ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 77




PARALLEL — SHANU & ZAHEER KA GHAR
TIME: MORNING – 6:15 AM
INT. SHANU’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM
Madhu ne abhi-abhi chai ka pehla cup rakha hai table par. Kitchen se halke se tadke ki awaaz aa rahi hai. Pratap akhbar padhne ki koshish kar raha hai, lekin aankhen baar-baar darwaze ki taraf ja rahi hain.
Tabhi gate ki ghanti bajti hai.
Madhu turant uthti hai. Gate khulte hi Shanu dikhai deti hai… thaki hui, par aankhon mein ek alag chamak.
Madhu (excitedly)
Shanuuu… aa gayi meri champion!
Pratap bhi turant uth jaata hai. Shanu ghar mein kadam rakhti hai aur dono parents usse galey laga lete hain.
Pratap (garv se)
Agle saal tere liye koi national level ka medal chahiye… tum dono ne college ka naam roshan kar diya.
Madhu (uska bag lete hue)
Pehle tu fresh ho jaa, main tere liye garam garam paratha banati hoon. Aur haan… jaane se pehle chai toh piyegi na?
Shanu halki muskurahat ke saath aankhon se haan karti hai. Par uske chehre par ek halka sa woh lamha bhi chhupa hai… jo usne train ke kambal ke andar mehsoos kiya tha.
INT. ZAHEER’S HOUSE – MAIN HALL
Azhar sofa par baith kar aaram kar rahe hote hain. Asma drawing room ke kone mein ek sketch book le kar kuch draw kar rahi hoti hai. Tabhi main gate se kuch halchal hoti hai.
Door khulte hi Zaheer dikhai deta hai — thoda dusty, ek shoulder par bag. Lekin aankhon mein woh thakaan nahi… sirf ek ajeeb si shaanti.
Asma turant uth jaati hai.
Asma (cheerfully)
Bhaaiii… welcome back!
Azhar ne aankhon se specs nikaale… aur aankhon ke kone thode naram ho gaye.
Azhar (khade hote hue)
Aa gaya mera sher! Zaheer, tu is ghar ki fakhar hai.
Woh usse gale laga lete hain. Us lamhe mein sirf fakhr nahi, ek unsaid emotion bhi tha — jaise unhone mehsoos kiya ho, ke unka beta thoda aur bada ho gaya hai… zindagi ke kisi aur rang ko chhoo ke aaya hai.
Asma (teasingly)
Bhaai… Delhi ki hawa lagegi toh waapas Jaipur boring nahi lag raha?
Zaheer (half-smiling)
Hawa toh achhi thi… lekin kuch yaadein chhod aaya hoon wahan.
Azhar uski aankhon mein kuch padh leta hai… ek pal ko sochta hai, fir kuch nahi kehta. Sirf uske kandhe par haath rakh kar andar le jaata hai.
CUT TO: PARALLEL SHOT
Shanu bedroom ke mirror ke saamne apna hoodie utar rahi hoti hai.
Zaheer washroom ke washbasin mein thande paani se mooh dho raha hota hai.
Ek jaisi muskaan, ek jaisi soch…
Dono ke man mein woh ek hi memory ghoom rahi hoti hai…
Woh raat… woh safar… woh aankhon ka vaada.
CAMERA FADES WITH A LIGHT BACKGROUND SCORE.
Soft vocals in the back — "Raahon mein the hum… aur manzil ek thi..."
SHANU’S HOUSE – OUTSIDE HER ROOM – LATE MORNING

Ghar ke andar ek sukoon bhari morning hai. Kitchen se Madhu ki halki si humming sunai de rahi hai, par drawing room abhi thoda khaali hai. Stairs ke corner se Arjun dheere dheere chal kar upar aata hai. Uski aankhen abhi bhi neend se bhari hui, lekin chehre par ek relaxed si muskurahat hai — jaise kal raat ki thakan ab kisi jeet ki mithaas ne dhak li ho.

Shanu ka room hallway ke end mein hai. Darwaza aadha khula hai, aur andar se kabhi-kabhi wardrobe ki khadbadahat, kabhi brush karne ki awaaz aati hai.

Arjun doorframe par ruk jaata hai. Thoda sa jhuk kar andar jhaankta hai.

Arjun (teasing tone mein)

Yeh room toh ab "Champions Only" zone ban gaya hai lagta hai…

Shanu mirror ke saamne apne baal baandh rahi hoti hai. Uski aankhon mein neend ab bhi baaki hai, par smile ek dum taaza.

Shanu (mirror mein usse dekhte hue)

Bhaiya, tumhe toh ab meri room ki dehleez par pair rakhne se pehle permission leni padegi. Medal-wali behen hoon main.

Arjun ek kadam aage badhta hai… aur bina kuch kahe usse gale laga leta hai. Tight. Protective. Proud.

Arjun (softly)

Tu jeet gayi, Shanu.

Shanu pehle thoda chokti hai… phir uski bhi baahen uske bhai ke gird bandh jaati hai. Moment kuch seconds tak ruk jaata hai… bas un dono ki saansen ek rhythm mein.

Shanu (smiling softly)

Tum bhi jeete, bhaiya. Tumhara match… tumhara plan… sab kuch.

Arjun

Lekin sabse badi jeet toh yeh hai… ki tu ab khud par vishwas karti hai.

Woh dono ab door hote hain thoda, lekin aankhon mein ek chamak hai… ek aisi chamak jo sirf khwaabon se bhari aankhon mein hoti hai.

Arjun seedhiyon ke railing ke paas jata hai aur udhar dekhte hue imagine karne lagta hai.

Arjun (dramatically)

Soch… ek din poora college ke har poster par likha hoga — Arjun Singh & Shanaya Singh – The Game Changers.

Shanu (joining in, hands crossed like a boss)

Aur niche tagline — "This brother-sister duo ne dho diya poore desh ko."

Arjun (raising brows)

Kya baat hai. Ab tu headline bhi likhne lagi?

Shanu (giggling)

Wait karo… ek din toh TV par bhi news chalegi. “Good morning India! Aaj ke special guests hain… national champions Arjun aur Shanu Singh.”

Arjun (mocking anchor voice)

Aur Arjun Singh ne kaha — ‘Meri success ka asli credit meri behen ko jaata hai’…

Shanu (teasing back)

Aur main kahungi — ‘Mujhe toh hamesha pata tha mera bhai kisi din chha jaayega’...

Dono achanak ek dum se hans padte hain. Woh hasi, jo sirf bachpan se saath bade hone wale do log share karte hain. Woh jokes jo kisi aur ke liye bekaar hote hain, lekin inke liye poori duniya ke barabar.

Arjun (still smiling)

Kaash yeh moment freeze ho jaye…

Shanu (playfully)

Nahi… better moments abhi aane baaki hain, bhaiya.

Ek comfortable silence. Koi pretence nahi, koi awkwardness nahi. Bas ek bhai aur behen — dono ek dusre ka fakhar.

Aur tabhi neeche se Madhu ki awaaz aati hai:

Madhu

Shanu, Arjun… breakfast thanda ho raha hai!

Shanu (shouting back)

Aa rahe hain, maa!

Phir Arjun uske sar par thapki deta hai.

Arjun

Chal, national champions… pehle paratha phaadte hain.
Shanu ek fake salute karti hai, aur dono saath mein seedhiyon ki taraf badhte hain… ek naye chapter, naye din, aur naye sapno ke saath.
ZAHEER’S ROOM – LATE MORNING – POST VICTORY DAY

Zaheer ka room hamesha ki tarah minimalist hai— corner mein rakha medal, ek folded team jersey, aur bed ke paas rakhha projector remote

Window ke pass Zaheer khud khada hai — ek haath se curtains ke beech se bahar dekhte hue, doosra haath uske folded arms mein chhupa hua. Aankhen shaant hain, lekin chehre par woh normal sa zaheer-wala neutral expression — na zyada khushi, na zyada udasi — bas ek subtle calm.

Tabhi knock hoti hai door par. Dheere se darwaza khulta hai.

Ammu (darwaze se jhaankte hue)

Allowed hoon ya abhi bhi celebration zone "Private" hai?

Zaheer, bina hile, bas halki si smile deta hai.

Zaheer

Tera entry pass kabhi expire nahi hota.

Ammu andhar aati hai. Uske haathon mein ek chhoti si bowl hai — kuch meetha, shayad gajar ka halwa — jo ghar mein sabko banake diya jaa raha hai.

Ammu (bowl uski taraf badhati hai)

Captain ke liye special treat.

Zaheer bowl le leta hai, par turant khata nahi.

Zaheer (looking at the halwa, teasing tone mein)

Agar haar jaata toh kya poison milta?

Ammu (sarcastically)

Agar haar jaate, toh mujhe banana hi nahi padta.

Zaheer halka sa hansa, aur dono aankhon se ek dusre ko dekhte hain… ek aisi familiarity ke saath jo waqt ne banayi ho — na zyada close, na door… bas theek theek.

Ammu side chair par baith jaati hai, uske opposite. Woh thoda casually room ka survey karti hai.

Ammu

Mujhe laga tu ab tak selfie leke medal ke saath reel bana chuka hoga.

Zaheer

Mujhe medal se zyada woh moment yaad rahega jab mera naam announce hua

Ammu (softly)

Wo moment... kuch aur hi tha.

Chhoti si khamoshi.

Ammu ek second ke liye atakti hai, phir aankhon mein thoda mischief le aati hai

Thodi der dono chup baithte hain. Ghar ke baaki hisse se kuch distant awaazein aa rahi hain — Asma ki loud voice, Azhar ki newspaper palatne ki khadbadahat — lekin is kamre mein bas ek halki si dhoop hai aur in dono ka aapas ka comfort.

Ammu (thoda personal, soft voice mein)

Tu hamesha aise calm kaise rehta hai, Zaheer?

Zaheer

Kya faayda tension leke? Pressure toh game ka hissa hai. Aur agar jeet se zyada peace important ho jaaye… toh calm hona seekhna padta hai.

Ammu (soft laugh)

Hamesha lagta hai tu sirf sportsman nahi, half-time philosopher bhi hai.

Zaheer

Aur tu?

Ammu (smirking)

Main? Main poori-time mystery hoon.

Zaheer thoda hansa, phir chair ki back pe lean karta hai.

Zaheer

Accha hai. Zindagi mein thodi mystery honi chahiye. Warna sab kuch boring ho jaata hai.

Phir dono ek dusre ki taraf dekhte hain — ek aise nazar ke saath jisme curiosity toh hai, lekin jawab dhoondhne ki jaldi nahi.

Bas ek anjaani si understanding… jisme dono ko abhi tak yeh nahi maloom ki woh kis se kya chhupa rahe hain… ya kya feel karna avoid kar rahe hain.

Ammu khadi hoti hai.

Ammu

Baaki sabko bhi serve karna hai. Waise bhi... sabko lagta hai main aaj extra khush hoon.

Ammu ek second ke liye rukti hai. Phir smile deti hai.

Zaheer

Ja... warna halwa thanda ho jaayega.
Ammu nikal jaati hai, lekin jaate jaate ek baar phir peeche mud kar dekhti hai… Zaheer ab window ki taraf dekh raha hota hai, lekin uski aankhon mein kuch aur hi chal raha hota hai.
COLLEGE AUDITORIUM – DAY – GRAND WELCOME CEREMONY

Auditorium ka mahaul utsah se bhara hua tha. Rang-birangi lights, phoolon se saja hua stage, aur piche ek bada digital banner –

“Welcome Our Champions – Zaheer Qureshi & Shanaya Singh”

Student crowd ka shor, claps aur cheering auditorium ke har kone me goonj rahi thi. Dean, principal aur faculty sab front row me baithe the. Stage ke dono sides se gulab ke phoolon ki baarish ho rahi thi jab zaheer aur shanu ne stage par kadam rakha.

ANCHOR (mic pe)

Aur yeh hai woh pal... jiska poora college intezaar kar raha tha. Miranda House Debate Finale ke true heroes… please put your hands together for… Zaheer qureshi aur Shanaya Singh!

Taliyon ka toofaan auditorium ko hila deta hai.

Zaheer aur Shanu ek saath podium ki taraf badhte hain. Dono ke chehre par proud aur overwhelmed expressions. Shanu ek taraf white embroidered kurti aur jeans me radiant lag rahi thi, aur Zaheer classic navy blue blazer me dignified. Principal unhe garland pehnate hain, aur Dean medals aur certificates thamate hain.

DEAN (mic pe)

Zaheer, Shanaya… tum dono ne na keval hamare college ka naam roshan kiya, balki ek misaal ban gaye ho. Isliye college proudly announce karta hai… full scholarship for your next academic year! And a special grant for international level preparation.

Ek baar fir se auditorium gungun utha. Students seat se uth kar cheer karne lage.

CROWD (shouting)

Shanu! Shanu! Zaheer Bhai! Zaheer Bhai!

Phir students un dono se milne stage ke neeche bheed bana lete hain. Friends, juniors, even seniors – sab congratulations bol rahe the. Claps, high-fives, selfies – ek celebration vibe.

CUT TO – A CORNER NEAR THE STAGE

Arjun Singh, black kurta aur faded jeans me ek side khada tha. Uski aankhon me ek intense sa glow tha, lekin lips pe ek teasing smile. Usne slowly stage ki taraf badhte hue Zaheer ko dekha. Shanu abhi bhi students ke beech me busy thi.

Arjun Zaheer ke paas aaya. Crowd me halka sa space banta gaya.

Arjun

Mubarak ho, Zaheer. Aakhir tumne jeet hi liya… debate bhi… aur spotlight bhi.

Zaheer uski aankhon me dekhta hai, thoda surprise bhi, thoda alert bhi. Phir ek calm aur composed smile ke sath jawab deta hai.

Zaheer

Jeetne ki aadat purani hai, Arjun. Spotlight hum chase nahi karte... woh khud aa jaati hai.

Arjun ek step aur aage badhta hai, dono almost face to face hote hain. Unki body language relaxed hai… par aankhon me ek spark – woh dosti ka nahi… rivalry ka tha.

Arjun

Good. Aadat bani rehni chahiye… competition interesting banane ke liye.

Zaheer

Aur competitors bhi… warna game boring ho jaata hai.

Cameraman un dono ke saamne se ek slow motion shot capture karta hai. Crowd ke noise me ye ek silent, cinematic moment tha.

CAMERA POV – Arjun aur Zaheer ek dusre ke bilkul saamne, halki si muskurahat, zaheer ke haathon me medals, lekin aankhon me ek alag hi kashmakash. Rivalry ki ek unsaid declaration. Unke peechhe cheering crowd aur stage ke lights flicker kar rahe the.

FINAL SHOT – ZOOM OUT
Auditorium ka wide aerial shot – jaha stage par celebration chal raha hai, crowd excited hai, lekin frame ke beech me Arjun aur Zaheer ka face-off – ek aise dosti aur rivalry ka sanket jo kahaani me aage kuch aur bada leke aayega…