runs and hugs
him from behind. We reveal it’s Vish. He just smiles as she holds him
tight and whispers,

Anoushka:
I love you. I love you, Daddu!

Dev also walks up. Vish turns and hugs them both. Over his shoulder
Anoushka sees the mist part to reveal the vision he had painted of his
‘magical place’.

It’s surreal and ethereal.

THE END