ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 11

Subah ke 8:00 baje.

Camp ke log breakfast ke baad nearby town gaye hain shopping ke liye.

Dhoop nayi nayi jaagi hai, halki halki golden. Galiyaan thodi gili hain jaise kisi ne paani chhidka ho.

Bazaar thoda sleepy hai — sab thele lag rahe hain, dukaan wale shutter upar kar rahe hain, hawkers tea le rahe hain aur radio se old songs nikal rahe hain.

Ammu ek chhoti si theli waali bangle shop par rukti hai — shop pe ek aunty chai pee rahi hoti hain aur bolti hain:

“Bacchi, subah-subah choodiyan pehnogi?”

Ammu smile karke kuch nahi kehti. Bas silver aur turquoise bangles try karne lagti hai.Tabhi Arjun aata hai — ek kulhad wali chai leke — quietly uske pass khada ho jaata hai.

Arjun (casual):

“Tu chahe toh yeh le sakti hai…”

(wo ek dusra set uthata hai — golden rim wale.)

Ammu:

“Tere pas itni chudiyon ki knowledge kaise hai?”

Arjun:

“Mujhe awaazon se pyar hai. Chudiya ho ya tera hansna… dono bajti hain.”

Ammu aankhon se muskurati hai. Arjun dukaan wali ko paise deke bangle set uske haath me de deta hai.

Ammu ke fingers Arjun ke finger ko chhoo jaate hain. Arjun aankhen nahi hataata.

Thoda aage chalke Shanu ek woollen cap aur stole wale stall pe rukti hai.Uske haath ek charcoal grey cap pe jaate hain.Zaheer us moment pe pass se nikal raha hota hai, ruk jaata hai.

Zaheer:

“Yeh color tere liye nahi hai… red le.”

Shanu:

“Mujhe kis color me dekhne ki aadat pad gayi hai tujhe?”

Zaheer (slightly smirking):

“Red tujhe khud bhi pasand hai, na? Mujhse confirm kar rahi hai bas.”

Shanu ek red cap le leti hai, silently — aur pehn ke mirror me dekh kar smile karti hai.

Ammu ek chaat ki theli ke pass rukti hai — ek stall pe moongfali le rahi hoti hai.Tabhi teen ladke — kuch senior-type camp se unrelated local boys — uske paas baar baar se walk karte hain.Ek usse kohni se lightly chhoota hai.Pehli baar Ammu side ho jaati hai. Dusri baar wo clearly unko ghoorti hai.

Teesri baar…

Peeche se ek ladka kehta hai:

“Yeh wali to subah-subah fresh lag rahi hai…”

Arjun ne sab sun liya hota hai.

Wo kulhad ko corner me rakhta hai aur seedha us ladke ke paas jaake collar pakadta hai.

Arjun (full calm anger):

“Repeat kar… kya bola?”

Ladka:

“Abey tu kaun hai be?”

Arjun:

“Jise sun ke tera muh todne ka mann kar raha hai.”

Wo us ladke ko dhakka deta hai, dusra ladka Arjun ko push karta hai  fight badhne lagti hai.Zaheer tabhi peechhe se daudta hai.Usne dekha hota hai ke Arjun kis baat pe bhida hai  aur seedha un ladko ke beech ghus jaata hai.

Zaheer:

“Enough! Hatt ja Arjun…”

(Phir wo un ladko se directly kehta hai)

“Ek aur baar is ladki ke paas dikhe… daant bhi tod dunga aur shakal bhi.”

Bheed badh jaati hai — nearby shopkeepers bhi aate hain.

Anwar madam door se daudti hai:

“Kya ho raha hai yahaan?!”

Ladke bhaag jaate hain. Arjun ki shirt thodi phatti hoti hai, lips slightly bleeding.

Ek shop ke cone ke pass se Taz sab dekh raha hota hai, ek narrowed gaze aur halki si cunning smile ke sath.

Taz (murmuring):

“Yeh Arjun apni aukat dikhane laga hai…”

Wo peeche hat jaata hai, lekin uski aankhen ab Arjun pe tiki hoti hain… kuch plan jaisa.

Bazaar wale scene ke baad ka shaam.Camp ka mood normal ho gaya hai, dinner ki taiyari ho rahi hai.

Ek kone mein Zaheer aur Arjun khade hain  dono ke haath mein chai ke paper cups.

Zaheer serious expression bana ke Arjun ki taraf mudta hai.

Zaheer (thoda awkward, khassi maar ke):

"Tu na… thank you."

Arjun (ek sip leke):

"Matlab itni saari ladkiyaan chhod ke tu mujhe impress kar raha hai?"

Zaheer (rolling eyes):

"Main serious hoon. Aaj tu jis tarah… Ammu ke saath khada tha, woh dekh ke… acha laga."

Arjun (mock surprise):

"Abe ooo… kya bol raha hai! Zaheer Qureshi ko ‘acha’ laga main?! Aasmaan se utre kya?"

Zaheer sarcastically smile deta hai, fir thoda thoda emotionally bolta hai:

Zaheer:

"Ammu meri behen hai. Uski protection… mera farz hai.

Par aaj tu jaise uske saamne khada raha… woh ek bhai hi karta hai."

Arjun (suddenly drama mein):

"Bas! Bhai keh diya? Tujhe kya laga main Rakhi bandhwa loon ab?"

Zaheer (deadpan):

"Bhai bol diya bas… baaki tu emotionally ho gaya hai khud se."

Thoda peeche — ek tent ke pass Ammu khadi hoti hai.Usne sab sun liya hota hai.Jab Zaheer usse Arjun ki behen kehta hai — Ammu ke haath se uska toothbrush gir jaata hai (wo bas dental kit lene aayi thi).

Ammu (under breath):

"Bhai?! Isne mujhe Arjun ki behen bol diya?! Main toh kal hi confess karne wali thi… ki bhai toh sirf Rakhi wale hote hain…"

Arjun (loudly, Ammu ko dekh ke):

"Ammu sun! Zaheer keh raha hai tu meri behen jaisi hai… chalo agli baar bhaiya bol dena mujhe!"

Ammu (fake smile):

"Sure… Arjun bhaiya…"

(phir aankhon se maarne wali nazar deti hai.)

Zaheer jaise hi cup fake ke jaata hai — cup ulta Arjun ke shoe pe girta hai.Arjun chillata hai:

Arjun:

"Abey emotional thanks ke naam pe chai bhi pila di joota dhoke!"

Ammu peeche se laugh chhupate hue chali jaati hai Aur camera zoom karta hai Arjun ke “bhaiya bana diya yaar!” wale expression pe.

Arjun bag pack kar raha hota hai. Tabhi Ammu aati hai  fresh look, chilled mood mein.

Ammu (cute innocent tone mein):

"Arjun bhaiya, mere liye bottle khol doge please? Tight hai."

Arjun (nervously idhar-udhar dekhte hue):

"Bhaiya?! Tu mujhe bhaiya bol rahi hai?"

Ammu (masoom si shakal banake):

"Ha toh… Zaheer bhai toh keh rahe the tum meri bhai jaison ho!"

Arjun (whispering):

"Abe woh seriously nahi bola tha! Tujhe lagta hai main woh ‘bhaiya’ waala hoon kya?!"

Ammu (big smile ke sath):

"Arey nahi bhaiya, tum toh bade cute bhaiya ho!"

Sab jungle walk se pehle fruit le rahe hote hain. Ammu jaake banana uthati hai.

Ammu (Arjun ko dekhte hue):

"Arjun bhaiya, yeh banana peel kar doge? Mujhse hota nahi."

Arjun (almost exploding):

"Tu mujhe bhaiya bol bol ke meri zindagi ke sapne crush kar rahi hai yaar!"

Ammu:

"Arrey bhaiya, sapne to behne bhi dekh sakti hain na…"

Arjun (muttering):

"Main khud banana peel ban gaya hoon."

Ammu jaate jaate Arjun ke kandhe pe haath rakhti hai:

Ammu (sweetly):

"Waise bhaiya, tumhe gussa bohot cute lagta hai."

Arjun (dead inside):

"Yeh ladki mujhe rakhi pe rakhegi lagta hai…"

Arjun aankh band karke chaand ki taraf dekhte hue kehta hai:

"Ae universe… mujhe bhai se backbench lover bana de, please!"

[b]Time: Jungle walk ke baad ka shaam.[/b]

Sab thake hue hain, lake ke kinare group baitha hai — kuch log guitar bajaa rahe hain, kuch log pani mein pair daal ke relax kar rahe hain.

Scene Starts – Arjun Ka Dimag On Fire

Arjun ek stone pe baitha hota hai, haath mein ek leaf ghumata hua.

Uske saamne Ammu dusri girls ke saath baithi hoti hai, hansi-mazak mein busy. Kabhi kabhi uski nazar Arjun pe chali jaati hai — par wo bhaiya wali harkat bhoolti nahi.

Arjun (mind voice):

“Bhaiya bol bol ke issne mujhe brozone me jodh diya hai…

Ab time hai… game ulta karne ka.”

Next day breakfast line mein:

Arjun (sweet smile ke saath):

"Good morning Miss Amreen Qureshi. Aaj aapka fruit cutting plan kya hai?"

Ammu (surprised):

"Abey tu bhaiya nahi raha?"

Arjun (poker face):

"Bhaiya? I’m sorry, I’m a grown man now. Sirf Arjun for you."

Ammu (confused laugh):

"Kya chal raha hai iske dimaag mein?"

Later, tent ke bahar sab log baith ke sketching kar rahe hote hain.

Arjun Ammu ke pass aata hai – casual tone mein:

"Waise Ammu, tu jab baal khol ke lake ke pass baithti hai na… thoda old movie heroine lagti hai."

Ammu:

"Kya? Tu theek hai?"

Arjun:

"Nahi, bas bol raha hoon… bhaiya ko feelings nahi aati na, toh socha friend se try kar loon."

Ammu (awkward smile):

"Hatt… pagal hai kya…"

Raat ke campfire mein:

Sab ek dusre ki tareef kar rahe hote hain.Arjun mic leke bolta hai:

Arjun:

"Main yaha aaya to tha moz maza masti karne lekin shayd... Shayd koi hai jisne mere masti wale dil mein jagah bana li hai... Shayd koi hai jisne mere bache dil ko fansa liya hai... Shayd shayd....

Sab:

"Oooohhhh!"

Ammu aankhon se ghoorti hai. Arjun fake innocent smile deta hai.

Zaheer or shanu is waqt yaha nahi hote hain...

Campfire ke baad, sab tents me jaa rahe hote hain.

Ammu Arjun ke pass aake kehti hai:

Ammu (narrowed eyes):

"Tu kya kar raha hai haan?"

Arjun (leaning slightly, soft tone):

"Jo tu samajh rahi hai… shayad wahi."

Ammu (nervously):

"Matlab…?"

Arjun (wink karta hai):

"Bas iss baar bhaiya nahi banna… boyfriend sounds better."

Ammu speechless ho jaati hai — thoda shock, thoda blush.

Aur Arjun apna tent ki taraf chal padta hai… full hero exit style.

Campfire bujh chuka hai.

Bachche apne-apne tents mein jaa rahe hain. Kuch log photo le rahe hain, kuch log logs ke upar baith ke guftagu mein busy hain.

Camp thoda thak gaya hai… lekin raat mein ek alag hi glow hai.

ANWAR MA’AM mic le kar saamne aati hain. Sab students gradually unki taraf dekhne lagte hain.

ANWAR MA’AM (softly, with smile)

Toh bachcho…

Yeh raat humare camp ki aakhiri raat hai.

Kal subah breakfast ke baad hum sab apne ghar ke liye nikal padenge.

(Kahi se halki awaaz aati hai: “Awwwhh!”)

ANWAR MA’AM (smiling)

Mujhe pata hai aap sab is teen din ko yaad rakhoge

Apne group, apne tent wale jokes, DJ ki light fail hone wali raat, aur kuch unsuni baatein…

Lekin sabse zyada yaad rakhna

Ye waqt wapas nahi aayega.

Sab ke chehre pe ek alag si shanti hai.

Camp khaali hone ke kareeb hai, par dil bhar gaya hai.

Thoda door, camp se alag, ek nadi ki dhun halki halki sunai deti hai.

Chand ka reflection paani pe hilta hai.Shanu aur Zaheer dono side by side baith ke nadi ke paani ko dekh rahe hain. Beech mein ek chhoti si doori hai, lekin baat ruki nahi hai.

SHANU (halki awaaz mein)

Lagta hai kal subah ke baad sab normal ho jaayega.

Classroom, assignments, mummy ke taunts... sab wapas.

ZAHEER

Haan…

Lagta hai jaise yeh sab koi dusra waqt tha.

Ek aisa waqt… jahan sab kuch slow tha… aur sahi tha.

SHANU

Jaise har cheez ka matlab tha.

Chahe subah ki chai ho, ya raat ki wo... silence.

(Chhoti si khamoshi. Nadi ki dhun fill in karti hai.)

SHANU mitti mein halki rekha kheechti hai ungli se.

ZAHEER usi ko dekhta hai — uska profile, baalon ka thoda sa hila hua texture, aankhon mein thoda paani jhalakta hua reflection.

Aur tabhi...

Uske dimaag mein flash hota hai [b]pehle din ka wo scene Shanu, nadi mein jaake paani se khel rahi thi, uske wo black bra me kaid boobs jinse pani tapak raha tha... uski wo button size navel... uski pani se chamakti thighs... uski lambi gardan... uski wo cleavage... bheeg uske baal chipak gaye the, aur uske lips pe ek uncontrolled hasi thi — ek aazad insaan jaise.[/b]

Zaheer uss waqt sirf hansa tha, par aaj wo moment uske andar kuch jaga deta hai.

Kuch... jo ek second ke liye uske haath, uski chest, uski aankhon tak ek tezz current ban ke fail jaata hai.

ZAHEER aankhon se uss scene ko dhoondne lagta hai... lekin Shanu ke real aaj wale chehre ko dekhte hi wo apne aap ko rok leta hai

ZAHEER (light cough, tone neutral)

Tu kal... kya sab wapas handle kar legi? I mean... ghar, log, routine?

SHANU (soft laugh)

Handle toh karna hi padega.

Par... kuch yaadein carry-on mein le jaungi.

ZAHEER (looking straight at the river)
Carry-on ke kisi kone mein mujhe bhi rakh lena.

SHANU uski taraf dekhti hai — slowly.

Zaheer uss nazar se bach jaata hai — aankhen nadi pe tikaye rakhta hai.

SHANU (smiling faintly)
Tu already hai.
Mujhe batane ki zarurat nahi.

Zaheer ek second usse dekhna chahta hai… par wo bas muskurata hai — zyada nahi, kam bhi nahi.

Peeche kahin se camp ke lights dhundhla rahe hote hain.
Dono wapas nadi ko dekhte hain.


Chand nadi mein ab pura utar chuka hai.Do log, do chehre, do stories.
Ek ne kuch mehsoos kiya…
Ek ne woh mehsoos chhupa liya.
Aur dono... kuch kehke bhi…

kuch keh nahi paaye.

Camp ka aakhiri night. Lights halki ho chuki hain.
Neeche se kisi tent se guitar ki halki awaaz aa rahi hai. Door kahin logs still chatting softly.
Arjun aur Ammu quietly rooftop ke kone pe khade hote hain — ek chhoti si jagah jahan koi nahi aata.
Ammu chhup chhup ke aayi hai — uske chehre par thodi si nervousness hai, par aankhon mein poora bharosa.
Arjun uska intezaar kar raha tha — aankhon mein calm, lekin dil mein halki si bechaini.

ARJUN (softly)
Ye last night hai...
Kal se phir wohi din, wohi log, wohi fake routine.

AMMU (nodding)
Yahi jagah... yeh hawa...

Aise lagta hai jaise sab kuch thoda zyada apna ho gaya tha.

(Pause.)

ARJUN
Mujhe sirf yeh chhat yaad nahi rahegi...
Tu yaad rahegi — iss form mein...
Jaisi tu ab hai.

AMMU (quietly)
Promise kar...
Ki jab bhi bhoolne lagega...
Toh yaad karne ke liye mujhe call karega. Kisi bhi waqt.

ARJUN
Call nahi...
Main aa jaunga.
Chahe chhat ho... ya college ka back gate...
Chhup ke hi sahi... milte rahenge.
AMMU kuch nahi kehti... uski aankhon mein paani ki ek patli layer jam jaati hai. Arjun uske aur kareeb ho jaata hai.

(Pause… aankhon ka contact intense ho jaata hai.)

ARJUN (whispers)
Abhi kuch bolna zaroori nahi hai...

Ammu aankhon se haan karti hai — poora moment sirf feel mein chal raha hai. Arjun dheere se uska face apni taraf ghumata hai, uske baal ek taraf ho jaate hain.Ek lamha... ek lamha ke liye dono ki saanse ek ho jaati hain.
Aur woh kiss kar leta hai — slow, intense, ekdum aankhon band kar dene wali feeling.
Ammu ke haath Arjun ke chest pe tik jaate hain... na rokte hue, na khinchte hue.Arjun us kiss ke dauraan, apna haath uski kamar par rakh deta hai — firm, warm.
Phir dheere se us haath ko upar le jaane lagta hai — back ki taraf, emotional flow mein…
Ammu ki saans halki si tez ho jaati hai — lekin aankhein ab bhi band hoti hain.Jaise hi Arjun ka haath zara sa aur upar badhne lagta hai, Ammu ek sharp thappad maarti hai uske haath par — zyada zor se nahi, par clear boundary ke saath.

AMMU (looking in his eyes, low but firm)
Arjun… main tere kareeb hoon, kamzor nahi.
Mujhe chahiye… respect, sirf touch nahi.

ARJUN rukh jaata hai… aankhon mein guilt, lekin sachcha emotion bhi.

ARJUN (softly)
I’m sorry.
Kabhi kabhi... tu itni real lagti hai ki main... control lose kar deta hoon.

AMMU uske haath pakad ke neeche laati hai — calm, without anger.

AMMU
Agar tu mujhe samajhta hai... toh bas yaad rakh...
Main tabhi chooane doongi jab main khud chahoon.

Tab tak... aankhon se dekh, haath se nahi.

[b]ARJUN uski aankhon mein dekhta hai — kuch keh nahi pata.[/b]

Sirf uska haath apne dono haathon mein leke, thoda time wahan chup khada rehta hai.

EARLY MORNING

Thandi subah, hawa mein mitti ki khushboo.
Dheere dheere students apne tents se nikal rahe hain, jackets pehente hue, bags uthate hue.
Kahin se flask wali chai ki stream nikal rahi hai, log thermos mein pour kar rahe hain.
Helper log tent fold kar rahe hain.
Anwar Ma’am clipboard leke attendance check kar rahi hoti hain.


Ammu apna bag band kar rahi hoti hai, uska mood thoda off lagta hai.
Arjun thoda distance pe khada hota hai — usne notice kar liya hai.
Woh uski taraf aata hai… lekin seedha kuch nahi bolta.

ARJUN (softly, aankhon se)

(Just mouthing)

“Tu thik hai?”

Ammu sirf ek side glance deti hai — aankhon mein thoda hurt, thoda thanda response.
Sirf ek slow nod karti hai.

ARJUN (nazar jhuka ke)

(again, no sound)
“Sorry.”

Ammu apna dupatta thoda adjust karti hai…
Phir aankhon se ek chhoti “It’s okay, but don’t repeat” wali look deti hai.

Woh moment short hota hai, but clear understanding ka.

Bus ke side mein sab students apna bag rakh rahe hote hain.Seat ke liye halki halki bhaag daud chal rahi hai.Zaheer already window seat pe baitha hota hai — quietly outside dekh raha hota hai.
Shanu aati hai, uski bag Zaheer ke paas wala seat pe rakh deti hai — bina kuch bole.Dono ek second ke liye bas aankhon se baat karte hain.
Na koi smile, na koi formal “baith jao” — sirf ek normal comfort.Shanu bag upar daal ke baith jaati hai — side profile se slightly blush karte hue.
Zaheer sirf uski ek jhalak dekhta hai, phir aankhen mod leta hai — kyunki wo us moment mein zyada rukna nahi chahta.

Bus chal padti hai.Glass ke bahar tent aur log chhote dikhne lagte hain.

Anwar Ma’am (from front)

“Toh chalo… ek last activity bachi hai —
ANTAKSHARI!”

Students cheer karte hain.

Bus ke front aur back mein teams ban jaate hain.
Arjun thoda late seat pakadta hai — wo Ammu ke peeche wali seat pe baithta hai.

Ammu front ke taraf focus kar rahi hoti hai, lekin Arjun peeche se uske hair ke strands ko dekh raha hota hai — quietly.

Ek second ke liye Ammu mirror ke reflection mein Arjun ko dekhti hai —

Bas ek tight, unreadable expression ke saath aankhen milti hain.

Arjun mouth se silently bolta hai:
“Friends?”

Ammu halki si der ke baad... sir hilati hai.

Par aankhon mein warning bhi hoti hai: “Bas friends.”

ANTAKSHARI shuru hoti hai — pehla gaana:

Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko..."


Sab log halla karte hain.
Shanu chhup chhup ke lyrics mein kuch lines Zaheer ki taraf dekhte hue gaa rahi hoti hai.
Zaheer, as usual, aankhen chhupa ke bus ke bahar dekhta hai — lekin ek smirk uske lips pe aa jaata hai.

Arjun thoda lean karke Ammu ke seat ke side pe sirf itna bolta hai:
“Next baar chhat pe milne ka waqt decide tu karegi.”

Ammu bina dekhe bolti hai:
Aur hadd bhi.”

Zaheer seat ke side window pe finger se halka halka nadi ka naam likhne lagta hai.

Shanu wo dekh leti hai… phir quietly apni diary nikaal ke kuch likhne lagti hai.


Bus ek turn leti hai...Aur woh campsite peeche chhoot jaata hai.
Lekin har kisi ke andar —

ek lamha, ek chehra, ek feeling peeche nahi chhutti.