1

BULBBUL

SCENE-1

Lights- Red

Characters- Satya, Gaadiwan and Ramakant

A phaeton hurtles through a red-lit forest. Dispelling the mist into swirls which come
together the moment the gaadi moves ahead. The moon a bloodstain on the sky. The
moonlight intermittently old dried blood or wet clotting depending on the shadows that the
forest throws.

The GAADIWAN drives the horses hard. Suddenly the carriage goes into a pothole and
lurches precariously. The passenger; 28 year old SATYA, grabs the side so as not to topple.
SATYA
Dheerey chalao!

GAADIWAN
Maaf kijiye Satya thakur... Yeh jagah theek nahin hai... yahan
khatra hai... yahan...
(his voice dropping in
dread)
Yahan voh hai...

SATYA
Kaun?

GAADIWAN
Churail...

Satya looks at the gaadiwan wide-eyed and then bursts out laughing.
The wind sighs through the trees. The gaadiwan drives huddled. He suddenly stops the
gaadi. There. Blocking the path. A rotten branch. The gaadiwan looks up at the trees and
swallows. He looks back at Satya. But he’s fast asleep. We can see the gaadiwan in the

pg. 1
 2

distance as he begins to struggle and drag the branch away from the path. Satya sleeps.

Satya opens his eyes as he saw a chudail hanging on the trees in his dream. And sits up with
a snap. Hands clutching the sides. No one is there. The gaadiwan comes to the gaadi. Sees
that Satya is awake. Frozen eyes turned tree-wards.

GAADIWAN(CONT'D)
Jag gaye?
(Satya nods.)
GAADIWAN(CONT'D)
(driving)
So jao so jao... Badi haveli aayegi to jaga deingey...

Satya sits rigid and upright. The gaadi moves. From above the trees we see Satya’s phaeton
break free of the forest and run towards the badi haveli.

INT. BADI HAVELI ENTRANCE - NIGHT

28 year old Satya walks through the entrance to the big courtyard. A sleepy old man follows;
RAMAKANT
Satya gives a tired smile.

SATYA
Kaisey hain ramakant babu?
He looks at the majestic steps leading to The Thakur Dalan. All is dark and moonlit.

SATYA(CONT'D)
Sab so gaye?

RAMAKANT
Ji...
Satya turns and walks to the opposite side of the steps.

RAMAKANT(CONT'D)
Pata hota aap aa rahey hain... to kuch tayyaari... aapka kamra bhi...

INT. SATYA’S ROOM - NIGHT

A bed shrouded in a dust cover. 28 year old Satya takes off his jacket. Ramakant is looking at
the bed. He clears his throat.

pg. 2
 3

RAMAKANT
Khaana lagwa dein?

SATYA
Nahin... theek hain...

On the bed 28 year old Satya sleeps. His face lit by the moonlight. Like an eclipse. The
moonlight slowly disappears from his face. A shadow blocks it out.

SCENE 1 ENDS – Lights off

SCENE- 2

Lights- Yellow

Characters: Bulbul, Satya, Binodani, Ramakant, Gaadiwan, His 2

wives and his son

INT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL’S VERANDAH – DAY 2

It’s morning. The birds sing. The temple bell tolls. And 28 year old Satya climbs the steps
leading to the verandah.
A beautiful jhoola has a pride of place on the verandah. And swinging gently on it, with her
back to us, sits 25 YEAR OLD BULBBUL.
In front of her. On the floor. Sits the old gaadiwan who was driving Satya the night before.
Next to him a 17 year old boy; GAADIWAN’S SON. And two women. One in her 50s;
GAADIWAN’S WIFE #1. One in her 20s; GAADIWAN’S WIFE # 2.
GAADIWAN
Naaraz mat hoyiye ma

BULBBUL
Naaraaz to main ho chuki... sharm aani chahiye tumhey... tumhaari
pehli biwi kya karegi ab?

GAADIWAN
Dono behenon ki tarah saath raheingi...

pg. 3
 4

Gaadiwan’s wife # 1 looks at the Gaadiwan. Really now?

Bulbbul makes a gesture of dismissal

BULBBUL
Dafaa ho...
The gaadiwan and family bow obsequiously and walk away.

BULBBUL(CONT'D)
Issey zara bhi taqleef di... to tumhari khair nahin...

SATYA (O.S.)
Thakur thakur khel rahi ho bhabhi?

She looks back at Satya. And we see her. As does he. BULBBUL. She’s beautiful. Black hair
tied in a bun. Generous sindoor in her maang. A big red bindi. kohl-lined big eyes. Soft pan-
stained pretty lips. Gold ornaments adorn her but pale in front of her beauty. She is draped
in a banarsi saree. Every inch the thakurani. Satya almost involuntarily takes an intake of
breath. A slow sardonic smile on her face. Satya a sits by Bulbbul’s side.

BULBBUL
Kaisey aana hua? Ohh..Apni jaydaad ka moaayena karna tha?

SATYA
Bhabhi!

BULBBUL
Paanch saal se koyi khabar nahin... ek dum se meri yaad to nahin aayi hogi...
He flushes
SATYA
Thakur dada ko chithhiyaan likhi thi... aapkey baarey mein poochhtey
thhe... par koyi jawaab nahin aaya...
Hum to teen saal pehley aana chahtey they... Mahendra dada ki...
(chokes)
Unnke... Maarey jaaney ke baad...

BULBBUL
Kehtey hain Churail ne maara unhey...

pg. 4
 5

SATYA
Aap bhi aisi baaton ko maan ne lagi?

BULBBUL
Nahin... main kahaan... voh to binodini didi kehti hain
His face clouds.

BULBBUL
Binodini didi se milogey? (Satya nods) …(Bulbul calls Ramakant) Ramakant binodani didi ko
bula laao..

SATYA
Bhabhi... inn paanch saalon mein kya kya ho gaya? Thakur dada bhi... ghar chhorr ke chaley
gaye...
Bulbbul has a faraway look in her eyes. Satya looks at her searchingly. She looks at him for a
beat.

Binodini enters in the scene. Once a gaudy jewel reduced to monochrome.28 year old Satya
stops in his tracks. A look of pity on his face. She sits there. Listless. Almost lifeless. Her pallu
slips from her head.

SATYA O.S.
Binodini Bhabhi...
The widowed Binodini looks up startled and sees Satya. Her face crumples and she starts
crying. Satya runs up to her and sits at her feet.

SATYA
Bus bhabhi... bus...

BINODINI(weeping)
Choto dada... Choto dada...

Bulbbul walks up to Binodini. She puts her hand on the weeping binodini’s shoulder. Binodini
clutches at Bulbbul’s hand.

BINODINI(CONT'D)
Devi ma ne achha nahin kiya humaarey saath...

BULBBUL
Kya didi... haath mein jap mala... aur bhagwan ko kose rahi ho?

pg. 5
 6

BINODINI
Jap karke bhi shaanti kahaan...saari umar puja paath mein laga di... Phir bhi dekho kya phal
mila... pujo ke din hi kha gayi churail Mahendra ko...

28 year old Satya looks sympathetically at Binodini. Bulbbul smiles.

BULBBUL(amused)
Ab to koyi bhi marrta hai... bukhaar se ya pedh se gir ke bhi...
to log churail ke naam kar detey hain maut....

BINODINI
Bukhar tha mahendra ko? Haan? Khoon se lathpath padhey they... dekha tha aapney...

SATYA
Yeh to kissi jaanwar ka kaam lagta hai... yaad hai Indranil dada bataatey they... kayi saal
pehley ek sher aadamkhor ho gaya tha... ghar mein ghus ke le jaata tha gaonwalon ko...

Binodini shakes her head

BINODINI (firm)
Ultey pairon ke nishaan they... khoon waley... Churail hi thi

SATYA
Phir vohi churail... aaj tak nahin thi... ek dum se kahaan se aa gayi...

BINODINI
(matter of fact)
Pedhon se...
This evokes a burst of girlish laughter of pure delight from Bulbbul.

BULBBUL(murmurs)
Din mein soti hai

He looks at her embarrassed. She grins.

BULBBUL(CONT'D)
Shikar to voh raat ko karti hai
He laughs.

SATYA
To hum bhi raat ko hi nikleingey shikaar karney...

pg. 6
 7

Bulbbul looks at him amused.

BULBBUL
Binodini didi to tab hi khush hongi jab churail ka sarr thoos ke diwaar pe latka dogey tum...
sher... hiran... churail...
Satya shakes his head at her in wonder

SATYA
Voh jo choti si badi bahu thi... kahan gayi? kya kiya aapney unkey saath?

BULBBUL
Kha gayi...

He looks at her askance. She chuckles. They laugh.

Scene 2 ends

SCENE- 3

Lights- Red

Characters- Satya, Bulbul, Dr Sudip

INT. BADI HAVELI - NIGHT

28 year old Satya wears his English togs. Picks up a rifle and exits the room.

28 year old Satya walks through the courtyard to Bulbbul’s room hears a man’s noise.

28 year old Satya walks to her room and sees Bulbbul sitting with a handsome man in his
30s; SUDIP. He sits at her feet. Her foot rests on his knee. He is tying her laces.

BULBBUL
Merey pairon ke ilaava kuch dikhta bhi hai tumko?

SUDIP (Sudip chuckles)

Achha sawaal hai...

Satya’s is trapped between incomprehension and instinctive disapproval. The two notice
him.

pg. 7
 8

BULBBUL
Doctor Sudip se miley ho?

SATYA
Doctor? Sab theek hai?

BULBBUL
Haan... yeh to bas yunhi milney aaye they...
Satya looks at Bulbbul taken aback.
SUDIP
Mujhey chalna chahiye...ja ke uska haal bhi dekhna hai

BULBBUL
Kab baaz aayega voh master...

SATYA
Kaun? Kaun master?
They both look at him almost as if they’d forgotten his presence.

SUDIP
Master dinkar...

SATYA
Badey bhaley aadmi hain voh to

BULBBUL
Usski patni ki tooti haddiyon se poocho kitna bhala admi hai...

SUDIP
Pooch ke kya fayda... voh to har baar yehi bolti hai... ke seedhiyon se gir gayi...

Bulbbul and Sudip exchange a loaded glance. There is history here. And Satya can sense it.
But can’t make sense of it.

SATYA
To shayad sach bolti hogi...

BULBBUL
Chota sa makaan hai unn logon ka... ek bhi seedi nahin hai... iss gaon mein sirf ek ghar hai...
jahaan seedhiyaan hai...

pg. 8
 9

Satya looks blank. Bulbbul sighs. Sudip gets up to leave. Folds his hands

SUDIP
Badi bahu...

BULBBUL
Kitni baar kaha hai tumsey... mujhey badi bahu mat bulao...

SUDIP
Theek hai (grins) badi bahu...

BULBBUL
Choto thakur ke saath shikar pe jaayeingey?

SUDIP
Jaan bachaaney ka kaam hai mera... lena nahin aata...

Bulbbul smiles. Sudip looks at Satya with a polite nod.

SUDIP(CONT'D)
Choto thakur...
Satya ignores him. Bulbbul notices. Sudip leaves.

BULBBUL
Itni chidh kyun ho rahi hai tumhey?

SATYA
Parda bhi nahin kiya hua aapney...

BULBBUL(enjoying herself)
Jao... shikar ke liye deir ho rahi hogi na...

SATYA
Nahin... haan... voh master dinkar gaonwalon ko ikkathha kar rahey hain...

Scene 3 ends

Scene -4

pg. 9
 10

Lights- Red

Characters: Master Dinkar, Satya and 4 villagers , Dr. Sudip

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

The 4 villagers are frightened. Shivering. Startled by every twig that snaps. Owl that calls. 28
year old Satya is of course all heroic and striding.

SATYA
Master Dinkar... itney kam log

MASTER DINKAR
voh... churail ke darr se...
Satya, irritated, walks away.

SATYA
Bakwas band kariye... chaliye...

Satya and Master Dinkar move boldly through the mist. Master Dinkar sees a shadow in the
trees. He follows the shadow with his mashaal.

Further and further away from that shadowy death.Till there is no other sound in the night.
Only his gasping breathing. He gets a catch on his side. His breath coming in laboured gasps.
He risks a look behind. His hand clutching his side. He slows down. He stops. Still holding his
side. In obvious pain. He tries to control his breathing. His breath slows down. SHE JUMPS
ON HIM. He screams. Satya hears the scream. He whirls around in the mist and runs in that
direction.

Sudip’s bidi smoke merges with the mist. He reacts to the dying scream.He throws down his
bidi and runs in that direction. Satya runs through the mist.He crosses the frightened
huddled villagers who are clutching at each other in terror. Sudip comes to the edge of the
pond and she is nowhere to be seen. the Churail seems to have disappeared in the mist.
Satya comes crashing through the foliage.

pg. 10
 11

SATYA
Tum?

Before Sudip can reply there are yells and screams from the trees. They react and run. Satya
and Sudip stop shocked.Master Dinkar hangs upside down from a tree. Throat ripped out.
The blood has flowed from the neck, over the face on to the ground.

VILLAGER
Ab to maantey ho choto thakur... ke churail hai...
Satya looks irritated

SATYA
Khooni hai... insaan... koyi aadmi...

Satya looks at Sudip. He’s by the dead body. Sudip moves his bloodstained hands away from
the ripped out throat.

SATYA(CONT'D)
Kotwal babu ko khabar bhijwao...

Villagers carry dinkar’s body. Sudip and Satya lead the way.

SUDIP O.S.
Mera ghar paas mein hi hai... issko subah tak wahaan rakhwa dijiye...

Satya stops short at the house.

SATYA
Yeh ghar...

SUDIP
Mera hai...

The body is placed on the verandah. Every one looks tired. Worn out by the night.Everyone
trails off. Sudip offers a bidi to Satya. He shakes his head in refusal. Sudip lights his bidi.

SATYA
Jungle ke itney paas rehtey ho... kuch suna? Kissi ko dekha?
Sudip looks at Satya and looks away and shakes his head.

pg. 11
 12

SUDIP
Nahin... kuch nahin... na jaanwar... na insaan...

Scene 4 ends

SCENE- 5

Lights: Yellow

Characters: Bulbul, Satya, Binodani, Kotwal and Sudip

(backstage), Ramakant
INT. BADI HAVELI – NEXT DAY
Bulbbul is lounging in the courtyard. Open-haired and lazy cat-like in the early morning sun.
28 year old Satya walks in. Tired from the hunt. He stops short. Bulbbul smiles up at him.

BULBBUL
Shikaar kaisa raha?

SATYA
Master dinkar maarey gaye

BULBBUL
tch tch

SATYA
Aur jaanwar nahin... kissi aadmi ka kaam tha...

BULBBUL
Kyun? Aurat bhi to ho sakti hai...

SATYA
Kaun si aurat aisey kissi ki jaan le sakti hai?

BINODINI (Enters)
Badi bahu…

BINODINI
Aisa lagta hai kuch bhi nahin badla... aap dono ek saath... baaton mein guum...
Bulbbul gives a sweet smile

pg. 12
 13

BULBBUL
Kaisey aana hua didi?

BINODINI
Oh satya ne bataya nahin? Inhone hi to humey bulvaya hai... keh rahey they... ke aap yahaan
akeli hain... din... raat... koyi bhi aa ja sakta hai... fayda utha sakta hai...Bulbbul looks at
satya. Satya flushes.

SATYA
Nahin voh... humney socha Mahendra dada ki barsi bhi hai... to hum sab ek saath... puja bhi
to karni hogi...

RAMAKANT
Kotwal babu aaye hain ma
Bulbbul starts to get up.

SATYA
Aa rahey hain...
He gets up.She pauses.

SATYA O.S.
Ab hum aa gaye hain bhabhi... aap aaraam kijiye...

Bulbbul watches him with narrowed eyes. Neither shocked. Nor surprised. Just interested.
And not one to miss an opportunity; Binodini.
BINODINI
Jiska kaam ussi ko saaje... thakurani ho thakur nahin...
Bulbbul turns to her.

BINODINI(CONT'D)
mera matlab kab tak sab kuch karogey aap... akeley kitna kuch sambhaal rahi ho... har samay
thaki thaki lagti ho... yeh rang... rang hi aisa pehna hai... shayad... saleti rang achha nahin
lagta aap-pe.

BULBBUL
Ab sab ki tumhaari jaisi kismat kahaan didi... jo aisey berangi saadey mein bhi achhi lagti ho...

Takes a moment. But it registers.

pg. 13
 14

Parallel scene
EXT. Haweli’S BACKYARD – Same day (28 year old Satya stands next to the KOTWAL.)

SATYA
Shubashish... Kotwal honei ka kya fayda? Aaj tak itney khoon huey... aapko kissi pe shaq bhi
nahin hua?

KOTWAL
Shaq se kuch nahin hota Choto Thakur... humara firangi kanoon saboot ko maanta hai...

INT. BADI HAVELI BINODINI’S ROOM VERANDAH – SAME DAY

Binodini strokes her paan dabba. Meanwhile Ramakant calls bulbul for Dr Sudip.

BINODINI
Paan banaun?

SATYA
Bhabhi... Yeh doctor kab se hai yahaan?

BINODINI
Badey thakur ke ghar chhorrney se pehley hi aaye they...

SATYA
Bahut... bahut aana jaana hai?

BINODINI
Hum yahaan rehtey kahaan hai... jo khabar hogi humein...

SATYA
Pehley jab aap sab they yahaan... tab bhi aata tha doctor?
Binodini looks shifty-eyed. Satya reads it.
Bulbbul walks in with a covered thaali

BINODINI
Aapki hi baat ho rahi thi...
Bulbbul raises her brows.

SATYA
Hum chaltey hain...
Bulbbul smiles. Satya walks away

pg. 14
 15

BINODINI
Sudip ke baarey mein pooch rahey they choto thakur...Bulbbul looks at Binodini

BINODINI(CONT'D)
Unko shaq hai doctor pe... par aisey kaisey ho sakta hai... doctor sudip to gaayein hain...
gaayein... choto thakur shayad aisey hi pooch rahey they...

BULBBUL
Aur tum apni do kaudi jodh rahi thi...

BINODINI
Hum? Hum kahan? aap to jaanti ho... hum kabhie kissi ka bura na kehtey hain na sochtey
hain na chahtey hain...
Bulbbul looks at binodini. Truly seeing her. Amused by her.

Scene 5 and 5 (B) ends.

SCENE- 6

Lights- Red

Characters- Satya, Kotwal

INT. BADI HAVELI SATYA'S ROOM - NIGHT

Satya wakes up as there is banging on the front door. Satya strides to the door. Satya steps
out. The kotwal strides to him in urgency.

KOTWAL
Maaf kijiye choto thakur... par... ek aur khoon hua hai...

EXT. GOWRINATH'S BOWER - NIGHT

The dead body of a man in his 60s; GOWRINATH floats in a
bathtub. The water post-massacre bloody.(backstage)

KOTWAL (O.S.)
Ek gawah bhi hai...
28 year old Satya can’t seem to pull his eyes away from the bloody bathtub.

pg. 15
 16

KOTWAL(CONT'D)
Ek choti ladki hai... Bechaari... keh rahi thi ke…

SATYA(impatient)
Kya?

KOTWAL
Kali ma ne maara...(Satya looks annoyed)
SATYA
Baat karao humari uss se...

KOTWAL
Abhi to hosh nahin hai... doctor ne ussey neend ki dawaayi di hai...

SATYA
Doctor? Kaun doctor?

KOTWAL
Doctor sudip... kismat se voh yahin kissi mareez ko dekhney aaye they...

Satya’s face becomes set. He looks down at the tub again. And Gowrinath’s floating body. A
roll of vellum is unrolled in front of Satya. With the bloodied tub illustrated on it. A crime
report.Another illustration. Another report. Of Satya’s bed with Mahendra’s body on it.
Satya looks at a signature at the bottom of the page.

SATYA
Yeh hastakshar...

KOTWAL
Doctor Sudip ke hain... vohi aaye they... moyena karney...

Satya nods. He keeps the next report in front of himself.An illustration of a tree. With a
creeper hanging. And on it. Hangman-like. Only upside down. Master Dinkar’s body.

Scene 6 ends.

SCENE- 7

Lights- Red

pg. 16
 17

Characters- Sudip and Bulbul (Satya)

INT. SUDIP’S HOUSE - SAME NIGHT
Bulbbul and Sudip is standing on the veranda. She takes a drag from a bidi.

SUDIP
Chor!

She smiles.
BULBBUL
Jurmaana hai... Pichhley kuch dinon se milney nahin aaye...

SUDIP
Nahin... Mainey socha... satya thakur aaye huey hain... aap vyast hongi...

BULBBUL
Kahaan... vyast to voh hain... naya shauk chadha hai unhey... voh...
voh kaun si kahaani sunaatey they tum mujhey... jasoosi...

SUDIP
Sherlock...

BULBBUL
To aaj kal satya thakur sherlock hain...
Sudip looks amused

BULBBUL(CONT'D)
Mazaak nahin hai... unko to aap pe bhi shaq hai... Waisey tinkey jitna sach nahin jismein...
uss shaq se kya darrna...

SUDIP
Kis baat ka shaq hai usspe nirbhar karta hai...
Bulbbul looks at him

SUDIP(CONT'D)
Koyi ummeed nahin kar raha... voh kya hai na pahunch ke bahut baahar
ho... isliye lakeerein kheinchta rehta hoon... khud ko thoda sa bachaaney ke liye...

BULBBUL
Darrpoke
SUDIP

pg. 17
 18

Bahut...
A moment. The look. An unsaid understanding.
EXT. SUDIP'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
From across the pond. The house lit like a warm cocoon and in it Bulbbul and Sudip. 28 year
old Satya watches. Even from this distance you can sense the moment.

Scene 7 ends

SCENE- 8

Lights- Red

Characters- Satya and Bulbul

28 year old Satya stands over the crime reports. Looking blindly at them.
BULBBUL (O.S.)
Kya hain yeh kaagaz?

He looks up. Bulbbul stands by the door. He picks up his box of cheroots and walks up to her.

SATYA
Kahaani hai... darraavni kahaani... sunogi?
He flips open the box and offers it to Bulbbul. She takes a cheroot and lights it for her. She
sits down. Ready for storytelling.

SATYA(CONT'D)
Ek admi... sheher se gaon aata hai... aur achaanak gaon mein logon ki hatya honey lagti hai...
par yeh darraavna modh nahin hai kahaani ka... Ek ladki usskey jaal mein phass jaati hai...
aisa phassti hai ke ussey na apni sudh budh rehti hai na sahi galat ki... na sharm ki na
maryaada ki... na apney pati ki... aur phir Uss ladki ka pati ussey chhorr deta hai...

BULBBUL
Kaafi achhi kahaani hai
Satya’s tough act breaks. He looks at her entreatingly

pg. 18
 19

SATYA
Bas bhabhi... bahut ho gaya... galati ho gayi aapsey... maan leingey... aap akeli thi... samajh
nahin thi... aur uss sudip ne aapka fayda uthaya...

Bulbbul looks at him wide-eyed and bursts into helpless laughter. Satya looks at her shocked

BULBBUL
saaf saaf yeh kyun nahin kehtey sudip se jaltey ho...

SATYA
Usska naam mat lo bhabhi...

BULBBUL(murmurs)
Sudip....
SATYA
Bhabhi
BULBBUL
Sudip...
SATYA
Bas
BULBBUL
Sudip....

He stands up. Hands clenched. Rage fighting torment. She doesn’t flinch.

SATYA
Kitni badal gayi ho...
Bulbbul doesn’t say anything.

SATYA(CONT'D)
Humney indranil dada ko chithhi likhi hai... poochhney ke liye... ke aapkey saath kya kiya
jaaye... voh shaayad aapko waapas na lein... to aapko aapkey maaikey bhej dena hi theek
hoga... jo bhi ho... ab aapka faisla vohi kareingey...
Beyond anger lies a world of disappointment. And we see it in her eyes.

BULBBUL
Tum sab ek jaisey ho...(And she walks away.)

Scene 8 ends.

pg. 19
 20

1ST HALF COMPLETED

2ND HALF (FLASHBACK)

SCENE- 9

Lights- Green

Characters- Binodani, Mahendra, Bulbul, Satya

BINODINI O.S.(sings)

“Kolonkini radha”

Binodini sits in the corridor looking at boxes of jewellery spread out. Binodini as she look into
her hand mirror. A serving woman oils her long beautiful hair. Mahendra sits at her feeT
making a doll with a gondhoraaj lime and a scrap of cloth. A creepy dehumanised doll in the
hands of a creepy man. Binodini sings an old baul song about radha’s indiscretions.

BINODINI(sings)

Maayi hey... Kolonkini radha...

kothom gaasey uthiya aasey

And we see that she’s actually looking beyond the mirror at 20 year old Bulbbul, who is
peeping down.

BINODINI(CONT'D)(sings)

kaanho haraamzaada

At Satya by the fountain.

BINODINI(CONT'D)(sings)

maaye tohey zol na zaayo

Bulbbul turns to go.

BINODINI(CONT'D)(calling out)

Oh badi bahu...

pg. 20
 21

Bulbbul stops impatiently and looks at Binodini. Mahendra smiles at Bulbbul and is about to
get up. But Binodini just presses down on his head keeping him in place.

BULBBUL

Kya hai didi?

BINODINI

Aao na... baitho... tumharey baalon mein jabba kusum ka teil lagatey hain...

BULBBUL

Baad mein didi

And she turns to go away

BINODINI

Naye gehney aaye hain... kuch chunn lo... ghar se bhi to itney kam laayi thi ke tayyaar ho kar
bhi baasi baasi lagti ho... kahin log yeh na sochein ke badi bahu hum hain tum nahin...

BULBBUL

Sochney do...kya farq padta hai..

BINODINI

Haan... aapko to fark hi nahin padhta ke log kya sochtey hain...

Bulbbul looks at her confused.

BINODINI(CONT'D)

Humari maano... naye bichhuey to le hi lo... aapkey dheeley se ho gaye hain...

BULBBUL

Baad mein?

She turns to go.

Binodini turns back to her mirror and goes back to preening.

BINODINI

Tch!(starts singing again)

Kolonkini radha...

Bulbul rushes towards satya to give him the notebook.

pg. 21
 22

Scene 9 ends.

SCENE- 10

Lights- Green

Characters- Satya, Bulbul, Binodani, Indranil and Mahendra

EXT. THE ORCHARD – DAY

20 year old Bulbbul playing a game with Mahendra. Indranil is on the durrie with Binodini
and Satya. A royal lazy sunlit picnic. He watches his wife with a smile.

INDRANIL: Bulbbul!

She smiles and gets off the swing. But Mahendra grabs her braid

MAHENDRA

Khelo!

She extracts her hair from his hands

BULBBUL

(gentle)

Dada... na!

INDRANIL O.S.

Mahen!

Mahendra lets go of the braid and then refuses to come with Bulbbul. She runs off towards
Indranil and joins him.

INDRANIL

Rooth gaya?

She nods

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

pg. 22
 23

Satya!

Satya gets up and runs towards mahendra. Indranil smiles at Bulbbul

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Khush?

She nods.

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Maali se aapkey liye kachchey aam tudwaaye hain...

She smiles.

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Humarey liye chutney banana... saarey khud namak mirch laga kar mat kha jaana...

And all through this binodini watches this warm exchange with growing discomfort. She
interrupts them.

BINODINI: Paan ?

He takes it and offers it to Bulbbul. This doesn’t go down well with Binodini

INDRANIL(to Bulbbul)

Achha ek baat batao...

BINODINI

Rishtey ke baarey mein socha aapney?

Indranil looks at her with a sigh

INDRANIL

Rishta?

BINODINI

Voh satya ke liye... bataya tha na...

INDRANIL

Haan... Rishta to achha lagta hai

He turns again to Bulbbul

BINODINI

pg. 23
 24

Choti bahu... aapko kya lagta hai?

Bulbbul looks confused. Indranil frowns.

INDRANIL

Choti bahu?

Binodini bites her tongue. Then titters.

BINODINI

Oh ho! Choti bahu to choto thakur ki biwi ko kaheingey na...

She titters again

BINODINI(CONT'D)

Lagta hai paan mein kathaa zyada ho gaya... zubaan phisal gayi... mera matlab badi bahu
tha... Batao badi bahu... kar dein choto thakur ki shaadi?

Indranil looks at her eyes narrowed.

INDRANIL

Inn se kya poochna hai?

BINODINI

Choto dada pe pehla haq to inka hai na... doosri koyi layeingey... uss sey pehley pooch lete
hain innse...

She laughs like it’s all a big joke.

But not to Indranil.

Scene 10 ends.

SCENE- 11

Lights- Blue

Characters- Satya, Bulbul, Indranil,

INT. BADI HAVELI VERANDAH – DAY

20 year old Bulbbul brings tea up for Indranil. As he sits pensive and lost.

pg. 24
 25

BULBBUL

Ek baar satya se pooch letey

INDRANIL

Kya?

BULBBUL

Voh... bonodini didi... rishtey ki baat kar rahi thi...

INDRANIL

Aap khush nahin ho...

It’s a statement. Not a question. She looks confused.Suspicion rears its ugly head in his eyes.
She looks at him too lost in her own loss to wonder what that look was. Satya enters in the
room as Indranil have called him.

20 year old Bulbbul and Satya sit in front of Indranil much like two errant schoolchildren in
front of the headmaster. Indranil looks at her dusty feet.

INDRANIL

Jootey kyun nahin pehenti?

Bulbbul flushes.

Her feet, like tiny dusty scared mice, withdraw under her saree.

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Sikha sikha ke thak gaye...

She looks down chastised. Indranil looks at Satya.

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Tumhaarey Landan jaaney ki taiyyari kar rahey hain hum...

Bulbbul’s eyes fly to Indranil in shock. This is news to her obviously

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Khush?

Satya nods

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

pg. 25
 26

kalkatta se garam kapedey banwa deingein... wahaan barf padhti hai...

BULBBUL

Landan?

INDRANIL

Aapko yaad nahin? Humney kaha tha na Satya Landan jayega... vakaalat padhney...(to satya)

Sirf padhaayi hi nahin... khoob ghoomna... sab dekhna... aur humey likh ke sab bataana...

BULBBUL

Haan par abhi? abhi ja rahey hain...

INDRANIL

Abhi kahan... pujo ke baad bhejeingey...

SATYA

Aap bhi chalo na dada...

INDRANIL

Abhi kahaan... baad mein aayeingey hum...

BULBBUL

Par Thakurmoshai... Pujo mein to sirf teen maheeney hain... itni taiyyari... aur sab kuch...
kaisey hoga itni jaldi...

INDRANIL

Kaunsa aapney samaan baandhna hai inka...

BULBBUL(to herself): Bas teen maheeney...

Scene 11 ends

SCENE- 12

Lights- Green,

Characters- Satya and Bulbul

INT. SUDIP’S HOUSE - DAY

pg. 26
 27

Across the pond we see what we now know as Sudip’s house.

SATYA O.S.

Hum seedhi saadi kahaani likhtey hain aap ussey darraavni bana deti ho...

20 year old Bulbbul is lost in her reverie.

SATYA O.S.(CONT'D)

Ab yeh pedh pe ladki ka bhoot kahaan se aa gaya?

Satya comes to Bulbbul with the red notebook.

SATYA

Aapne likha hai... aap hi batao...

But she doesn’t respond. He notices.

SATYA(CONT'D)

Aapkey maaikey ka jo ghar tha... usska rang neela tha na?

Bulbbul nods, absentminded. He smiles.

SATYA(CONT'D)

To iss jagah ko neela rangwa detey hain... waisey bhi purana lagney laga hai... aur issey dekh
ke maaikey ki yaad bhi nahin aayegi aapko...

BULBBUL(listless)

Kyun rangwana hai... theek to hai...

SATYA

Yahaan baith ke likhtey hain... sunder nahin lagna chahiye?

BULBBUL

London jaane ke baad likhney ka samay milega tumhey? Upar se Binodini didi rishta laayi
hain tumhaarey liye...

Satya looks blankly at Bulbbul.

BULBBUL(CONT'D)

Binodini didi rishta laayi hain tumhaarey liye...

pg. 27
 28

SATYA

Kaisa rishta?

BULBBUL

Shaadi ka... aur kiska...(He laughs)

SATYA

Hum shaadi nahin karney waaley...

Bulbbul smiles

BULBBUL

Sab kartey hain

SATYA

Nahin... sadhu nahin kartey... baul nahin kartey... ullu nahin kartey...

He starts laughing. She giggles.

Satya holds out a red notebook to Bulbbul.

SATYA (murmurs)

Apna hissa likh diya bhabhi... ab aapki baari hai... poora kar do...

She looks at the red notebook in his hands. She takes it from his unresisting fingers.

BULBBUL

Kaisey poori hogi kahaani...

SATYA(almost trying to convince himself)

Abhi to samay hai...

She shakes her head

BULBBUL

Yeh ghar iska kya hoga …Yeh to tum

rangwaaney waaley they na...

SATYA

Jaaney se pehley... jaaney se pehley taiyyaar kar doonga... phir aap yahaan baith ke likhna...

BULBBUL

pg. 28
 29

Mujhey yahaan akeley darr lagta hai... (softly)

Mujhey yahaan akeley darr lagta hai... Mujhsey kaun baat karega... main kis se...

She can’t go on

SATYA

Roz chithhi likheingey aapko... jaldi aa jaayeingey...

BULBBUL

Nahin aaye to? To?

She gets tears in her eyes.

They stand in front of each other. Not touching. Not saying anything. But the loss and the
heartbreak is palpable.And that moment. That moment is seen by Indranil. His face washed
with the taint of the bitter taste in his mouth.

Scene 12 ends.

SCENE- 13

Lights- Blue+ Yellow ( candles)

Characters- Indranil and Bulbul

INT. BULBBUL’S ROOM - NIGHT

20 year old Bulbbul enters the moonlit room. She looks at the notebook in her hands. Lost
and sad. She opens it and leafs through it. The pages a dull white in the moonlight.

INDRANIL (O.S.)

Batti to jalaa do...

She jumps and hides the notebook behind her

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Kya hai voh?

She pushes the notebook further into her pallu.

BULBBUL

pg. 29
 30

Kuch nahin...

INDRANIL

Mann mein chor hai Bulbbul?

She shakes her head.

BULBBUL

Nahin... yeh to aisey hi... kuch... mera niji...

His jaw clenches.

INDRANIL

Niji? Ek patni ka usskey pati ke ilava aur kya niji hota hai?

She flushes. To hide her confusion she lights the lamp. To illuminate Indranil and his packed
bag.

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Hum Kalkatta ja rahey hain...

But it is obvious that it is not of any import to her. Till

INDRANIL(CONT'D)

Satya ke saath

And now. There it is. The reaction.

BULBBUL

Kyun? Satya ke saath kyun?

INDRANIL(calm)

Usskey port ke kaagaz banwaaney hain...

He picks up his bag and walks out. With each step his face darkening. And she stands there
looking bereft. Foolish child.

Scene 13 ends

SCENE- 14

pg. 30
 31

Lights- Blue+ yellow

Characters- Indranil, Bulbul and Binodani

INT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL’S ROOM - DAY

20 year old Bulbbul looks out of the window. Sad. Still. Almost as if she has been paused. She
is frozen in that moment of waiting as day turns to night to day again. And then she hears
the clip clop of a carriage arriving. She unfreezes. She runs from the window. 20 year old
Bulbbul runs out as Indranil walks up the steps. Sans satya. She looks confused. Indranil
walks up and past her without breaking step.

BULBBUL

Satya?

INDRANIL

Ussey humney landan bhej diya...

She shakes her head in denial. Not able to hide her loss and grief anymore.

INT. BULBBUL'S ROOM - NIGHT

She looks like a part of her is missing.With an effort of will she sits up.Bulbbul walks around
like she doesn’t know what to do with herself. She sees the red notebook. She picks it up.
Clutches at it like it is a lifeline and she the drowning one. Bulbbul lets out a moan and
collapses on the floor. She rocks in her grief. She looks at the notebook in her hands and
starts to tear its pages out. Till in a frenzy it is all but destroyed. She flings it into the unlit
fireplace. Shaking hands light a flint. She burns the notebook. And as it begins to burn she
shakes her head

BULBBUL(sobs)

Nahin

And tries to save the burning notebook. Too hot. Too hot. She withdraws her red ash
covered hands. And gives in to her grief. She cries and cries and then sleeps on the floor

INT. BINODINI’S ROOM - NIGHT

Indranil and binodani sitting in varandha

pg. 31
 32

BINODINI

Choto dada ki galati nahin hai... iss umar mein... hota hai... itna samay saath bitaayeingey...
hota hai...

Waise Badi bahu ka kya haal hai?

He looks at Binodini.

BINODINI(CONT'D)

Poochney ki zaroorat nahin waisey... kope bhavan mein hi hongi... shoke manaa rahi hogi...

A hit. A veritable hit. Indranil brushes her aside, gets up abruptly and leaves. Binodini looks
pleased with herself. The little bitch.

INT. BULBBUL’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Indranil walks in stands by the red notebook. Wrestling with the possibility of betrayal. But
doesn’t have it in him to have it confirmed.He strides towards the fireplace. There is sweat
on his brow as he leans in towards the fireplace. It is still smoking slightly.He stirs the ashes
with the poker. Bits of writing smoulder. Their names written in ink. Burning. Burning. He
gets up. Turns. A marionette to his righteous betrayal. He walks towards bulbul with the
poker He stands over her. Looming large. His face wrecked with grief betrayal regret. There
is almost a sense of tenderness as he reaches out to her.He grabs her hair. Her eyes open.
Confused and lost. He yanks her out. She cries out in pain. Her feet. Wrapped in silver
Struggle for purchase. To no avail. Splashing slipping sliding in the marble-held water.He
throws her on the floor like a useless rag. She lands .Vulnerable.Breathless with rage he
looks down at her. Doesn’t say a word. Thunder growls instead. She looks up at him. Eyes
widened in shock. Like a child who doesn’t know why it is being punished. He raises the
poker. Face twisted like a mythic bestial being. It looks like the poker will take a lifetime to
go up. The poker sings as it cuts the air. As it goes up. Up. Up. And then it comes DOWN.
Rise and fall AGAIN. And then. All we see is her face. All we see is the pain. All we see is
incomprehension. Lightening billows. As drops of rubies fly. Fall. Slowly. Sparkling. Her face
pale. Her cry trapped. She jerks like a puppet. The string of iron. Pulled by he unseen
puppeteer. Her eyes. They ask us why this is happening. Eyes that start looking beyond us.
Faraway now. Her eyes. Her eyes. The light leaves her. Only the merciful darkness remains.

Scene 14 ends.

pg. 32
 33

SCENE- 15

Lights- Blue + yellow

Characters- Bulbul, Sudip, Indranil and Binodani

INT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL'S ROOM - DAY

A bowl of bloodied water. A twisted piece of a silver wire, covered in blood, is held in the
jaws of the plier. It drops with a dull clink into a ceramic bowl. It looks like it could have been
a toe ring. Sudip wipes his brow with his sleeve. He is looking grim. His mouth tight. He holds
the plier firmly. Adjusting his grip. He takes a calming breath and gets a look of extreme
concentration on his face.And PLINK the other toe ring. And then just his capable hands and
needle and a progressively bloody thread and swathes of white bandages and bamboo
splints. He stands up. A nerve jumps in his temple.

EXT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL’S VERANDAH - CONTINUOUS6464

Indranil stands and watches the rain. He holds an umbrella in his hand, like a walking stick.
There is an air of impatience about him. Looks like he wants to be off.

BINODINI O.S.

Jaana zaroori hai?

Indranil doesn't look at her. A faraway look in his eyes.

INDRANIL(Murmurs)

Yahaan kuch nahin hai humarey liye...

Yes. She’s nothing. And that realisation is there on her face.

BINODINI

Laut ke kab aayeingey?

Indranil is silent for a beat

INDRANIL(Softly)

Chinta mat karo... Hum paisey bhejtey raheingey...

Just then Sudip comes up to them.

SUDIP

pg. 33
 34

Abhi tak hosh nahin aaya hai... Mainey patti kar di hai... Par...

He takes a deep breath

SUDIP(CONT'D)

Par Unkey pair... Pata nahin...

He can't seem to go on.

INDRANIL

Seedhiyon se girr gayi thi...

SUDIP(Softly)

Seedhiyon se girr gayi thi?

Without looking at sudip, Indranil turns to go

INDRANIL

Doctor babu ko unkey kaam ke paisey de dena... Saath mein thodi baksheesh...

Sudip's eyes flicker at that. Indranil walks off down the steps, his umbrella unfurled. Binodini
watches him leave.

Scene 15 ends.

SCENE- 16 and 16 (b)

Lights- Blue and Red

Characters- Bulbul and Mahendra and Binodani

INT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL'S ROOM - NIGHT

Bulbbul’s eyes fly open and she SCREAMS.body twisting in pain. And that’s when we see her
feet. Suspended shapeless. But that could be the bandages. Blood and bruises blossom on
her body. Bulbbul’s cry echoes through the moonlit haveli. The scream dies in a hiccuping
sob. Mahendra enters.
20 year old Bulbbul moans. Her face grey with pain. Damp tendrils of hair on her temple.

pg. 34
 35

Mahendra keeps a doll next to her. Bandaged and broken, Bulbul seems to be in a fevered
delirium. He pats her unresponsive face.

MAHENDRA(Softly)
Gudiya...
Her lids flutter open. From her point of view we see a blurred, hazy image of the man.
BULBBUL
Thakurmoshai...
Her eyes flutter close. Mahendra leans to her.
MAHENDRA
Khelo....

She seems to be slipping back into her unconscious state. His hand moves from her brow to
her face. He strokes both sides of her face clumsily.

MAHENDRA(CONT'D)
Khelo...

She is clammy and unconscious. Her breathing shallow. Her lips dry.He giggles.
He climbs on top of her. With a gasp she opens her eyes. For a split second there is
incomprehension. He still wants to play. She still tries to entreat. Like she is talking to her
favourite child.

BULBBUL
Dada... na...
But the child of the mind is overridden by the man in the body. He enters her.
Her eyes widen in fear, shock, hate, pain. She opens her mouth to scream. He covers her
mouth. She struggles. She twists. She fights. We see her bandaged twisted feet useless
against his legs that are pinning her down. We can hear the silent scream in her eyes. In her
wide feverish gaze. Her eyes turn glassy.Her eyes open. Her body moves, like a rag doll, with
his thrusts. Blood blossoms on her feet. And then drips off them. Her splints broken. Her feet
distorted and dangling. Her eyes seem to lose their light. And then he's done. He collapses
on her with his full weight. He lies there spent. Sweaty. He looks at her face. She is grey. Her
eyes are open. Marble-like. He slowly loosens his hand around her mouth. No sound comes
from her. He lifts his hand. She is silent and lifeless.

MAHENDRA
Utho!

pg. 35
 36

He looks at her pale form1, a little scared.

MAHENDRA(CONT'D)
Utho!
He shakes her like a doll that won’t play anymore. But to no avail.
He whimpers. The toy has broken.With a moan he steps back from the bed. She lies there
open-eyed. He runs out of the room stumbling.

INT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL'S ROOM – CONTINUOUS (SCENE- 16 – B) (Red Lights)

Bulbbul’s pale frail dead body lies there. Thrown carelessly after play.

Mahendra runs. Stumbling. Slipping. Falling.

INT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The bloodied moonlight washes over Bulbbul’s face.It crawls over the doll that mahendra
dropped on the floor. A creepy lifeless thing.It catches up with a frightened Mahendra.

The wind ripples over Bulbbul’s body. She seems to suck in the wind into her lungs till her
body arches.And then she screams. Not with pain. But in rage.

Binodini jackknives up from her bed. The bloodcurdling scream continues. She looks to her
side. The bed is empty. She goes pale. Mahendra stumbles in through the door

BINODINI(silent)
Kahaan they
He gets a scared sly look
MAHENDRA(silent)
toot gayi
BINODINI (silent)
kaun? Kya?
He gets into bed with his back to Binodini. Binodini clutches at his shoulder.
BINODINI(CONT'D) (silent)
Mahendra! Main kuch poochh rahi hoon...
MAHENDRA
(silent)
Toot gayi...

pg. 36
 37

He scrunches his eyes tight.

She looks at him pale and scared. And another SCREAM.

Scene 16 (B) ends

SCENE- 17

Lights- Red

Characters- Bulbul, Binodani and Sudip

INT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL’S ROOM - MORNING
Binodini walks in. And with her. The morning. She walks up to Bulbbul’s bed.
She takes the washcloth from the bowl of water. And first wipes Bulbbul’s stained face.

BINODINI (murmurs)
Thakuron ke yahaan rishta hua hai... kaisa rona dhona... chup rehna...

As she talks. She keeps cleaning Bulbbul. Her face. Her legs. Her bruises. Her blood. She
cleans her and dresses her as she speaks.

BINODINI(CONT'D)
Thoda paagal hai... par shaadi ke baad theek ho jayega... thoda paagal hai... par thakur hai...
thoda paagal hai... par gehney mileingey... resham milega... izzat milegi... thoda paagal hai...
par... uss se nahin to usskey bhai se... sab milega... chup rehna...

Bulbbul looks at Binodini. Slowly cold assessment is replaced by understanding. By

empathy.Binodini puts the finishing touches. She pinches Bulbbul’s cheeks to brings some
colour to them. She opens a pan from her paan box and dabs Bulbbul’s split lip with some
kathhaa. Binodini has her all ready. She can’t do anything about the feet. So she just throws
a sheet over them. Now Bulbbul is all cleaned up. All visible signs of the night removed. And
only then Binodini looks at Bulbbul directly.

BINODINI(CONT'D)
Badi haveliyon mein badey raaz hotey hain... aur hum auraton ka kaam hai... khud ke saath
saath in raaz ko bhi pardon mein dhaank ke rakhna... Chup rehna

INT. CORRIDOR - DAY

Binodini bumps into Sudip.

pg. 37
 38

SUDIP
Kaisi tabiyat hai?

BINODINI
Hosh aa gaya...

She rushes away. He looks relieved.

INT. BULBBUL'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Sudip enters. He sees the empty slings and runs to the foot of the bed. The bandages are
almost undone and completely bloody. Sudip turns to Bulbbul and looks at her with
compassion.

SUDIP
Kya hua... kaisey...
She doesn’t say anything. He turns to his bag.
SUDIP(CONT'D)
kitni baar kahaa hai sabse... koyi haath na lagaye...
His voice trails off. As he sees fresh dark clotting blood trail down her inner thigh.
SUDIP(CONT'D)
Yeh...
The state of her and now this red evidence.
SUDIP(CONT'D)
Yeh kissney kiya...
She doesn’t say a word.He moves to her bedside. A gentle reassuring move.
SUDIP(CONT'D)
Main aapka doctor hoon... aap mujhey bataa saktey hain..

BULBBUL
Pattiyaan baandho... aur jao...
And she closes her eyes. Leaving him looking powerless.

Scene 17 ends. (Flashback ends)

SCENE- 18 (back to present)

Lights- Red

pg. 38
 39

Characters- Bulbul, Binodani, Gaadiwan’s son

INT. BADI HAVELI BULBBUL'S ROOM - NIGHT

Bulbbul looks out of her window at the moonlit kali temple with a peaceful look on her face.

BINODINI O.S.
Puja ki tayyaari ho gayi

Bulbbul turns. Binodini stands by the door.

BULBBUL(blank)
Puja?

BINODINI
Mahendra ki barsi ki puja...

BULBBUL
Oh... kaisey bhool sakti hoon... yeh din hum dono ke liye kitna khaas hai...

And Binodini, in that moment, recognises the truth of that statement.

They were entering the temple suddenly a boy (gaadiwan’s son) shows up. He looks grief
and stricken. She frowns. Goes up to him

GAADIWAAN’S SON (all he can manage): Ma...

And he bursts into tears. (Gaadiwan’s older wife floats in a well. Bulbbul’s silhouette )

BULBBUL

Kahaan hai tumhara pita...

GAADIWAN’S SON

Voh Satya thakur ko le kar gaye hain...

BULBBUL

Kahaan?

Scene 18 ends.

SCENE- 19 “CLIMAX SCENE”

Lights- Red+ Yellow+ Orange (Fire)

pg. 39
 40

Characters- Satya, Gaadiwan, Sudip and Bulbul

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT9494

The gaadiwaan whips the horses. Satya's closed carriage moves through the mist-infected
woods.

EXT. SUDIP’S HOUSE - NIGHT9191

Sudip looks up. Satya stands there pointing a rifle at him.Sudip looks at satya wooden
SATYA
Pehli baar jab tumsey miley they... tab hi goli maar deney ka mann kiya tha... ab samajh aaya
kyun...
Sudip almost looks amused. Not a good idea. Satya’s finger
curls around the trigger. Sudip raises his brows. Satya
relaxes his finger.

SATYA(CONT'D)
Fikr mat karo... hum kuch nahin kareingey... aapka faisla kalkattey ki kachehri mein hoga
ab...

INT. CARRIAGE - NIGHT

Inside the cart. Satya sits with the rifle across his knees. Sudip sits calmly. Satya watches him
hawk-eyed. Sudip leans his head back and closes his eyes. Relaxed.

SATYA
Darr nahin lagta...
Sudip opens his eyes and looks at him

SUDIP
Kis se?

SATYA
Gunah kartey ho... parinaam se...
Sudip deigns not to answer.

SATYA(CONT'D)
Sochtey ho bach jaogey...

SUDIP
Agar kanoon pe nirbhar karta hai.. To haan...

pg. 40
 41

SATYA
To hum bina matlab ke tumharey saath aisa kar rahey hain? Humey Shaq hai..

SUDIP
Shaq aapko kissi aur cheez ka hai... Sazaa aap kissi aur cheez ki dena chahtey hain...

SATYA
Saza to milegi...(chuckles)
Ab to bas tum tab hi bach paogey agar humaarey saamney churail aa khadi ho...

A thump on top of the carriage. Satya looks up surprised. Sudip's eyes fly open. He sits up.
Satya looks at Sudip. Sudip looks worried. The horses leap forward catching speed. Satya and
Sudip jerk with the sudden speed of the carriage. Satya looks irritated. Sudip worried. Satya
bangs on the carriage roof.

SATYA(CONT'D)(Calling out)
Araam se chalao!!

Almost instantly the gaadi seems to slow down. Satya looks satisfied and settles back.
Sudip is tense. The gaadi slows down further. Then it draws to a halt.Satya frowns. He bangs
on the carriage front.

SATYA(CONT'D)(Calling out)
Gaadiwan! Kya hua?
There is no answer from outside. Satya bangs on the front again.Sudip looks at him very
worried.Satya looks really irritated. He moves to open the door. Sudip grabs his arm.

SUDIP
Choto Thakur... Mat jayiye baahar.
He opens the carriage door. Looks at Sudip warningly.

SATYA
Hillna mat... Nahin to goli maar Deingey...
He bangs the door shut on sudip's tense face

SATYA O.S.
Gaadiwan!

Satya moves to the front of the carriage.The gaadiwan sits stock still. Looking down. Satya
pokes him angrily with the rifle.

pg. 41
 42

SATYA
So Gaya Kya?

The gaadiwan just slides off his perch. And falls lifeless at Satya’s feet.Satya gasps and moves
back.The light of the carriage lamp falls on him. He is covered in blood. And very dead.Satya
looks at him in incomprehension. Then shock. He looks at the closed carriage door and then
down to the dead body. The wind rustles through the trees up ahead. Satya looks
ahead. The blood drains from his face. She is standing there. In shadows. In mist. Satya raises
the rifle in his shaking hands.
He fires.
She laughs throatily. Mockingly. And then the mist cloaks her. He runs towards her.
Sudip reacts to the gunshot. He jumps out. Sudip can’t see Satya. He can only hear gunshots
in the mist. And then. He feels something or someone perhaps. He turns. It is Bulbbul. Blood
soaked. Mist swirls around Bulbbul. She clutches at her side. Where she is bleeding from a
gunshot wound. Sudip’s shock is overridden by concern. He makes a move as if to go to her.
Running footsteps approach the two of them. They both look in that direction.
Satya comes running back through the mist. Sudip looks to where Bulbbul was. But she’s no
longer there. Satya looks at Sudip blankly.

SATYA
Voh... Voh thi....
Satya shakes his head. Dealing with this.
SATYA(CONT'D)
Churail hai...
Sudip doesn't say anything.
SATYA(CONT'D)
Humey ussey dhoondna padhega
SUDIP
Haveli wapas jayiye choto Thakur
SATYA (Shocked)
Kya??
SUDIP (Calmly)
Haveli wapas jayiye...
SATYA
Kyun? Hum darrtey nahin hain... tumhey darr lagta hai to tum ja saktey ho... waisey bhi
nirdosh ho... ja saktey ho...

pg. 42
 43

Sudip looks sadly at Satya.

Satya unhooks the burning torch from the carriage. Sudip looks at him worried.
SUDIP
Kya kar rahey ho?
SATYA
Uska shikar...
Sudip turns pale.
Sudip runs behind him and tries to wrest the rifle away from him.
Sudip hits Satya unafraid. He twists his arm. The flames dangerously close to his face.
As an ember falls from the torch to the ground. Lighting the kindling like dry winter
undergrowth.
SATYA(CONT'D)
Kyun bachaaney ki koshish kar rahey ho? (Angrily)Kya lagti hai voh tumhari?
SUDIP (Quietly)
Meri to achhi dost hai Par aapki... Aapki to sab kuch thi aapki bhabhi...
And in a split second Satya punches Sudip. Hard. The thrown punch drowns out the last
word that sudip says. Sudip falls to the ground. Satya runs with the mashaal.

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT100100

Up in the trees ahead. Bulbbul clutches at a branch. She is making her way ahead. But there
is none of her former grace. She is clumsy. Slow. Flames ignite the undergrowth. The fire
snakes through the forest.
EXT. FOREST - CONTINUOUS
Sudip catches up with Satya. Satya hits him again. But this time Sudip hits back.
Satya swings the burning mashaal at Sudip. Singes him. They fall to the ground. The fire
spreads all over the ground.
SATYA
Ek raakshas se itna lagaav?
SUDIP
Rakshas nahin hai voh... devi hai...
As he knocks out satya and extinguishes the torch.

Bulbbul moves laboriously through the trees. The fire spreading and roaring.
On the trees. Bulbbul pauses. Her head jerks around. Her eyes widen in shock.The flames are

pg. 43
 44

racing towards her. Bulbbul runs. Bulbbul is weak. She is gasping. She is trying to get to the
edge of the forest. She misses her footing. Goes crashing through the branches. Lets out a
cry. Like a bird. A small sound of pain.

Sudip reacts. It's coming from ahead. No behind.

SUDIP
BADI BAHU

The trees around Bulbbul begin to burn. She gets up and runs. Trying to outrun the fire. She
climbs a cool dark tree. The fire chases her on the tree. She runs. She crawls. She crouches.
She leaps.
Sudip breaks through a dense patch of trees only to come out into the open. The forest has
ended.
Satya follows. Sudip looks at trees made of fire.

SUDIP
Yeh Kya Kiya...
Sudip looks at the wall of flame in front of him in horror
Satya smiles, victorious.
Sudip runs towards the burning forest.
Satya smiles and turns away from the burning forest. His job is done. And then. From the
flames. Sudip’s voice.
SUDIP O.S.
BADI BAHU!!!!
Satya stops. He freezes. Satya shakes his head. His eyes register shock. Disbelief. He
whips around to the inferno. Horror. Grief. Tears. In satya's eyes. Satya screams and runs
towards the burning forest. He is not able to even enter the wall of fire. Silence on satya's
scream. Fire. Smoke. Ash. Ash floats and falls on Satya’s face like teardrops.

Bulbbul, surrounded by flames, crouches on a tree. Like a

child, holding her knees to her chest.The flames dance. Each whirl taking it closer to Bulbbul.
Enveloping her in the last embrace.

Scene 19 ends.

pg. 44
 45

SCENE- 20

Lights- Red

Characters- Indranil

Indranil. Hair is almost completely grey. He is back in Haweli after few years. Indranil in his
room reading the letter left by Satya.

SATYA (Voice)
Thakur dada... humesha sochtey thhey badey ho kar aap se baneingey... par aaj yeh ghar
chhorrh ke ja rahey hain...Issi darr se... kahin aap se na bann jayein... iss darr se... ke kahin
aap se... bann hi gaye hain... ab koyi fark nahin hum sab mein... ab sach mein khoon ka rishta
hai hum sab ka... vohi khoon jis se hum sab ke haath rangey hain...

EXT. BADI HAVELI - DAY/NIGHT 117117

The sun sets on the haveli as indranil enters it. As the door shuts the moon rises.
The wind sighs.
Indranil sleeps in Bulbbul's bed. Outside the wind is really making the leaves rustle. The only
thing is, there are no trees. And yet, they rustle. Indranil sleeps. Oblivious.
The wind stops sighing. The leaves stop rustling. There is
silence.
BULBBUL (V.O.)
(whisper)
Thakur moshai
Indranil's eyes open.
A terrified Indranil can barely wrap his brain around what he
is seeing.
And she forms. Living breathing glowing beautiful powerful
Bulbbul. With fire in her veins. And a smile on her lips.
A yodel to welcome the bride home.
FADE TO BLACK.

Scene 20 ends.

pg. 45
 46

THE END.

pg. 46