ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 34

Location: arjun ke ghar ki chhat ka ek kone ka hissa — chhoti si bench, jaha se poora bagicha dikhta hai. Dhoop halki pad rahi hai, lekin hawa mein uljhan hai.

(Ammu akeli baithi hoti hai chhat ke kone mein, knees apni chin tak kheench ke. Shanu quietly uske paas aati hai. Ek minute kuch nahi bolti. Sirf paas baith jaati hai.)

Shanu

(Silently)

Neeche sab maze mein hain... tu yahan chhup kyu gayi?

Ammu

(Sighs)

Chhup nahi... bas... khud se mil rahi hoon thodi der ke liye.

Shanu

(Thoda teasing tone)

Aisa hi milti rahi toh kisi aur ko tujhse milne ka mauka hi nahi milega.

Ammu

(Looks at her, smiles faintly)

Shanu… tu kuch kehne aayi hai na?

Shanu

(Halka sa serious ho jaati hai)

Haan.

Main sirf yeh jaanna chahti hoon…

Kya tu Asad ke liye tayyar hai?

(Ammu thoda rukh jaati hai. Aankhen usne door pe laga rakhi hoti hai — jahan garden ka ek corner dikh raha hota hai.)

Ammu

(Softly)

Main Arjun ko maaf kar chuki hoon,

Shanu…

Shanu

Main jaanti hoon. Kal raat sab kuch tum dono ki aankhon mein tha.

Lekin maafi aur pyaar... dono alag cheezein hoti hain, Ammu.

Ammu (pauses)

Main confused nahi hoon. Main sirf…

darr rahi hoon.

Shanu

Kis se?

Ammu

(Thoda shaky voice mein)

Apne aap se.

Asad achha ladka hai… sab kehte hain.

Par main uske saath imagine nahi kar paati apna aage ka kuch bhi.

Main sirf Arjun ke saath sochti hoon…

par usne toh kabhi khud se bola bhi nahi.

Shanu

Aur phir bhi tu usse maaf kar baithi?

Ammu

Haan. Kyunki jab kisi se mohabbat hoti hai, toh ego mar jaata hai.

Bas main ab samajhna chahti hoon

kya Arjun sirf mujhe protect kar raha hai... ya choose bhi karega?

Shanu (holds her hand)

Agar tu Asad ke rishte ko ‘haan’ karegi, toh ye Arjun ko ek signal hoga ki tu usse chhod chuki hai.

Par agar tu sach mein Arjun ka wait kar rahi hai… Toh phir Asad ke saath “settle” mat ho, Ammu. Tu koi option nahi hai kisi ke liye.

(Ammu ki aankhon mein aansu aa jaate hain. Shanu uska haath zor se pakad leti hai. Silence mein dono beti rehti hain ek moment tak.)

Ammu (slowly)

Main khud Arjun se baat karungi.

Ek baar… saaf-saaf.

Ya toh woh bole…

ya main khud chali jaaun.

Ammu ke dil mein clarity aa rahi hai. Usne finally decide kar liya hai ki chhupna band karegi — aur apne emotions ke liye khud stand legi. Storm is coming.

[b]Location: Arjun ke ghar ka drawing room – sab log rest kar rahe hain. Shanu aur Madhu kitchen mein busy hain. Ammu apne phone ke saath couch pe baithi hai.[/b]

(Asad quietly aata hai, haath mein ek glass juice leke. Uska expression calm hai, lekin aankhon mein sochi-samjhi seriousness.)

Asad (smiling)

Ammu…

Juice piyogi?

Ammu (polite smile)

Nahi, main thik hoon… thank you.

Asad (baithte hue, softly)

Thoda waqt mil sakta hai tumse?

Ammu (thoda cautious)

Haan… boliye.

(Pause. Asad haath ke glass ko table pe rakhta hai. Voice low aur soft karta hai.)

Asad

Dekho Ammu… main yahan tumse zabardasti kuch lene nahi aaya.

Main sirf clarity ke liye aaya hoon.

Tumhara answer — haan ya naa — dono izzat ke saath manzoor hai.

Ammu (gulps slightly)

Main... abhi sure nahi hoon, Asad.

Kuch cheezein... abhi samajh nahi aa rahi mujhe.

Asad (nods gently)

Samajh sakta hoon.

Par ek baat yaad rakhna... main yahaan sirf tumse milne nahi

Azhar uncle ke kehne par aaya hoon

(Ammu ka chehra serious ho jaata hai.)

Asad (thoda emotional tone mein)

Unhone mujhe bola tha — “Asad, mujhe yeh rishta dekh kar sukoon milta hai.”

Woh... abhi tabiyat se bhi thoda upar neeche chal rahe hain.

Tum jaanti ho na?

(Ammu silent ho jaati hai. Uska guilt active hota hai.)

Asad (leans forward, softly)

Ammu, kuch log hote hain jinke liye hum faisla lete hain...

Kuch log hote hain jinke liye hum faisla karte waqt do baar sochte hain.

Main nahi chahta ki tum pe pressure ho.

Par tumhare ek “haan” se... kisi ka blood pressure normal ho sakta hai.

Ammu aankhon mein thoda pani le aati hai. She’s caught off guard emotionally.)

Ammu (faintly)

Mujhe bas... thoda aur waqt chahiye.

Asad (soft smile)

Waqt le lo.

Par waqt khud bhi intezaar nahi karta, Ammu.

(Asad uthta hai, juice ka glass leke wapas jaata hai. Ammu akeli baithi reh jaati hai — guilt aur pressure dono uske andar bajne lagte hain. Uski aankhen Arjun ki photo frame pe jaati hain — kuch kehna chah rahi hoti hain.)

Asad waha se uth kar ja chuka hota hai lekin arjun ko yeh baat pata chal jati hai ki Asad ne indirectly ammu ko push kiya hai rishte ke liye wo bhi azhar ka naam lekar... Shanu ne yeh sab sun liya or arjun ko sab bata diya tha...

Arjun thoda frustrated sa lawn mein walk kar raha hai, aur Asad ek file leke phone pe baat karte hue verandah se nikalta hai.

(Asad phone rakhta hai, sunglasses nikaalta hai. Arjun uski taraf dekhta hai. Kuch second tak dono aankhon mein aankhon daal ke dekhte hain. Silence — but heavy.)

Asad (friendly tone, but sharp eyes)

Arjun bhai… kuch kehna hai?

Arjun (straight)

Haan

Tere aur Ammu ke beech ka jo silsila chal raha hai... usme thoda brake laga le.

Asad (smirks)

Brake? Mujhe laga aap log toh rishte ke liye haan keh chuke ho.

Arjun (voice low, intense)

Rishte sirf papers pe nahi bante, Asad.Jis ladki ka tu rishta leke aaya hai... uske dil mein ab tak koi aur basa hai.

Asad (a little amused)

Woh koi aur… tum toh nahi ho, Arjun?

(Ek second ka pause. Arjun ke chehre pe tension saaf dikhta hai, lekin woh control mein rehta hai.

Arjun

Jo bhi ho... main sirf itna keh raha hoon —

Ammu ko space de.

Decision lene ka time de.

Ye 3 din ka stay honeymoon nahi hai.

Asad (chuckles lightly)

Tum itna irritated kyun lag rahe ho?

Tum uske kya lagte ho, Arjun?

(Arjun thoda close aa jaata hai, eye contact tight.)

Arjun

Jab waqt aayega… woh tujhe bata degi.

Tab tak ke liye... tu uske aas paas bhi mat dikhna.

(Asad ka expression serious ho jaata hai. Uska casual smile chhup jaata hai.)

Asad (firmly)

Main yahaan kisi ki permission leke nahi aaya hoon.

Main yahaan rishta leke aaya hoon — izzat se.

Arjun

Toh izzat se hi jaa bhi sakta hai.

(Pause. Dono ke beech ka tension ekdam electric ho chuka hai. Shanu window ke paas se yeh sab dekhti hai — uska chehra pale ho jaata hai. Woh jaanti hai — kuch bada hone wala hai.)

Asad (softly, almost threatening)

Mujhe rasta dikhaane ka shauk nahi hai, Arjun.

Ammu kya chahti hai… woh uska decision hoga. Na tumhara, na mera.

Arjun (tight jaw, cold tone)

Waqt kam hai Asad. Tu samajhdar lagta hai…

Toh exit le le, jab tak cheezein tameez mein hain.

Arjun (gritted voice)

Ammu koi trophy nahi hai jise convince karne wala jeet jaata hai.

Woh insaan hai… aur uska faisla uska haq hai.

Tere jaise log us haq se khilte nahi… usse manipulate karte hain.

(Asad silent ho jaata hai. No smile now. Bas stare karta hai Arjun ko — aankhon mein pehli baar clear challenge. Arjun turn karke nikal jaata hai room se.)

Arjun terrace ke ek kone mein jaake khada ho jaata hai, frustrated sa — dusri taraf dekhte hue. Peeche se halki si awaaz mein chappalon ki aahat aati hai. Ammu aati hai, thoda hesitant, lekin directly uske paas jaati hai.)

Ammu (softly)

Tum itne gusse mein kyun the?

Arjun (surprised, then soft)

Tumne suna?

Ammu (directly)

Sab kuch.

(Silence. Arjun aankhon mein aankhon nahi daal paata. Ammu uske saamne aa jaati hai.)

Ammu

Main confuse hoon, Arjun…

Par itni bewakoof nahi ki samajh na paaun ki tum mere liye kitna ladh rahe ho.

Arjun (gulps softly)

Main kuch expect nahi kar raha, Ammu. Bas… tu thik rahe

Ammu (firm)

Nahi… mujhe jawab chahiye.

(Arjun rukh jaata hai. Ammu ek kadam aur aage badh jaati hai.)

AMMU

Arjun… agar main kehdu ki mujhe rishte se farak nahi padta hai,

aur tujhse padta hai…

toh kitna serious hai tu mere liye?

(Pause. Arjun finally uski aankhon mein dekhta hai — bina blink kiye.)

Arjun (slow but deep voice)

Main uss din se serious hoon… jab tune mujhe pehli baar “bhaiya” bolke chheda tha,

aur mera dil tod diya tha.

Aur uss raat se aur bhi… jab tu roti hui mujhe maaf kar gayi bina ek bhi shart ke.

(Ammu apne emotions control kar rahi hai.)

Arjun (one step closer)

Main tujhse pyaar karta hoon, Ammu.

Aur main kisi rishte ka wait nahi kar raha  main tere faisle ka wait kar raha hoon.

(Background mein Asad chhat ke stair end pe khada hota hai. Usne poora conversation sun liya hota hai. Pehli baar uska face stiff ho jaata hai  serious, calm, but eyes intense.)

(Ammu Arjun ke bilkul saamne hoti hai. Hawa mein ek sanket sa chal raha hota hai emotional, heavy, still pure.)

Arjun (softly)

Main tere saath hoon.

Aaj bhi… aur agar tu chaahe toh humesha.

(Ammu uski aankhon mein dekhti hai. She doesn’t answer verbally — par aankhon se ek clarity aa jaati hai. Ek decision uske andar form ho gaya hai.)

Asad silently chala jaata hai stair se neeche.Ammu terrace se quietly nikalti hai lekin pehli baar bina guilt, bina tension ke.Arjun wahi khada rehta hai… hawa ke saath uski saans halka saas le rahi hoti hai jaise usne apna dil finally rakh diya ho, khud ke samne bhi.

Scene: “Lunch Table... Aur Chhupi Jung”

Location: Zaheer ka ghar – bada dining hall

Time: Lunch – around 2:00 PM

Setting:

Dining Table: 8-seater rectangular.

Full desi thali: biryani, raita, salad, mix veg, paneer, rotiyaan, aam ka achar, papad, thanda paani

Left Side: , Asad, Taz

Right Side: Asma,Ammu, Arjun

End chairs: Zaheer (head), Shanu (foot) – diagonally across from each other

Scene Start

Taz (mouth full, biryani se bhara hua)

Yaar ye biryani toh dil le gayi… matlab… agar ye biryani ladki hoti na, toh main usse shaadi kar leta.

(Table pe halki si hansi goonjti hai. Madhu muskara deti hai. Ammu slight smile karti hai — lekin aankhen jhuki hain. Arjun ek halki smile deta hai… lekin aankhen sirf Asad pe tikki hui hain.)

Silent War: Arjun vs Asad

(Asad raita le raha hota hai, lekin Arjun ke look ko feel karte hi sideways glance deta hai — eyes sharp. Arjun ka hand deliberately Asad ke glass ke paas chala jata hai. Asad thoda peeche hat jaata hai — subtle tension.)

Asad (soft taunt, without looking away)

Khane mein sukoon hai… kabhi kabhi silence mein bhi taste hota hai, hai na

Arjun (cold, steady voice)

Kabhi kabhi silence se pehle kuch hazam bhi kar lena chahiye.

(Ek moment ke liye table pe silence. Ammu ka haath mid-air freeze ho jaata hai — roti todte hue. Uske chehre pe clarity nahi, andar se guilt, pressure aur uneasiness tezi se badh raha hai.)

Taz’s Comic Relief

Taz (awkward silence todte hue)

Yaar... raita itna patla kyun hai? Isme biryani dooba ke mil rahi hai mujhe.

Shanu  (muskarake)

Toh tu biryani ko samundar samajh raha hai kya?

Taz (dramatic expression)

Nahi beta biryani toh pari hai... main uska raita hoon! Dil se chipka hua.

(Sab log hanste hain. Ammu bhi thoda muskura deti hai — thoda relief milta hai. But sirf surface pe. Underneath, tension wapas build ho raha hai. Arjun aur Asad fir ek dusre ko corner eye contact se taap rahe hain.)

Under-the-Table Chemistry: Shanu & Zaheer

(Table ke neeche Shanu ka pair accidentally Zaheer ke pair ko touch karta hai. Woh turant apna pair hata leta hai. Lekin shanu dheere se apna pair wapas le aati hai — halka sa rub karti hai.)

(Shanu ki saans thodi tez ho jaati hai. Woh uski taraf nahi dekhti pehle, par aankhon ke corners se ek shy smile nikal aata hai. Tabhi Zaheer bhi sideways dekhkar nazar mila leta hai — both silently aware of what’s brewing.)

Zaheer (low whisper, sirf lips move karti hai)

Behave kar…

Shanu (almost inaudible)

Kya karoon, control hi nahi hota…

Back to Arjun–Asad Tension

(Asad biryani le raha hota hai, par phir Ammu ki plate ki taraf dekhta hai. Ek spoon uski taraf badhata hai — as if offering her. Arjun turant interrupt karta hai.)

Arjun

Woh le legi… agar lena hoga toh.

(Ammu confused si un dono ki taraf dekhti hai. Arjun ka tone casual tha, par Asad uss line ko ache se samajh jaata hai — uska smile disappear ho jaata hai.)

Asad (calm but sharp)

Har baar uske behalf pe bolne ki zarurat nahi padti, Arjun.

Arjun (ice-cold)

Par har baar uske emotion se khelne ki bhi nahi.

Final Shot Before Scene Ends

Camera pans on Ammu — beech mein baithi, dono ke faces dekh rahi hai.

Ek taraf woh ladka jo uska dil samajhta hai, doosri taraf woh jo uske decision ka weight samjharaha hai.Ammu ka haath plate ke paas hai, par uska dimaag kahin aur ja chuka hai.

Taz (with a mouthful)

Biryani aur drama — dono full spicy hai aaj!

(Madhu haansti hai, Shanu thoda blush karti hai, Zaheer aankhon se “main serious hoon” signal deta hai. Arjun aur Asad — chhup-chaap lekin jang mode mein.)

Lunch table par sirf khana nahi, har plate ke neeche koi na koi emotion simmer kar raha hai:

Arjun vs Asad: Eyes-only battle

Ammu: Silent breakdown building inside

Shanu–Zaheer: Romance sneak peek

Taz: The much-needed spoonful of comedy

[b]Location: Verandah ka side corner, lunch ke baad ka waqt[/b]

Time: 3:10 PM – Lunch ke baad sab thoda relaxed mode mein

(Shanu thali leke kitchen jaa rahi hoti hai. Madhu aur Ammu andar busy hote hain. Tabhi peeche se Asad aata hai, ek glass paani leke. Shanu se nazar milti hai — Asad thoda smile karta hai.)

Asad (soft tone)

Shanu... ek second?

Shanu (polite but guarded)

Haan?

Asad (casual start)

Tum Arjun ki... bahut close ho na?

Shanu (slight smile)

Bachpan se. Bhai hai.

Asad (eye contact bana ke)

Toh kya tum uska har decision... bina soche samjhe support karti ho?

(Shanu ruk jaati hai. Glass uske haath mein thoda tilt hota hai, par wo Asad ki aankhon mein direct dekhti hai. Voice calm, par tone solid hota hai.)

Shanu

Main uska support hoon, par uska shadow nahi.

(Asad thoda impressed, thoda intrigued hota hai. Lekin chhupata nahi.)

Asad (leaning slightly forward)

Agar tumhe kabhi lage ki Arjun galat hai... tab bhi kya uske peeche rahogi?

Shanu (tight but steady)

Galti pe chhodti hoon.

Lekin kisi aur ki soch se pehle... main uski niyat dekh leti hoon.

(Ek second ka pause. Asad uska face study karta hai. Usse lagta tha wo easily provoke kar lega, lekin Shanu stonewall jaise saamne khadi hai.)

Asad (thoda cold smile ke saath)

Tum loyal ho... dangerously loyal.

Shanu (straight face, one eyebrow lift)

Aur tum... dangerously polite.

(Shanu thali seedha andar le jaati hai. Asad peeche dekhta hai, par bolta kuch nahi — uska chehra stiff ho jaata hai. Pehli baar usne Arjun ke support system ke roots dekh liye hain.)

Asad samajh gaya — Ammu ke aaspaas sirf Arjun nahi, uski team bhi solid hai.

Shanu ka calm defence ek warning ban gaya hai: “Yeh ladkiyaan sirf khaamosh nahi rehti… jab bolti hain toh todti hain.”