ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 39

Location: Raat 11:45 PM – Ammu aur Shanu apne-apne kamre mein

Scene type: Late night phone call, both lying on bed, light off, just phone screen ki roshni

(Ammu bed pe late hue, phone ka speaker on. Light band hai, sirf phone screen uske chehre pe soft glow daal rahi hai. Shanu apne kamre mein usi tarah — pillow pakad ke baat kar rahi hoti hai, face pe thakawat bhari muskurahat.)

Shanu (teasing tone)

Toh madam... Nikhat se canteen ke paas kya baatein ho rahi thi?

Tum dono ka conversation full TED Talk tha ya emotional podcast?

Ammu (laughing lightly)

Ajeeb ladki hai. Har baat mein thoda sa kuch chhupa hota hai.

Kuch bolti hai... kuch dikh jaata hai.

Shanu

Jaise kuch log kuch bolte hi nahi...

Bas sab chhupa ke rakhte hain.

(Ammu yeh line ignore karti hai jaise sun ke bhi nahi suna.)

Ammu

Aur Arjun aur Zaheer ki toh full hero-villain wali rivalry ban gayi hai.

Taz toh referee se comedian ban gaya hai...Poori team ki naak mein dum hai.

Shanu (giggles)

Aur tum? Tum kahan ho is full Bollywood drama mein?

Ammu (pause)

Main?Main beech mein hoon.

Dono taraf se kheech rahi hoon…

Lekin ab… ab thak gayi hoon chup reh kar.

(Ek beat. Shanu serious ho jaati hai — pillow ke andar haath daal ke tight grip karti hai.)

Ammu (softly, almost a whisper)

Mujhe ab samajh aa gaya hai Shanu…Waqt ka koi bharosa nahi.

Jo baat dil mein hai, woh keh deni chahiye.Chaahe aansu ho, ya pyar…

Chhupa ke kuch nahi milta.

(Shanu ki aankhon mein woh line sunkar ek chamak si aati hai — jaise kisi ne uska inner switch on kar diya ho. Uska chehra suddenly blank nahi, focused lagne lagta hai.)

Shanu (slowly)

Hmm…

Sahi keh rahi hai tu.

(Ammu ko andaza nahi hota ki uski baat ne Shanu ke dil ke kisi band drawer ko quietly khol diya hai.)

Ammu (casual sigh)

Accha chhod...Kal college mein terrace chalte hain lunch ke baad?

Bas… breeze chahiye mujhe.

Mann bhari hai.

Shanu (still lost in thought)

Haan… breeze bhi…Aur kuch cheezein udane ka mann bhi hai.

(Ammu thoda hansi mein react karti hai, lekin Shanu ki tone deep ho jaati hai. Call khatam hone se pehle ek moment dono ke phone screen pe ruk jaata hai — jaise kuch decide ho gaya ho silently.)

“Kuch baatein hoti hain jo dusron ke liye advice hoti hain…

Aur apne liye turning point.”

Ammu: Emotionally aware, thodi exhausted, but deeply real

Shanu: Uska internal resolve silently trigger ho jaata hai — ab aur nahi chhupana

Mood: Calm, warm, and quietly powerful

Sab Keh Diya… Bas Ek Baat Chhod Di”

(Lunch ke baad ka terrace scene)

Location: College garden, shade ke neeche ek bench

Time: 2:20 PM – Lunch ke turant baad ka waqt, halki si dhoop, hawa tez chal rahi hai

(Terrace mostly khaali hai. Lunch ke baad zyada log classrooms mein laut chuke hain. Window ke paas wali bench pe Zaheer khada hai, railing se tikke, sunlight ki taraf dekh raha hai — thoda lost sa.)

(Usi waqt seedhiyon se Shanu aati hai  haath mein bottle hai, lekin uski grip tight hai jaise kuch control mein rakhne ki koshish ho. Uska saans thoda tez hai, aankhen thodi halki si bhari woh ruke-ruke kadam se chalti hai, ek baar ruk jaati hai Zaheer ko dekh ke. Phir khud se halke se steady breath leke uske paas jaakar rukti hai.)

Shanu (trying to act casual, but voice thodi heavy)

Zyada deep mat socho…

Bas terrace ka hawa chahiye thi, aur tum… by default furniture ho yahan.

(Zaheer chuckles lightly, phone pocket mein daal deta hai. Shanu slowly bench pe baith jaati hai peeth seedhi rakhne ki koshish, lekin haath bottle ke upar kaafi firmly placed hai.)

Zaheer

Toh kya aaj ka weather emotional hai ya dramatic?

Shanu (softly, aankhen fixed sky par)

Dono.

Aur thoda honest bhi.

(Ek beat. Zaheer quietly uske paas baith jaata hai still thoda space rakhta hai. Shanu apne words chhupke se andar se arrange kar rahi hoti hai jaise koi rehearse ki hui script finally bolne ka moment ho.)

Shanu

Main na… kabhi sochti thi ki life easy hai.

Lekin log complicate kar dete hain.

Kahi baar kisi ko sirf ek baar pakad ke kehna hota hai — “Ruk jao, mujhe tumse baat karni hai…”

Zaheer (quietly)

Toh bol deti.

Shanu (breathes in deeply)

Main bol rahi hoon na.

(Zaheer uski taraf slightly turn hota hai. Shanu ki aankhon mein thoda panic dikh raha hota hai lekin woh words sambhalti hai. Now voice flows naturally shaky nahi, lekin filled with quiet emotion.)

Shanu

Tumhare saath main… alag hoti hoon.Na mujhe smart banne ka pressure hota hai, na strong.Tumhari aankhon mein… mujhe sirf main dikhayi deti hoon.

Zaheer (now completely focused on her)

Shanu…

Shanu (interrupts gently)

Main khud se bhi kabhi kabhi jhoot bolti hoon.Lekin tumse nahi bol sakti.

(Woh thoda jhuk jaati hai, bottle ka cap kholti hai lekin paani nahi peeti — sirf usse band karke haath mein ghoomati hai.)

Shanu

Tumhare jokes bura nahi lagte, tumhara gussa bhi manageable hai…Tumhare saath silence bhicomfortable lagta hai.

(Zaheer usse bas dekhta hai — slowly realising the depth behind her usually chilled-out facade.)

Shanu (halki si muskaan ke saath, lekin aankhon mein ek dhundh)

Main tumse kuch expect nahi karti.

Bas… chahti hoon tumhe pata ho.

(Uska haath lap par tight ho jaata hai jaise woh apne aapko hold kar rahi ho. Phir woh slowly uthti hai ek composed grace ke saath.)

Shanu (turning to him with a quiet nod)

Main ab chalti hu,Class shayad miss ho gaya hoon… par ye moment miss nahi karna chahti thi.

(Woh uske answer ka intezar nahi karti. Zaheer wahi baitha rehta hai  stunned nahi, lekin emotionally stirred. Uski aankhon mein ek respect aur naya nazariya ubar aata hai.)

Background thought:

“Kuch jazbaat itne pure hote hain…

ki lafz ke bina bhi woh sab kuch keh jaate hain.”

Time shift done: post-lunch vibe — warm, quiet, intimate

Shanu ka nervousness aur courage dono dikhta hai

Zaheer ka reaction: silent realisation of how much she means it

Location: College campus – amphitheatre ke peeche wala corner, jahan ek chhoti cement ki bench aur piche ek big tree ka shade

Time: 3:30 PM – Lunch ke baad ka soft dhoop, thodi-thodi hawa chal rahi hai

(Ammu aur Shanu bench pe baithi hain dono apne bags side mein rakhe hue hain. Shanu apne haathon mein ek pen ghooma rahi hoti hai bina kuch likhe, jabki Ammu apna cold coffee sip karte hue usse silently observe kar rahi hoti hai.)

Ammu (thoda tilt ho ke)

Shanu…

Shanu (without looking)

Hmm?

Ammu (eye narrowing)

Yeh pen ghoomana kisi formula solve karne ka tareeka hai ya kuch feelings andar hi andar ghuma rahi hai?

Shanu (chhoti si laugh, but trying to act casual)

Bas aadat hai. Soch rahi thi kuch.

Ammu (playfully)

Tu soch rahi thi ya kisi ke baare mein sochti reh gayi?

(Shanu finally uski taraf dekhti hai, ek half-smile ke saath, lekin aankhen thodi halka sa moisture pakde hue. Woh kuch bolti nahi, sirf pen ruk jaata hai uske haath mein.)

Ammu (softly)

Lunch ke baad se tera chehra alag glow maar raha hai.

Vo skin-care wala nahi… heart-care wala.

Shanu (chup reh ke, aankhen neeche)

Kuch cheezein bas…

Aaj ke terrace hawa mein udd gayi shayad.

Ammu (closer lean in, teasing)

Tera dil ud gaya kya?

Shanu (halki si muskura ke)

Ruka hua tha…Aaj halka laga.

Jab tumhare saamne khud ko chhupane ki zarurat na lage,

Tab lagta hai ki shayad woh insaan sahi hai.

(Ammu thoda surprised hoti hai — pehli baar Shanu itni vulnerable lagti hai. Woh coffee ka sip le ke usse dekh rahi hoti hai — curious but quiet.)

Ammu (soft smile)

Yeh baat tu mujhe bol rahi hai ya khud ko yaad dilaa rahi hai

(Shanu ki aankhon mein halki si chamak aa jaati hai. Woh bas sir hila deti hai, aur ek sigh ke saath piche wall se tik jaati hai. Ammu uske shoulder se lightly bump karti hai, jaise “I got you” keh rahi ho bina bole.)

“Har baat lafzon ki mohtaj nahi hoti… kuch baatein aankhon se bol di jaati hain.”

Shanu opens up almost completely  just short of "I love you"

Ammu supportive, teasing, and observant

Mood: Quietly emotional, with warmth and sisterhood

Location: College football ground

Time:– 4:00 PM, practice match ongoing

(Match chal raha hai. Ground pe energy high hai. Whistle bajti hai, crowd ke side se light claps. Dono teams hustle mein. Zaheer mid-field pe hai, lekin uska chehra blank hai. Aankhon mein koi focus nahi. Ball uske paas se guzarti hai, lekin woh react nahi karta.)

(Background faint ho jaata hai — voices, crowd, shouts — sab muffled ho jaate hain. Sirf ek echo chalta hai uske dimag mein.)

Shanu (flashback echo)

“Main khud se bhi kabhi kabhi jhoot bolti hu, lekin tumse nahi bol sakti”

(Zaheer bas hawa mein dekh raha hota hai. Phir ek thokar padti hai — ball ke liye ek ladka Arjun ki team se aata hai, Zaheer usse lightly takra ke door ghasit ke gir jaata hai. Crowd mein se kuch “oooh!” wali awaaz aati hai. Referee whistle bajata hai.)

Arjun (corner se)

Abe jhantu! Dhyaan kidhar hai, panga lega kya firse?

*(Arjun already ready hota hai  jaise Zaheer gussa karega toh woh bhi thanda nahi rahega. Dono aankhon se contact hota hai.)

BUT — Zaheer ka expression totally alag hota hai — blank, quiet, still lost.)

*(Zaheer slowly uthta hai — koi attitude nahi, koi reaction nahi. Bas apne gire hue gloves uthata hai, jersey ka dust saaf karta hai, aur silently ground ke edge pe jaake baith jaata hai.)

(Poora crowd confuse. Teammates confused. Arjun apni aankhon ko narrow karta hai — jaise samajhne ki koshish kar raha ho — “Yeh kya chal raha hai iske dimag mein?”)

*(Camera tight zoom deta hai Zaheer ke chehre pe — uski aankhon mein game nahi, sirf ek ladki ka chehra.)

Shanu.

Aur uske woh words, baar baar… slow motion mein chal rahe hote hain:

Shanu (voiceover)

“tumhare sath silence bhi comfortable lagta hai”

(Uski aankhon ke saamne goalpost blur ho jaata hai. Bas uske dil mein ek shabd baar-baar ghoomta hai — "Shanu.")

Sirf ek thought dikhayi deta hai screen pe:

“Kabhi kabhi… match ground pe nahi, dil ke andar chalta hai.”

Arjun notices kuch weird, lekin kuch keh nahi paata

Zaheer quietly steps away — no gussa, no ego, just... emotionally stunned ,Flashback and echo-style memory add a cinematic slow-burn feel,Shanu ki baatein uska pura emotional state capture karti hain

[b]Location: zaheer ki chhat[/b]

Time: 6:45 – Golden sunlight, soft breeze, end of college hours

(Scene open hota hai – Ammu ne dupatta loosely daala hua. Arjun peeche se aata hai — dono ke steps almost sync mein. Dono thode distance pe, lekin hawaon mein pehle jaisa tension phir se hai.)

Arjun (softly)

Tu pehle jaise kyun nahi rahi?

Ammu (without turning)

Aur tu… pehle jaisa tha kab?

(Ammu rukti hai, uski aankhon mein wo familiar “don’t mess with me” look. Arjun aake uske side mein khada hota hai — thoda tilted smile ke saath.)

Arjun

Main pehle bhi pagal tha…Ab bhi hoon…Bas tu tab sirf ghoorti thi,Ab aankhon ke saath shabd bhi chalane lagi hai.

(Ammu aankhen narrow karke dekhti hai. Arjun uski aankhon mein directly jhaankta hai — playful and confident.)

Ammu

Main sirf ghoorti thi?Tu mujhe dekh ke poori dressing sense ki insult karta tha.

Arjun (grins

Correction.Main tujhe observe karta tha.Tu jab white kurti pe blue leggings pehenti thi…

Aur jab tera dupatta thoda lose ho jaata tha… collarbone se halki neckline dikh jaati thi...

(Ammu turant uska haath thoda push karti hai. Arjun haanste hue peeche hota hai.)

Ammu (blushing, fake anger)

Shut up, Arjun. Tujhe sirf cheap baatein yaad rehti hain!

Arjun

Or wo din yaad hai, jab tu wo lene aayi thi tera... And kitni embracing lag rhai thi

Ammu

Arjun… tu pagal hai…Mat yaad dila wo din…

Main mar gayi thi embarrassment se!

Arjun (soft, slow voice mein)

Lekin main toh zinda ho gaya tha…

Us din tujhe dekhke…Jo blush tu ne kiya tha…Usme mujhe teri aankhon ka ishq dikha tha.

(Ammu ab thoda confused si smile ke saath aankhen jhuka leti hai. Dupatta adjust karti hai — thoda protectively apne chest ke around. Arjun notice karta hai.)

Arjun (playfully)

Tu ab bhi blush karti hai…Par tujhe samajh nahi aata, main tujhse flirting nahi…Teri taareef karta hoon.

(Ammu aankhen uthake Arjun ko thoda ghoorti hai — jaise kehna chahti ho “You’re impossible.” Arjun us ghoor ko enjoy karta hai.)

Arjun (low tone)

Main tumhare figure ke baare mein kuch bolu?Ya fir… us tarah chalti ho na…Jaise tumhara dupatta bhi meri taraf hota hai…

(Ammu ka expression full stunned. Thoda shocked. Phir aankhen narrow karti hai, aur baal ek side karte hue bolti hai:)

Ammu (sarcastic)

Tu control mein rehega ya thappad chahiye?

Arjun (confident)

Main toh thappad ke badle hug choose karta hoon.

(Ammu smile suppress nahi kar pati. She rolls her eyes and turns to walk away. Arjun peeche se kehta ha, isi bich suit thoda mess hone se ammu ka bra strep dikhta hai pink:)

Arjun

Waise… tu pink mein aaj bhi divine lagti hai.

Ammu (hanste huye)

Oye ye pink suit nahi hai pagal,

Arjun(indirectly ishara karte huye) pp

Par andar ka same hai ammu

Usse bhi zyada sexy hai.

(Ammu sharma jati hai,or apna dupatta sahi kar leti hai)

Ammu

Tu ab bhi wahi hai… Lafzon se chhedta hai, lekin aankhon se sach bolta hai.

( Arjun uske peeche khada, aur Ammu halki si blush ke saath aage chalti hai lekin uska chehra camera ko smile dete hue frame se out hota hai.)

Arjun: Flirty but real, teasing but observant

Ammu: Blush + thoda resist + thoda attracted

[b]Undergarment memory: Subtle but spicy[/b]