An Original Screenplay by

PURVANGI RANJAN

S H O O T I N G D R A F T

purvangi.ranjan@student.aisfm.edu.in
9515789124
1 INT. AREA AROUND COURTYARD - NEELIMA'S HOME - DAY 1

A LADIES SANGEET ceremony is underway. We hear wedding songs

being sung in the background. There are mattresses laid
across the courtyard. There are baskets of fruits, sweets and
boxes of shiny clothes.

We see a 19 year old bride to be, clad in a maroon and green

shiny SALWAR-KAMEEZ with loose sleeves, sitting down on one
of the many mattresses. She, we will come to know as NEELIMA.
She is staring at a wedding card that is clutched in her
hand, running her fingers across the name 'MADHAV'.

She smiles. Her action is distracted by a conversation. She

looks up.

We hear two men talking as Neelima looks on. They are ATUL
and ANAND.

ATUL
Tent vaale kahaan hain?

ANAND
Bass aa hee rahe honge, bhaiya.

ATUL
Arrey dekho ki time se aa jayein.
Koi kami nahi rehni chahiye. Ladke
vaalon ko kisi baat ka bura na
lage. (to a woman) Namaste buaji!
Aaiye aaiye.

A 50 year old lady in a saree - BUAJI - makes her way towards

Neelima and strokes her head. She then proceeds to sit
herself down next to her-

BUAJI
Batao, kitni achchi taiyaari ki hai
dono bhaiyon ne, aur karni bhi
chahiye, Madhav jaisa ladka milna
asaan hai kya?

A woman, 25, lets out a laugh. She is dressed in a bright

saree with heavy jewelry and bangles. She is SEEMA.

SEEMA
Filmon ke hero se kam hai kya?
Dekhne se lagta hai ki das aadmiyon
ko saath mein mar sakta hai. Lucky
haan, Neelu.

BUAJI
Chup Badmash. Nazar matt laga.

Neelima looks at the women and then smiles back at the card.
We are suddenly interrupted by a CONTINUOUS CHURCH BELL.

Neelima looks up.

 2.

2 INT. LIBRARY - SCHOOL - DAY 2

There is a harsh light coming from a nearby window. In

between TALL bookshelves -

SAMARTH, 15, walks in holding hands with SHAGUN, 13. Samarth

is dressed in formals and Shagun in a white dress and veil.
She is smiling at Samarth while he is looking straight ahead.

As they are walking, TULIKA and SHAMBHAVI, both 13, dressed

in colorful clothes are seen standing next to a PRIEST
waiting at the end of the line. The girls giggle.

Shagun is smiling shyly as the two approach the priest. They

turn to face each other. Tulika and Shambhavi move and
position themselves on either side of the bride and the
groom.

Samarth holds out his hands as Shagun places hers gently in

them as the priest looks on.

PRIEST
You may now hug the bride.

Samarth and Shagun move closer shyly and go in for a hug.

Right as they are about to hug, we hear a loud sound and
Shagun looks away.

CUT TO:

3 INT. LIBRARY - SCHOOL - DAY 3

Tulika has just placed a pile of books on the table where

Shagun is sitting. Around her are many such tables for the
girls to read.

There seems to be no Samarth or any priest. Just the both of

them in their school uniforms.

Shagun is being stared at by Tulika, who shifts her eyes to a

doodle on Shagun's book.

TULIKA
Bass yaar, Shagun.

Shagun smiles and we hear sounds of a DHOLAK.

4 INT. AREA AROUND COURTYARD - NEELIMA'S HOME - DAY 4

An electrician is calling out for some help with the lights

as something seems to have fallen down. Atul and Anand
respond to this.

Neelima looks back at the card she has been holding.

 3.

LADY #2
Zindagi bann gayi humari gudiya ki.

SEEMA
Kya gudiya, taiji? Kal first night
hai aapki gudiya ki.

Seema laughs and we hear soft giggles. Neelima looks up at

everyone with a doubtful smile. She seems confused.

BUAJI
Sshh Seema! Aisi baatein zor se
nahi bolte!

As the other women shush down, Seema embraces a confused

Neelima. She whispers-

SEEMA
Zyada pareshaan matt hona, Neelu.
Jaisa voh kahein, bass vaisa hee
kar lena.

We hear a VOICE announcing about the food that has been laid.

Neelima is glued to her spot, looking confused. She bites her

nail then looks up.

Seema signals to her, to join them. Neelima nods.

The women slowly get up and start proceeding towards the

origin of the voice. As they leave, a young girl, 19, enters
in a salwar kameez holding another basket of fruits.

NEELIMA
Sheetal! Idhar aao na!

SHEETAL comes near Neelima.

SHEETAL
Kya hua? Jaldi bolo!

Sheetal looks distracted. Neelima looks at the wedding card

and then at Sheetal. She pats the empty space next to her in
order to signal Sheetal to sit down. Sheetal keeps the basket
and sits on her knees.

Neelima hesitantly looks around to check if anyone’s there;

She whispers-

NEELIMA
Voh...Uss din yaad hai tum mujhe
kuch bata rahi thi...ummm, Roopa
bhabhi ke baare mein..?

SHEETAL
Kaunsi vali baat?
 4.

NEELIMA
Arrey unki shaadi ke baad..?

SHEETAL
Neelu yaar, itna kuch bataya hai.
Theek se bolo na.

NEELIMA
Voh..tum keh rahi thi ki first
night ke baad Roopa bhabhi apne
ghar chali gayi thi. Kyun?

SHEETAL
Arrey haan!

Sheetal looks around and comes closer. She seems interested

now-

SHEETAL (CONT'D)
Chachi ne bataya tha ki shaadi ke
baad vali subah, bhaiya bhabhi ko
lekar pehle hospital gaye phir unke
ghar. Bhabhi 2 hafte baad vaapis
aayi.

NEELIMA
Kyun?

SHEETAL
Pagal, pain mein thi na.

Neelima looks confused.

SHEETAL (CONT'D)
Chachi ne bataya ki first night par
bhabhi ko itna khoon aya ki..
matlab poocho matt.

NEELIMA
Par hua kya tha?

SHEETAL
Dekho yaar, chachi ne bass itna
kaha ki sabko aata hai. Pati ka
kehna manna chahiye, bass. Vaise,
tum kyun pooch rahi ho? Bataya tha
na pehle.

Neelima is silent. She is staring at the card again. She

speaks slowly-

NEELIMA
Umm, Seema didi ne bhi yahi kaha..

SHEETAL
Haan! tum na apna dhyaan rakhna.
Tension matt lo.
(MORE)
 5.

SHEETAL (CONT'D)
Roopa bhabhi ab theek hain na? Toh
bass. Nikal jaega!

Seema calls out to Neelima-

SEEMA (O.S.)
Neelu! Aao

Sheetal nudges Neelima on the shoulder as she gets up with

the basket. Neelima is left staring at the card with a blank
expression. She puts it down and continues staring.

A CHAIR moves.

5 INT. LIBRARY - SCHOOL - DAY 5

Tulika sits herself down on the chair next to Shagun. She

looks at the doodle in Shagun's book.

TULIKA
Itna matt socho uske baare mein.

Shambhavi walks in and takes a seat next to Tulika opposite

Shagun. She looks at both of them.

SHAMBHAVI
Kiske baare mein? Samarth?

As Shagun continues smiling, Tulika nods to Shambhavi.

Shambhavi looks at Shagun and raises an eyebrow as if asking
a question.

SHAGUN
(smiling shyly) Sunday ko uske ghar
par party thi. Pata hai..(Shagun
looks around then whispers) He
hugged me.

As Shagun's smile gets wider, Tulika and Shambhavi look at

each other. Tulika shuts her book and looks at Shagun.

TULIKA
(Eyes opened wide)
He did what?

The LIBRARIAN shouts out for silence.

SHAGUN
(Smiles then whispers)
Hug.

Shambhavi buries her head in the book in front of her while

Tulika starts looking around.

TULIKA
Pehle kyun nahi bola?
 6.

Shagun sighs and looks at her doodle. She hasn't really heard
this. Shambhavi looks up from the book.

SHAMBHAVI
Shagun. It's not a joke.

TULIKA
Tumko pata hai na aage kya hoga?

Shagun looks confused. She stares at her friends.

Tulika picks up her pen and takes the cap off. She
demonstrates-

TULIKA (CONT'D)
Boys apna (She signals downwards)
humare (She signals downwarsd again
and pushes the pen into it’s cap)

Shagun gets startled.

SHAMBHAVI
Sab hug se start hota hai. Phir
movies mein jaise aage..Tumhare
ghar mein mummi channel nahi change
karti?

The librarian clears her throat loudly.

Shagun nods slowly, looks at the doodle in her book and then
shuts it. She smirks in confusion.

TULIKA
Haso matt. We're lucky, boys humare
school mein nahi hain.

SHAMBHAVI
Bass vahi nahi hota. Didi ke paas
ek book hai. Usme tha ki kabhi-
kabhi (she looks around) haath
baandh dete hain, tie se.. Aur
aankh bandh kar dete hai aur-

We hear a chair move.

Tulika cuts her off by nudging her to make sure the GIRL who
just got up doesn’t hear anything.

Shagun is shocked. She shakes her head.

TULIKA
Sach mein. Boys aisa hee karte
hain. Maine toh dekha tha. Ghar
jaakar tum bhi google kar lena.. S.

CUT TO:
 7.

6 INT. ROOM - SHAGUN'S HOUSE - DAY 6

We see Shagun typing on her keyboard slowly as Tulika's voice

blares in the background -

TULIKA
E - X.

Shagun presses enter.

The light from the computer's screen shifts on Shagun's face.

Her eyes open in horror as she discovers the contents of the
screen.

Right then, the door to her room opens and the housemaid
walks in. Shagun immediately shuts the computer.

The maid, we will get to know as RUBY DIDI.

RUBY DIDI
Ready ho jao Shagun. Mummi ka phone
aya tha. Samarth ke ghar chorhna
hai tumko.

Shagun is shocked. She gets up.

SHAGUN
Kyun? Mujhe nahi jana.

RUBY DIDI
Arey Shagun, Aaj jaldi jaana hai,
aur mummy ko late hoga. Chalo,
tyaar ho jao.

SHAGUN
(she thinks for a moment) Umm mere
pait mein dard hai.

RUBY DIDI
Shagun.. Mummy daatengi, Shagun..

Shagun cuts Ruby didi and picks up the phone to dial her
mother's number.

7 INT. CORRIDOR - MADHAV'S HOUSE - NIGHT 7

Neelima is seen walking, dressed in a red saree and heavy

jewelry. This is right after her wedding. With her, we can
see a young girl around the same age, dressed in a golden
border LEHENGA. She is grinning. We will get to know her as
MADHU.

MADHU
Aur pata hai, bhaiya ka kamra kabhi
itna saaf nahi tha jitna aaj hai.
Vaah Bhabhi!
 8.

Neelima is clutching on to the hem of her DUPATTA. She is

looking down and is seen slowing down her pace. She looks
nervous. Madhu does not seem to notice this. She is being
giggly and is teasing Neelima-

MADHU (CONT'D)
Bhabhi, kal jaldi uth jaogi na?

As Madhu bursts out laughing, Neelima stops. She looks at

Madhu and then at the floor. Neelima thinks for a moment.

NEELIMA
Madhu...tum bhi aa jao. Hum raat
bhar baatein karenge.

Madhu stops smiling and raises her eyebrow in sarcasm.

MADHU
Aisa karte hain, aap mere kamre
mein aa jaiye. Phir araam se baat
kar sakte hain.

Neelima smiles hopefully and nods in agreement but her

happiness is cut by Madhu bursting out with laughter again-

MADHU (CONT'D)
Kya bhabhi! Tum bhi! Chalo, bhaiya
kabse intezaar kar rahe hain.

Madhu leads the way to a door. Neelima does not want to catch
up with her. It looks like she is deliberately slowing her
pace down. She is crushing her dupatta and biting her lip. We
can hear faint sounds of Sheetal's voice.

SHEETAL (V.O.)
Pain mein thi na...Itna khoon aya
ki poocho matt...Sabko hota hai...

Neelima walks to the threshold slowly as Madhu signals 'Good

luck', pushes her inside the room and closes the door. Inside
the room we can see a tall, well-built man holding a knife.
This is MADHAV.

We hear a doorbell.

8 INT/EXT. APARTMENT CORRIDOR - SAMARTH'S HOUSE - DAY 8

ANJANA AUNTY, 40, opens the door to a visibly nervous Shagun

and Ruby didi.

9 INT. SAMARTH'S HOUSE - DAY 9

Anjana aunty is taking an anxious Shagun inside.

 9.

ANJANA
Mumma ka phone aya tha thodi derr
pehle. Don't worry, bachche. She'll
try to come fast. I'll get a fruit
bowl for you. Phir stomach ache
chala jaega.

Shagun is walking slowly. She seems hesitant and is not

smiling. Anjana aunty opens the door to Samarth's room.

Samarth is seen untying his shoelaces. He is still in his

school uniform. He looks up, sees Shagun and jumps up-

SAMARTH
(shyly) Hi Shagun.

Shagun doesn't look at him.

ANJANA
Tumlog yahaan ruko, main fruit bowl
laati hoon.

Anjana leaves Shagun and Samarth inside the room. Shagun

takes a step back to stop aunty. Samarth starts walking
towards her. He comes in for a hug. Shagun is frozen in her
spot. Samarth doesn't notice this-

ANJANA (V.O.)
Samarth! Yahaan aao!

Shagun instantly moves away making way for Samarth to go out

and Samarth chuckles.

He smiles at her before closing the door behind him. Shagun

heaves a sigh of relief and settles herself down.

Right as she sits down, Samarth re-enters the room, closing

the door behind him.

10 INT. BEDROOM - MADHAV'S HOUSE - NIGHT 10

Madhav locks the door from inside. The room is decorated in

lights and marigolds. There is a canopy of white and red
flowers over a white bed; rose petals adorn the top of it.
The sounds of crickets can be heard.

Neelima is standing right next to the door. Madhav picks up

his other hand to reveal the knife. Neelima takes a deep
breath. Madhav stares at it then puts it down. He sighs at
his bride.

MADHAV
Fruits kaun rakhta hai room mein?

He places the knife back in a fruit basket kept on the table

nearby. Neelima still looks quite flustered. Madhav turns to
her.
 10.

MADHAV (CONT'D)
Aap thoda araam se ho jaiye, phir
dekhte hain kya karna hai.

He sits himself down on one side of the bed and starts

adjusting a lamp. The lamp goes off. He looks a little
confused.

He plugs it in again. There is a moment of silence. Neelima

doesn't move. She keeps staring at the floor. Madhav starts
clasping his hands in confusion.

MADHAV (CONT'D)
Jaiye na...

Neelima slowly walks to the dressing table. Madhav is still

sitting on the bed. He folds his legs up, rethinks his action
and then quickly puts them back down.

He tries to say something but words fail him and he shakes

his head.

Neelima is at the dressing table. She looks at the mirror and

then quickly looks away. There is dead silence. Madhav gets
up and starts loosening his collar button. Neelima gets
extremely anxious looking at this. She quickly starts taking
her bangles off.

MADHAV (CONT'D)
Neend toh nahi aayi hai?

Neelima shakes her head. She continues taking her jewelry

off. Madhav looks at the floor then at her in the mirror. He
can see her hands.

MADHAV (CONT'D)
Kuch chahiye?

Neelima shakes her head again. Madhav takes a step closer.

Neelima goes closer to the table. Madhav sees her struggling
with her necklace. Her dupatta falls from her head. Neelima
tries getting it back as Madhav smiles shyly.

MADHAV (CONT'D)
Arrey rehne dijiye. Koi baat nahi.

She goes closer to the mirror. She looks up and realises

Madhav is coming closer. She tries to get her dupatta back on
uncomfortably.

11 INT. ROOM - SAMARTH'S HOUSE - DAY 11

Shagun is sitting uncomfortably as Samarth walks towards her.

SAMARTH
Mumma neeche se kuchh laane gayi
hain.
 11.

He comes and sits himself down next to her. She shifts

uncomfortably.

He moves closer to her. She takes a deep breath and holds her
hands tightly.

12 INT. BEDROOM - MADHAV'S HOUSE - NIGHT 12

Madhav is close to Neelima. He reaches his hand out to help

her with the necklace and his hands touch her back. She jumps
back, shaking the dressing table such that the things kept on
it fall down. Madhav is taken aback. He brings his hands
towards her shoulders to calm her down. Neelima whose eyes
have been closed-

NEELIMA
Aap jaisa kahenge main karungi.
Bass mujhe khoon se bahut darr
lagta hai.

MADHAV
Ek minute..

Madhav stops. He takes a step back and stares at Neelima's

face. He looks away and then back at her. Neelima is still
standing with her head down.

MADHAV (CONT'D)
Ye kya bol rahi hain aap?

Neelima looks at him. Then she looks down again.

NEELIMA
Khoon se darr lagta hai.

Madhav stares at her.

MADHAV
Toh? Kya baat hai?

Neelima keeps looking at the floor.

MADHAV (CONT'D)
Dekhiye idhar. Kya hua?

Neelima looks up slowly. She takes a deep breath.

NEELIMA
Voh..Meri dost hai..uski bhabhi ko
hospital jana pad gaya tha.

MADHAV
(confused) Kyun?

NEELIMA
Shadi ke baad.
 12.

Madhav looks away and then back at Neelima. He seems to be

understanding.

MADHAV
Toh aapko kis baat ka darr hai?

NEELIMA
Khoon ka.

MADHAV
(Raises an eyebrow)
Meri vajah se?

13 INT. ROOM - SAMARTH'S HOUSE 13

Shagun's eyes are fixed on Samarth’s hands - that slowly move

towards loosening his tie.

She hears the voices of her friends-

SHAMBHAVI (V.O.)
Sab hug se start hota hai. Haath
baandh dete hain.. tie se..

TULIKA (V.O.)
Saare boys yahi karte hain..

Shagun stares as he removes his tie.

Before she realises he places his hand over Shagun's.

She jumps up and rushes to the washroom.

Samarth gets up as well, appearing quite upset. He looks down

in guilt. He rushes behind her.

CUT TO:

14 INT. BATHROOM - SAMARTH'S HOUSE 14

Shagun locks the door and covers her face in her hands. She
turns to look at herself in the mirror and quickly looks
down. She hears someone knocking.

SAMARTH (V.O.)
Shagun! Kya hua? I'm sorry! Shagun!
Shagun! Darwaza kholo please.

Shagun doesn't reply. All the sounds get muffled. She keeps
staring at the floor as her eyes fill with tears.

She mouths the words, "I'm sorry, mumma" as she sits down on
a nearby stool and buries her face in her hands.

She hears some commotion outside. She can hear loud knocking.
It's Anjana Aunty.
 13.

ANJANA (V.O.)
Shagun! Beta kya hua? Please baahar
aao! Shagun! (takes a pause, to
Samarth) Kya hua usko? Sab theek
hai na?

SAMARTH (V.O.)
(doubtfully) Haan..

ANJANA (V.O.)
Shagun beta! Kuch chahiye?

Shagun gets up and looks at the mirror again. She calls out-

SHAGUN
Aunty, please mumma ko bula dijiye
na.

15 INT. DRAWING ROON - HOUSE - NIGHT 15

It's a simple house with a sofa set and a coffee table in

between. The table has a jug and 3 glasses on it.

Shagun is sitting on the sofa with two people looking at her -

a man and a woman.

She wipes her face with a tissue, looking down.

The man is in his late 30s, clothed in semi formals. Next to

him is a woman in her 30s.

He holds her hands gently. The woman is Neelima. She looks up

at him.

16 INT. BEDROOM - MADHAV'S HOUSE - NIGHT 16

Madhav smiles at her. She doesn't respond. She remains quiet.

Madhav takes a deep breath. He points at the mirror.

MADHAV
Voh dekhiye. Aapko aur mujhko. Mera
koi haq nahi banta ki aap par kisi
bhi tarah ki zabardasti karun. (he
takes a pause) Malum toh mujhe bhi
theekse nahi hai, par itna pata hai
ki hum dono ko ready hona hoga.

Neelima looks at his reflection. She seems relieved.

Madhav gives her a comforting smile.

She looks down and smiles slowly.

 14.

MADHAV (CONT'D)
Toh? Pehle ek dusre ko samajh lein.
Jab hum taiyaar honge, phir
dekhenge.

He smiles at her. Neelima looks happy.

She looks at her hands then brings them up to remove her

necklace. Madhav looks at the dressing table.

She takes a moment and brings her hands back down. She turns
her back towards Madhav.

He looks at her, brings his hands up and actions to her

reflection, if he could help her out. She nods.

Madhav smiles at her reflection as Neelima turns to make it

easier for him to help her.

17 INT. DRAWING ROOM - HOUSE - NIGHT 17

Madhav holds Neelima's hand and smiles gently. Neelima looks

up. She can see Shagun sitting at a very vulnerable spot.

She looks above Shagun, to the showcase which has a picture

of her wedding day and multiple moments of their life
together as a family.

Neelima looks down again.

Madhav pours water in the glass and shifts it towards Shagun.

Neelima takes a deep breath, gets up and goes to sit next to

Shagun.

She holds Shagun's hand. Madhav fills another glass up.

NEELIMA
Shagun, har cheez jo humein pata
chale voh sahi nahi hoti. Kabhi
kabhi humare doston ko kuch baatein
theek se shayad malum na ho.

Shagun looks up at Neelima. Neelima smiles at her as Madhav

looks on.

NEELIMA (CONT'D)
Aise mein pareshaan nahi hona
chahiye. Mere paas ya papa ke paas
aao. Hum tumhari help karenge. Hai
na?

SHAGUN
Par aap nahi samjhe toh?

Neelima looks at Madhav and then back at Shagun.

 15.

NEELIMA
Kyun nahi samjhenge?

SHAGUN
Aap phone par nahi samjhi. Phir
aapne kabhi mujse iss baare mein
kuch kaha hee nahi

NEELIMA
Shagun..

SHAGUN
(hesitantly)
Mujhe dar lagta hai aisi baatein
karne se... Shambhavi ke ghar mein
bhi hamesha channel change kar dete
hain.

Neelima looks down, feeling bad. She then looks up.

NEELIMA
Sorry, Shagun... I - didn't realise
it's time. Agar pata hota toh
shayad..

Shagun looks at Madhav. He nods and smiles at his daughter.

Neelima looks back at him. He blinks sweetly. Neelima takes
her slippers off and sits comfortably.

NEELIMA (CONT'D)
Agar mujhe kisi ne theek se bataya
hota toh shayad kuch aur
hota...khair...Jo tumko pata hai,
theek hai, par sahi nahi hai.

Shagun looks at her mother.

SHAGUN
Toh?

NEELIMA
(smiles) Samajhna ye hai ki sahi
kya hai aur galat kya.. Shagun jab
hum bade hote hain tab kuch changes
aate hain...........

Neelima's voice fades as she starts talking. We can see

Shagun slowly opening up and getting comfortable.

Neelima continues talking and at one point Shagun laughs.

Madhav looks on and smiles.

Shagun picks up the glass of water as she listens to her

mother explaining.
 16.

18 INT. BEDROOM - MADHAV'S HOUSE - NIGHT 18

Neelima and Madhav can be seen sitting on the bed talking

with each other shyly.

19 INT. DRAWING ROOM - HOUSE - NIGHT 19

Neelima smiles at Madhav as Shagun smiles to herself and

turns to look at the photo in the frame. Two newly-married
happy faces stare back at her.

FIN.