Bedtime Misadventures

(with Mr. & Mrs. Devgan)

Concept by Tarun Rajput                                                     Written and dramatized By Anant Gaur

Note: This play was originally written as short video sketches in a 3 episodic series, the cocept and idea for which was given by my colleague Taruna and written by myself. later i adapted it into a play for stage purposes.

Scene 1- WAKE ME NOT.

[ A couple (in their 30's) enter their house(bedroom), modestly dressed.]

Ajay: Nahi bhayi, vo mughal-darbar better tha isse anyday.

[ Man (Ajay) swiftly moves to the washroom, while woman(mehar) starts to change her clothes and decorating the room.]

Mehar: (talking to Ajay loudly) Aur usse pehle jo mrignaini gaye the vo, that was your also your choice. Malaayi kofta kam rasgulla zyada tha… itni meethi thi vo dish.

[ Ajay from within the washroom.]

Ajay: Hahah… arre uski to yaad hi mat dilao. Mujhe diabetes khatra lagne lagta hai.

Mehar: Hahah… chashni bhi uske aage pheeki hai.

Ajay: Haahh… seriously.

Mehar: Maan lo ajay, you ruin it every time. Every time you choose a place, we can bad food. Kabhi masala kabhi namak kabhi teekha kabhi super meetha.

Ajay: Haan haan.. Maine to theka liya hua ruin karne ka, par tumhari choice to bahut achhi..

[ Ajay comes out of the washroom and is surprised on seeing the roomall lit up with candles.]

Ajay: Ohh..kay..

[Ajay looks at mehar with a smile.]

Mehar: Happy anniversary sir.

Ajay: Ye jo tum romance vali harkate kar deti ho na kabhi kabhi. Very rarely. Unlike me… jo ki main regular intervals pe aisa karta rehta hoon. Par jo ye kabhi kabhi tum karti ho na… hahah pighal jata hu main.

Mehar: Hahah…

[ Both hug. Lights dims slowly, such that only silhouettes of both the characters are visible. Slowly mehar and ajay moves into the bed.]

Scene 2

[V.O.- zindagi ke safar mein guzar jate hain jo makaam…]

[ Lights fade in. Slow heavy breathing, depecting they have just made out.]

Silence.

Mehar: Badal gaye??

Ajay: Kya??

Mehar: Badal gaye ya ho abhi?

Ajay: Kya matlab?

Mehar: Haven't you noticed... raat mein tum koi aur hi hote ho aur din mein kuchh aur hi ban jate ho. Like a different person altogether.

Ajay: Achha?

Mehar: Hmm.... (Pause).. Kya time hua hai?

Ajay: 3 baj hi gaye bs...

Mehar: Hmm... tabhi nahin badle abhi tak. Time hai abhi to.

Ajay: Hehe.... that goes for you as well.

Mehar: Oh please..

Ajay: What... din mein tum bhi do bachho ki amma ke jaise behave karti ho. Raat ko hi thoda normal hoti ho.

Mehar: Aisa to kuchh nahi hai... i don't think so.

Ajay: Ye to main bhi bol sakta hu na... i don't think so either but maan raha hu, ho sakta hai tumhe lagta ho. Jaanbujhkar to hum karte nhi aisa sab.

Mehar: Hmm... actually. Kitna badal jate hain na time ke sath hum... din bhar ye vo.. bhaga daudi, bank, market, school... it's tiring. You don't even meet yourself daily. Just the outer shell is with you.

Ajay: Hmm...

Mehar: Yesterday i was walking outside a shop and uske window me reflection ko hi nahi pehchan payi. It was me. Aisa laga koi aur ho.

Ajay: Haan moti to ho gayi ho tum..

Mehar: Wai wai wai... shut up. Look who's talking. You don't even fit in our building’s lift. Tumhari wajah se mujhe alag se aana padta hai baad mein.

Ajay: hahahahaah... par thik hi to hai. Agar change nahi aega, tab bhi to problem hogi.. Generation aage nahi badhegi. Pani ublega nahi. Khana pakega nahi. Raat se subha nahi hogi.

Mehar: Hmm... Do you also feel, we should have a baby now?

Ajay: Haan bilkul lagta hai... Apni taraf se to koi kami nahi chhodi hamne hahah.. Try to kar hi rahe hain.

Mehar: Hehe... Kitni baar lagta..

[ Ajay's phone rings. Mehar is interrupted in between. Ajay sits up to take the call.]

Ajay: Haan vipluv... arrey vahin hoga pichhe dekho. Number hai uska?? ruko main whatsapp krta hu...... aya?? Aur saara samaan dhang se check kr lena. Sala chor hai khanna. Checklist hai na tumhare paas. Haan... haan main 8 baje tak aa jaunga. Achha. Chalo thik hai.

[Ajay puts down the phone and keeps sitting. Silence for a few moments.]

Mehar: Badal gaye?

Ajay: Hahaha... idiot. Kuchh Keh rahi thi tum.

Mehar: Kya?

Ajay: Mujhe kaise pata hoga.

Mehar: Bhul gayi.

Ajay: Chalo thik hai.... Pehle jab chhote the to believe nahi hota tha. Itna busy kaise ho sakte hain papa mummy ki dosto ke liye time na ho. Ab samajh ata hai.

Mehar: ptch.. sach me... aur aise mein its just these hours of night jahan aisa lagta hai ki.. hum hum hain.. haan yaad aaya. Main tab ye keh rahi thi ki sometimes i feel ki ye night khatm hi na ho. Raat ki subha aaye hi na.

[Ajay hold mehar and tries to rolls over. But mehar pushes him back.]

Ajay: Change is the law of nature mehar madam... aisa science kehta hai main nahi. Par actually it would be nice for once... subah ho hi na. bas hum ho dono... yun hi pade rahe bistar mein. Nange.

Mehar: Bas... yahi ummeed thi mujhe.

Ajay: What?

Mehar: You men. Pyar ki gardan marod do bas...

Ajay: Kya hai pyar bhyi... definition thodi hai koi.

Mehar: Ab is debate mein ghus gaye to bas ho gayi subha phir.

Ajay: Nhi.... ab agar main galat hun to correct karo bhyi.

Mehar: Itne pyar se subha to meri suggestion nahi lete tum.

Ajay: You women. Har chiz ko ek hi tarazu mein tolo.... abhi raat ko tum bhi to meri 10 saal pehle vali girl friend hoti ho na. aunty ji.

Mehar: Hehehe....

Ajay: Achha... Ab apni baat aayi to haso bete....

Mehar: Heheh... aur kya.

Ajay: Kuchh bhi.... par let's suppose ki raat ki subha ho hi na.

Mehar: Oh.. please itna pyaar bhi nahi kar sakte ab. Hahah... aur duniya ki population kitni badh jaegi.

Ajay: Tch.. oho.. your poor jokes and you. Socho to.... atleast hum hum reh paenge. Koi shosha nhi.. dikhava nahi. Like you said, badlenge nahi.

Mehar: Hmm... ideal world. Life set...

Ajay: Ye raat mein bhi vaise booze ka sa nasha hai... sari sharm khol deti hai.

Mehar: Haan.. who knows better than me. Ye raat aur ye booze dono agar nhi hote to aaj hum dono bhi Kahin aur hote, aur main khush hoti... hahahah.

Ajay: Achha... hhehe. Bete pit jaogi tum. Hhehe.

Mehar: Hahah.. muah. Achha hai ye raat aa gayi. Mujhe lag raha tha main khone lagi hu tumhe.

Ajay: Hmm... mujhe bhi. Shukr hai... kamaskam ek pahar to hai hamare paas apne liye.

Mehar: Hmm...(exhales heavily). Shukr hai. Par phir subha aa jaegi. Aur phir hum koi aur ho jaenge.

Ajay: Subah to aani hi hai... par badalna na badalna to hamare hath mein hai actually. Koshish karke is baar nahi badalte, Phir Raat ki subah nahi hogi.

Mehar: Aur agar ho bhi gayi.... to raat ko to phir se aana hi hai. Hehe...

Ajay: hahahah... hmm. Idhar aao.

[ Ajay takes mehar in her arms, kisses her forehead and both hug and go back to sleep. Alarm sound is heard in some seconds. Black out. Deep sigh of both of them is heard.]

Scene 3

[ Ajay comes into a spot in downstage.]

Ajay: Hey... I am Ajay. Devgan. 

Suna Suna sa Naam lagta hai na? hum bhi Devgan hain, aur mera naam sach mein Ajay Devgan hai. Believe me or not it's a very common  name. 103,974th most common surname in  the world. Aur hong kong me to bhare pde Hain is Naam ke log. Hasi aa rhi hai?? (laughs)  ya nahin bhi aa rahi hogi, but usually sabko aati hai. Aap to hass kar chale jaenge par ye soch lijiye ki maine to is naam ke saath puri life spend ki hai. Main to ye sochta hun ki kya vo circumstances rahe honge jo mere ma papa ko puri duniya mein bas ek ye hi naam mila rakhne Ko... Devgan ke saath Saurabh, Mayank Ye sab naam bhi ho sakte the, ya agar 'A' se hi rakhna tha to bhi, there are like million names like Amit, Anant, Anand, Akshay.... (Thinking out loud) Akshay Kumar Devgan? Nahi Akshay To Nahin but you get my point, right. It's been a tough journey. School college Kaise guzre hain ye main hi Jaanta hun bas. mazaak tha main. Meher ke liye bhi Ajeeb lagta hai, Pati ka naam "Ajay Devgan" aur yeh bechari "Mehar Chaddha" se "Mehar Devgan".   My life was a shit show, jab tak college mein, meri class mein Ek Ladka Nahin Aaya. Uska naam tha Salman Khan. Uska dukh dekh kar Mera dukh kuchh kam lagne laga, Kyunki uska dukh mujhse bhi kuchh zyada that, Chhota sa, Patla sanwla sa tha vo aur Naam Salman Khan. Tab jakar mujhe is baat ki irony dikhne lagi aur ye joke samajh aaya.

Uske baad life thodi Sulajh gai, Meher se meri shaadi ho gai. College mein hi mili thi ye. Ek se ham dono, ye bhi muhfatt aur main bhi bada kamina tha college mein... Arre Bada chidhati thi mujhe ye... Like... Tum platform par sote ho, tum gair ho, tum Golmal karte ho, etc etc... To ek din hamare college me fest tha, to dost Mujhe "Duniya Ki Tha Tha Tha" Par dance karane lage, assi vi saade moves dikha ditte.. impress ho gayi kudi. Fest tha hi to Coke mein thodi thodi milakar laga li thi sabne. Later walk karte karte hum dono thoda alag nikal gaye. Usi salman ki gaadi thi, thoda make out kiya. Bas fir serious ho gayi ladki.. then relation mein rahe college mein par Gharwale... they were against it. But Ye Bhi idiot, Main Bhi mental. Bhaag Gaye. shaadi karni padi, itni kam Umr mein. bevakuf the... Nahi... bacche the hum. Socha hi nahin. 10 Saal Ho Gaye... Ghar Walon Se Alag Hue, 10 Saal Ho Gaye. Beech beeach mein koshish ki Kayi baar jaane ki.. milne ki.. papa mante hi nahin, Mummy bhi nahin Maanti. But Priyanka yahin aa Jaati Hai, Saal do Saal Mein. Rakhi Bandhane yahin aa Jaati Hai. Uski flight book kar deta hun, for idhar hi ek do din ruk jati Hai. Kabhi Kabhi Sochta Hun Ki... Itni Badi kya galti kar di.. apni happiness choose kar ke?? Pyar Karna Galti Ho Gaya.. Is Pyar ne, shaadi ne puri family chheen li Meri. Scheme banata rehta hun Ki Kya Tarika hai ki gharwale maan Jaaye. Shayad bacche Ho Jaaye to Uske Moh Mein hi maan jaen. Par ye business Jamane mein itne Saal beet gaye ki Family bhi nahin banaa Paye hum. kahan laata bacche ko... Kiraye ke Chhote se Kamre Mein... Hospital ka Bil bharne tak ki aukat Nahin thi meri. Bahut paise lagte hai sir bachcha paida hota hai jab. I am talking like a naive.. gareebi ke bhi to bachche hote hain, par...

Ye sardar log badhiya hote hain apne... Khush Rahana Jante Hain, Jeena Jante Hain. Maan Gaye iske Ghar wale to... Saal do Sal Mein hi maan gaye the. Ek Hamare Wale Hain Nikal Ke fek Diya Mujhe life se.

But honestly... Apart from this little thing, I don't have any other trouble with life, Touchwood. Meri married life bahut achhi hai, Khush rehta hun.. yahan is life ki Aadat ho gai hai mujhe. Is pagal aurat ki chn kar maine best Faisla Liya Hai Life ka. koi regret nahin Hai. You know why...

Okay... Mehar ki sabse acchi baat Pata hai kya hai ?? college se lekar ajtak, use Kabhi fark nahin pda ki mera naam Ajay Devgan Hai. uske liye main sirf ajay hu. Bas Ajay.

Fade Out

Scene 4 - LIGHT OF THE HORIZON

[ V.O.- aane vala pal.. jane vala hai... ]

[ 4 months later. Both Ajay and Mehar are on the bed. Mehar is seen opening divorve Matrimonial website on her laptop. She enters her name etc and fills up divorced in the marital status column, while showing it to ajay.]

Mehar: Kitne aaye?

Ajay: 4

Mehar: Hahah... loser 32

Ajay: What... dikhao. exactly your waist size. In logo ke paas kaam nahi hai kya?

Mehar: Hahah... kaha tha maine, naari aur tarkari ka bhaav hamesha badhta hai.

Ajay: Oh please... ek minute ye kya hai. Ye to college ki photo hai...

Mehar: To...

Ajay: Baat ye hui thi ki ab kya chances hai hamare... kitne divorcee milenge. College ki photo ka kya matlab hai.

Mehar: To kya ho gya fir.. i still look kinda same. Tum mote huye ho mr. jumbo-jet.

Ajay: wah wah.... main mota ho gya hu. Aur tum abhi bhi 20 saal ki lagti ho. Achha??

Mehar: Aur kya

Ajay: Itna pitogi na beta... 33 saal ki ghodi ho chuki ho. Ye baat bahut sahi hai, apna motapa kisi ko nahi dikhta, dusro ka jeena haram kar do. Ye nahi mana jaega. Disqualify.

Mehar: Achha ji aise kaise disqualify. Nahi nahi aisa kuchh nahi hai, i win. I clearly have more options than you if we divorce.

Ajay: Haan to.. vo to main maan hi raha hu. Ye divorced Aadmi sale hote hi velle aur tharki hain. Obviously you would....

Mehar(interrupting): Uske liye divorced hone ki zarurat nahi hai... Vo tum log paidaishi hote ho.

Ajay: Umm aa.. ya jo bhi. But ye nahi mana jaega. You cheated so i win.

Mehar: What win... ye koi baat nahi hoti.

Ajay: Abe hupp... look at this. She asked me out on a date. tumhare paas kitne dates hai. Huh..

Mehar: Just a sec. why are you chatting with her. You.... we decided ki just dekhenge kitne interested log milte hain. How the hell are you..

Ajay:Usne hi kia message...

Mehar: tumne approve kiya hoga na pehle tabhi to. Dhokebaaz. Idhar do mujhe chat, kya baat kar rahe ho tum log..

Ajay: aaram se.. bachhe so rahe hai. Dheere bolo.

Mehar: Achha... yahan tum gulchharre uda rae ho aur main dheere bolu. Aurat ki awaaz dabate ho.. you MCP's

Ajay: Kya gulchh... (in a lower voice) kya gulcharrey bhyi.. she only messaged yar. I just replied. HI hello hi hui hai bas.. Padh lo khud.

Mehar: Vo to padhungi hi... chhodungi thode hi. (imitating)HI hello hui hai. bas HI hello mein date pe bula lia.. shabash.

Ajay: Arrey bhayi.. ab meri kya galti.... bhai ke jalwe hain aaj bhi.

Mehar: Ajay... i am telling you don't do stupid jokes with me abhi.

Ajay: Araam se.. bachhe jaag jayenge. I was just kidding bhyi.

Mehar: To ab tum date pe jaoge iske sath... jao

Ajay: Arrey nahi.. kya baat kar rahi ho. Pagal vagal ho kya.

Mehar: Nahi nahi jao... main nahi rokungi. Jahan jana hai jao. But she is not worth it, sundar nahi hai utni.

Ajay: Mujhpe shak kar rahi ho??

Mehar: Shak kya.. sab jag zahir hai. Saamne hai.. i can see it. Par Baby ki custody mere paas hi hogi. Bata rahi hu.

Ajay: Kya bakwas hai... Ye kamaal hai bhayi.. apni baari aai to sadne lag jao. Jab tum bol rahi thi 32 32 tab kuchh nahi.

Mehar: I was not talking to them behind your back...alright.

Ajay: Ek to aaram se bolo.. chillao mat. Bache so rahe hain. Aur behind your back kya... ye rahi chat padh lo khud. Aisa vaisa kuchh hota to main batata hi kyun tumhe.

Mehar: Matlab aisa vaisa hota hai to chhupa lete ho… kitni chat’ein delete ki hain?

Ajay: I meant... don't twist my words. You know what i mean.

Mehar: Aaram se baat karo cheikho mat. Bache so rahe hain.

Ajay: Just shut up.

[ Both face against each other and go to sleep.]

Mehar: Wai wai.. raat na ho subah na ho baate kar lo badi badi.... bloody dhokebaaz.

Ajay: (turns around) what dhokebaaz.. hain?? What have i done. Tum to aise bol rahi ho jaise maine dusri shadi kr li ho.

Mehar: To vo bhi iraada hai.

Ajay: Kyun lad rahi ho bhayi... ye kaisi baat hai, it was a game. Padh li na chat, there's nothing.

Mehar: I know and nahi padhi hai maine abhi chat.

Ajay: To padh... umph! (goes closer to mehar) Kya hai... tumhe lagta hai mera kuchh ho sakta hai. Just Look at me. I look like a 35 year old fat man.

Mehar: You are a 35 year old fat man.

Ajay: Wahi to... uncle lagta hu main. Mota gainda... lift me bhi akele aata hu. Mera kuchh nahi ho sakta.

Mehar: (turns around) Aisa kuchh nahi hai... kam nhi ho tum. mujhe to fasaa hi liya na tumne.

Ajay: Aur tumhare siva aur koi nahi hai mera. tab ki baat aur thi i was a young boy then. Ab dekho, whale machhli....

Mehar: Chup raho.... itna bhi nahi hai kuchh. aur ye na sympathy gain karke baat mat badlo tum…. Idhar aao.

[Both hug each other while lying down.]

Mehar: Mote hone se kya hota hai... you are cute.

Ajay: Hmm... main to pehle hi keh ra tha, jalwe hain bhai ke aj bhi...

Mehar: Achha... sar pe mat chadho sir ji. Chat padhni hai abhi mujhe.

Ajay: Hahah... hmm. But divorce ka decide hua to baby to mere paas.. mmm..

Fade Out

Scene 5

[ Mehar comes into a spot in down stage.]

Mehar: Satsriakal ji. Mujhe to aap Jaan hi gye honge. Meher Devgan. Rabb rakhi hu main. Bahut lucky, sach mein! Bhyi Meher ka matlab hi hunda hai "blessing". Rabb di Meher hai mujhpar. Itne channge, helpful, understanding gharwale mile mujhe, jinse pyar Kiya unse hi shadi Ho gayi. Vo bhi Bhaag ke.... Yes we eloped, for real. How many people can say that? Sapna hota hai kitno ka to. Seems so fascinating na!! Previous sab itna simple, happy, butterflies hai nahi jitna surface par dikhta hai. Saath hone ki keemat bhi chukai hai humne.  On another thought, actually main utni lucky nahi hu. (Pause)

Ma nahi ban skti. (Pause) 

Yes I cannot conceive. That's one another thing I am not able to make. Main Aisa nahin keh rahi ki aurat ka yahi kaam hai duniya mein.. main bas keh rhi hu ki... ye bhi to hai hi. Meri apni Chahat hai.. ichchha hai. Kitni Ajeeb baat hai na ki Puri duniya mein 12 percent aurto me se ek main bhi thi, jo bachhe nhi paida kar sakti. What do you call it???  "Baanjh"

Kabhi lagta hai ki Ajay ne galti kar di shayad mera Saath chun kar. Sach.... Par nahi, koi galti nahi ki. Itne shararti hai na ye Ajay. Naye naye games banate rehte hain. Like... Suppose hamare bachche honge to Kaisa Hoga, dusre room me so rhe hote to hum kaisa behave krte, ya suppose ho jaye to kya Hoga etc etc.. mera mann lagane ke liye kuchh na kuchh krte rehte Hain. Par Mann nhi lgta, dil dukhta rehta hai. Ma hona kaisa hota hai? Kaisa lagta hoga. Meri mummy to bada torture krti thi sach btau to.. ye nahi, vo nhi, yahan nhi jao, aide naal gal mat kro. 10 hazaar nuskhe de chuki hain, pati ko ye khilao, aisa Karo vaisa Karo. Ab unhe kaun smjhae ki gadbad inme nahi, mujhme hi hai. Inko bhi yeh lagta hai ki jaise inki koi galti hai.. par galti kisi ki bhi nahi hai. Bas ek problem hai. Aur problem main hu kya?? It seems Adhuri hu main. It's plain biology, nahi ho skta to nahi ho skta. It's easier said than done, ye feeling kya hai sirf main hi janti hu. Bahar nikalti hu to it feels as if sab mujhe hi ghoor rhe hain. Ajay ji chuppi mujhse questions krti rehti hai. This... This here is like a handicap I have, ki body ka ek part hai hi nhi ya bekar hai. 

Haan I agree, aur bht se tareeke hain ma hone ke.. but Darr sa lgta hai. Kya usko main poori tarah meri hi santan Maan paungi, Mera khoon, Mera prodigy, mere shareer ka hissa. Mere Dil ka ek tukda. Aur Ajay.... Main aur Ajay usko apni aulad Maan paenge. Zyada Darr to is baat ka hai ki kahin hum uske saath foster parents vala behaviour to nhi karenge.. what do you call it.. sautela vyavhaar. Nahi Nahi... Kitni fizul baat hai.. Aisa pehli Baar to Ho nhi rha. Par nahi.. hua hai. Mere saath to Aisa pehli hi Baar hua hai. Hamare Sath pehli Baar hua hai. Chalo chhaddo.. aapko bhi main kin baato me lga rhi hu. It's all a perspective. Dekhne vaale ke nazariye par hai ji.  Ab ghar mein adrak nahi hai to kya chai hi nahi piyenge. 

[ Fade out.]

Scene 6- LET IT SHINE

[ V.O.- jab koi baat bigad jaye.. jab koi mushkil padd jae..]

[ Mehar with a pregnant belly is talking into the camera showing the new baby cradle. Later it is revealed she is video calling to her brother Jagmeet. while ajay is polishing his shoes, sitting on the bed.]

Mehar (in camera): Aur ye hai chhotu sa bed for my chhotu sa little baby, mumma ke bed ke ekdum paas, and guess what, we are also converting the other room into a play-room. Yea..

Jug: Arrey to main aaunga to kahan sounga??

Mehar(in camera): Tu soega bahar hall mein… apni pehle chinta ho jati hai tujhe.

Jug: Hahah… i’m kidding veera.

Mehar: Hahah… i know veere.

Jug: Baby ko HI to bol do yaar mera

[ Mehar tilts the tab towards her baby bump.]

Mehar: Baby say HI to mamu.. (imitates)HI jagmeet mamu.

Jug: HI baby. Chalo finally… ye bahut badhia kiya. Main bata raha hoon, ye best decision liya hai ap dono ne. To kab aa raha new baby.

Mehar: Kal ki date di hai, subha jayenge 10 baje tak.

Jug: Achha achha…. Ab to theek ho na ap. khush ho??

Mehar: Hmm… bahut.

Jug: Waah ji waah.. Ye hui na baat rabb sab changa karega veera. ap bharosa rakho.

Mehar: Hmm.. hoga hi. Rabb di mehar hai.

Kug: hahaha.. Abe lame ho yar ap bahut. Jiju kahan hain?

Mehar: Yahi bethe hain, joote polish kar rahe hain.

[ Mehar turns the tab revealing ajay in the camera.]

Jug: Bauji satsriakal…

Ajay: Satsriakal… haan bhayi kahan ghumayi chal rahi hai?

Jug: Kahin nahi ji.. Houston aya hua tha zara kaam se.

Ajay: Achha. Aur shaadi byah ka kuchh sochna hai tune ya nahi. Koi gori vori dhund le vahan achhi si.

Jug: Hahah… are nahi jiju abhi kahan, bahut kaam hai abhi to idhar. Chaliye main nikla ra hu, client wait kar raha hai. Congratulations ap dono ko. And all the best, kal phone karta hu.

Ajay: Thank you bhai thank you..(Mehar: thank you) Chal fir goodnight.

Jug: Haanji.

Mehar: Chal bye..

[ Mehar keeps the phone down and starts setting up the cradle. Ajay continues polishing.]

Ajay: Tumne notice kia hai ye jitne bhi sewer(manhole)cover hote hain unke uppar ye phone companies ke naam likhe hote hain.

Mehar: Hmm?

Ajay: Haan... airtel idea vagehra.

Mehar: Achha, nhi maine to nahi dekha.

Ajay: Dekhna... lagbhag sabhi pe hota hai.

Mehar: Aisa kyun?

Ajay: Contract hoga koi... promotion vagaihra ke liye.

Mehar: Haan ho sakta hai.

Ajay: also tower bhi bahut sahi aate hain uske uppar khade ho kar. I have observed this.. i mean

Mehar: Hahah.... Matlab kuchh bhi... uske upar naam likha hai to vahan signal zyada aa rahe hain. Hahah... Ajay it's the most stupid thing I have ever heard. O god... hahah.

Ajay: Arey.. how can you say.... i have noticed it yar.

[ Mehar removes the fake belly and gets into bed.]

Mehar: Heheh.. ya ya okay.

Ajay: Mat maano.

Mehar: To ho gayi tayyari... ready for tomorrow.

Ajay: Not actually... palpitation si ho rahi hai.

Mehar: Hmm.. mujhe bhi.

Ajay: Strange na... us din hum bol rae the ki raat ki subha na ho aur...

Mehar(continuing): Aur aaj lag ra hai ki ye raat kab dhalegi.

[ Ajay puts down the shoes and brush and gets into bed.]

Ajay: Mhmhhh.. yea exactly.

Mehar: Achha suno...

Ajay: Haan saare documents rakh liye hain. Timings check kr li hain.

Mehar: Abe sun to lo...

Ajay: Achha.. vo meri galti nhi thi ud kar niche chali gayi thi meri shirt.

Mehar: Abe over-smart will you listen first. Kuchh bhi bol rahe ho... maine wo baat hi nhi ki.

Ajay: Achha achha...

Mehar: I was just asking... why girl?

Ajay: Kyun koi problem hai to..

Mehar: Nhi.. problem nhi, i am just asking.

Ajay: Nothing as such. Yun hi bas.

Mehar: Yun hi kya hota hai. Kuch to wajah hogi hi.

Ajay: Darr hai shayad. Main to kabhi achha beta ban nahi paya... kitni baar papa ne kaha.. isse achha to beti hoti meri. Kayi baar to bina kisi wajah ya behes bazi ke bhi keh dete the. I was never there for them, kabhi bhi. Phir marzi ke khilaf shadi kar li. Betiyan achhi hoti hain.

Mehar: Hmm..

Ajay: Sometimes i feel yahi wajah hai hamare sath ye hua. Dil dukhaya unka so ab bhugat rha hu.

Mehar: Aisa kuchh nahi hai.. chup.

Ajay: hmm... samajh nahi aa raha. Hum is layak hain bhi?

Mehar: Kis layak?

Ajay: To have our own kid... are we worthy enough to be parents.

Mehar: Kya bol rahe ho ajay... please.

Silence

Ajay: Hmm... I'm sorry. I just meant are we ready for it?

Silence

Ajay: Khair you are never ready for such things. You have to learn with time.. i mean... galtiyan to hoti hi hain. But hum sath me hain to...

Mehar: Goodnight ajay.

Ajay: Hunhh.. ok goodnight. Subha jaldi ready ho jana please... time se pahunchna hai. Love you.

[ Both sleep facing opposite each other.]

Mehar: Hmm..

Ajay: Hmm..

Fade out

Scene 7

[ Morning. Ajay is sitting on the bed putting on his shoes.]

Ajay(aloud): Yar itni der mein puri baarat teyyar ho jati hai. Itna kya samay le rahi ho.... (mehar enters). Wapas ghar hi aana hai use lekar.

Mehar: Haan na, 5 minute ruk jao bs...

Ajay: 1 ghante se 5 minute nhi hue tumhare yar..

[Phone rings.]

Ajay: Haan vipluv.../ store band ho gya matlab??/ Seize ho gaya hai. kya bol raha hai.(Mehar: kya hua??)/ Khanna ko phone kar. Haan phone de use.... /Kya hua kya? Seize kyu kar lia?/ Aur apni payment?.... /arrey dimag khrab ho gya hai kya iska, 6 mahine ka subscription hai iska. Main mandi se credit pe samaan utha chuka hu yar...../ Time kitna time?? 1 mahina 2 mahina. /Arrey mujhe apne palle se paise dene padenge yar. 6 mahine ki payment hai./ Haan main ata hu khud. (looks at mehar) thodi der tak ata hu.

Mehar: Kya ho gaya?

Ajay: Bank ne Super-bazaar seize kar liya. Khanne ne estate rent nahi bhara saal bhar se.

Mehar: kyu kisliye?

Ajay: Kya pata kyu... vipluv keh raha tha sale hi nahi hai, last month ka sara stock bhi vaisa ka vaisa rakha hai store par.

Mehar: Ab?

Ajay: Apni saving se payment karni padegi market me, sare paise khatam ho jaenge. iska bhi pata nahi kab tak payment kare.. karega kahan se, honge tab to karega.

Mehar: Main Bhai ko kahu kuchh help ke liye?

Ajay: Nahi. Ek do mahine to nikaal hi lenge, main dekhta hu aur koi store le le stock agar.

Mehar: To ab?

Ajay: Ab. (shrugs his shoulders in not knowing)

Mehar: Abhi use ghar lana thik hoga?

[ Ajay looks at her in dismay, but says nothing. Ajay looks outside the window while mehar again puts back her fake belly behind him, ajay looks back to see her and again turns back in sadness on his face. Mehar walks up and sits besides him.]

Mehar: Oye mister... kya hai?? 9 mahine lagte hain usually. Abhi use aane mein time hai? Abhi subha nahi hui.

[ Both smile and look out through the window.]

Fade out

Anant