ON black we hear a WOMAN humming a soft melody.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

CLOSE UP of KRISHNA. She rests her head on the pillow, her

eyes closed and a hint of a smile on her lips. The flame of
the bedside lantern flickers gently in the breeze coming in
through the window.

She stops singing and opens her eyes. A gold LOCKET hangs
above her, a gold Taj Mahal engraved on the pendant. She
looks at it closely.

KRISHNA
Jahanpana... aye jahanpana...

A handsome well built man in mid-thirties, Vidyadhar VERMA,

her husband, lies next to her. A MOSQUITO NET hangs on the
large old-fashioned bed.

She takes the locket from him and moves closer to him.

VERMA
Hmmm..

KRISHNA
Makbara toh banva hi laaye ho...
ab maar bhi daalo baandi ko...

VERMA
Fauj chhutti par gayi hai rani
sahiba..

KRISHNA
Ek adna si rani ko halaak karne ke
liye fauj darkar hai...? Humein
jahanpana ke hathon qatl hona
hai..

VERMA
Woh mumkin nahi hai..

Verma looks at a WATCH on the bedside table. Krishna firmly

turns the watch down and looks at Verma defiantly.

KRISHNA
Kyon..?
He tries to kiss her again but she moves her head.

VERMA
Hum nayee rani ko zabaan de chuke
hain..

KRISHNA
Kisey..?

VERMA
Nayee rani ko..Shehar mein hai..

He turns to her and smiles, kisses her tenderly on her

shoulder.

VERMA
Aur ye makbara bhi ussi ka hai..

He snatches the pendant away from her. She tries to snatch

it back but he is too quick for her.

He jumps off the bed and turns around, showing her the
necklace. She lunges for it but he pulls it back.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE CORRIDOR - NIGHT

He scurries backwards, not realizing that he stands with

his back to the pillar. Krishna seizes the opportunity and
pins him on the wall. They embrace - panting, laughing.
Verma puts the chain and locket around her neck.

KRISHNA
(seriously)
Ab hum kahin nahin jaane denge
tumko

Verma smiles a tad awkwardly. His cell phone rings and he

tries to move away. She pulls him back. He kisses her
softly on the cheek.

VERMA
Chalo.. phulka seko..

She pulls him back, a tad harshly this time. The cell phone
rings.
 KRISHNA
Sach...Kahin nahin jaane denge

VERMA
Arre do mahine ka nahin hai ab ye
thakuron ka gaurment...dekhna ye
hi pulisye humare pakhane
dhoenge..roj phenyle se..

Krishna doesn't respond, just looks at him straight.

VERMA (CONT'D)
Yahan ka daroga thakuron ka
laundiya hai...aa gaya na to
encounter karke hi jayega...

He gets free to quickly pick up the phone but it stops

ringing. He looks at Krishna.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE KITCHEN - LATER

A roti is nearly cooked when the stove dies down. Krishna

tries to light up the stove again but it doesn't respond.
She bends down and moves the gas cylinder. Empty.

EXT. COURTYARD - A LITTLE LATER/CONTINUOUS

Verma washes his hands, while talking on the cell phone

tucked between his ear and shoulder.

VERMA
Haan haan wahi behenchod...kitni
baar bolen..aadhe ghante main milo
humko..abhi..?

He looks at Krishna working inside the kitchen.

VERMA (CONT'D)
Roti senk rahi hai...

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE KITCHEN

Krishna blows the earthen stove. She turns around and

serves a roti to Verma.
 KRISHNA
Surrender kar do..

VERMA
Kya kar do....?

Krishna looks at him.

KRISHNA
Surrender...

Verma chuckles softly.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Na 302 ke gawah hain unke paas na
304 ke aur 396 main chaar saal se
zaada andar nahin rakh sakte
tumko..

VERMA
(serious)
Kachahri gayi thi tum..?

Krishna looks away.

VERMA (CONT'D)
Krishna kya pooch rahe hain
hum..haan..kachahri gayi thi
tum..?

Krishna suddenly bursts out.

KRISHNA
Haan gaye the..teen saal se gin ke
teen din nahin bitaye
saath..tumhare jaane ke baad
bistar nahin sawarta hai dino
tak..chaadar pe tumhari silwaton
pe mare pade rehte hain...ab aur
nahin hota..aaj tum jaoge to hum
bhi jaa rahe hain..
 VERMA
Kahan..?

KRISHNA
Pata nahin..

VERMA
Samjha..kitna bada sulphate hain
hum..

KRISHNA
Kya samjhe..?

VERMA
Lagta hai koi aur radha ya meera
mil gaya hai humari krishna ko..

She starts hitting him while laughing through her tears. He

embraces her tightly. A silent beat.

VERMA (CONT'D)
Theek hai..ab jo aap bolengi wahi
hoga..agle teen mahine main apni
gaurment nahin aayi to hum
cylinder kar denge..

KRISHNA
Cylinder nahin gadhe surrender

VERMA
Haan haan wahi..ab jayen..

She nods.

VERMA (CONT'D)
Aarti nahin karogi aaj..

She moves away but stops as the pendant pulls her. It is

wound to a button of his kurta. They chuckle and try to get
it out but it isn't that simple. Finally she simply takes
it off her and puts it on his neck. He protests but she is
away before he can stop.
Verma sees her go.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Krishna lights an aarti on the puja plate in the bedroom. A

wad of 100-rupee note are kept by the side.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

She walks out of the room towards the kitchen. We stay with
her.

She walks past the courtyard. As she approaches the

kitchen, she looks up and her eyes widen. There is a sudden
burst of light on her face.

An explosion rips through the kitchen area of the house.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

We see the burning house from a distance.

FADE OUT.
Ishqiya

FADE IN:

EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

A live orchestra BAND stares quietly toward camera. Camera

tracks back to include two men in bathing trunks with their
back to camera. One of them gives the band go ahead a la a
concert conductor. The trumpet player begins a soft melody
and the female singer starts to croon a Lata Mangeshkar
ditty of yore - Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Ye.

The men turn to face each other and give a huge grin. One
of them is Iftekhar Hussain, about 50. We will come to know
him as KHALUJAN. The other is younger, lean albeit
disheveled, in early thirties and is called BABBAN Hussain.
Khalujan courteously offers his hand to Babban. Babban
accepts it graciously and they begin to waltz to the song.
Soon the men are lost in the melody and sway all around
farmhouse that has a swimming pool in the centre. The
afternoon sun shines in the crystal clear waters.

The duo have their eyes closed in bliss, totally oblivious

to a group of men who approach them from the other side of
the farmhouse.

The gang encircles them. Khalujan smiles, yet unaware of

their presence.

KHALUJAN
Kyon Khan..!

BABBAN
Haan Khan..!

KHALUJAN
Mausam..!

BABBAN
Tha.. tha..!

KHALUJAN
Loote dil..!

BABBAN
Loote jaan...!

KHALUJAN
Chal chalein..

BABBAN
Par kahan...!

KHALUJAN
Jannaton mein...

BABBAN
Haan.. Haan..!

KHALUJAN
Haan.. Haan..!

BABBAN
Haan.. Haan..!

KHALUJAN
Haan.. Haan..!
Babban and Khalujan swing around as they repeat the last
words of the rhyme and raise their hands in the air. They
open their eyes to see the gang smiling at them.

It is a pretty nasty looking group led by MUSHTAQ, a

balding man in his fifties.

The elated grin on the face of the duo remains intact but
the surprise can be seen in the eyes.

EXT. FARMHOUSE - LATER

Mushtaq sits poker-faced on a rocking chair in the garden

by the pool. The chair rocks gently. On the ground by his
side, lies a large bag. Babban and Khalujan squat below on
the ground. Both are dripping wet and bruised.

Babban plucks grass and his gaze is fixed on to the ground.

Khalujan has his head bowed in submission. The band has
gone and a few men dig the ground in the lawn.

Mushtaq stops rocking the chair.

MUSHTAQ
Main kutiya hoon..?

Khalujan looks at Mushtaq incredulously but doesn't say

anything. Babban chooses not to react.

MUSHTAQ
Phir..?
(clapping like a eunuch)
Naseeban..?

Khalujan looks away. Mushtaq leans forward and pulls his

chin up roughly.

MUSHTAQ
Umrao jaan ada..?

KHALUJAN
Majboori mein galti ho gayee
Mushtaq bhai.. Rehem..

BABBAN
Ek ekanni nahi kharchi aapke bees
lakh mein se.. saare sahi salaamat
hai.. Gin lo..
He tries to open the bag but Mushtaq hits hard him on the
hand.

MUSHTAQ
Nai nai.. Zaroorat nahi hai..
Aapki imaandari pe shaq karke
marna hai mujhe.. ? Cold storage
mein 15 hazaar ki barf gal gayi
hai.. Arrey majbooron paise udaye
toh udaye.. Fuse kyon udaya wahan
ka..?

KHALUJAN
Roshni mein pehchaan liye jate ...

BABBAN
Waise bhi hamein laga cold storage
mein aapke paise thande hote
hain.. Barf nahi..

The man supervising the digging calls out for Mushtaq.

HENCHMAN
Teen foot ka ho gaya Mushtaq
bhai..!

MUSHTAQ
Aur do foot khod..! Bade hi sade
huye insaan hain ye khalu bhanje..
Do din mein baas marne lagenge
saale..!

Khalujan falls on Mushtaq's feet begging for mercy.

KHALUJAN
Aapka munh-bola sala hoon main..
Jiji rakhi bandhti hai mujhe..!
Aadha gharwala hua na..! Maaf kar
do.. Khuda ke liye..!

Mushtaq frowns and tries to shoo him away when his mobile
phone rings. He frees himself and takes the call.

MUSHTAQ
Haan janam..

KHALUJAN
(yelling)
 Jiji..! Mushtaq bhai zinda gadva
riye hain.. Humein bachaa lo
Jiji..!

Mushtaq paces away from Khalujan so his wife isn't able to

hear what her 'brother' has to say. Mushtaq's men grab
Khalujan yet he keeps shouting.

KHALUJAN
Bachaa lo jiji.. Jiji..!

The men cover Khalujan's mouth yet he doesn't give up.

Mushtaq goes into a corner.

MUSHTAQ
Naa naa jaanam.. Kuch nahi.. Sadak
pe kisi Jija-sale ki taqrar ho
rahi thi.. Aap dargah ho aayee..?
Chaliye.. Raat ke night show ke
ticket aa gaye hain.. Hum..? aap
nazrein band karein aur hum
pahunche... Allah Hafiz..

He disconnects and scowls at Khalujan.

MUSHTAQ
Koi aakhri khwaish..?

BABBAN
Lateefa sunana hai..

EXT. FARMHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Khalujan and Babban sit next to each other inside the

grave. Mushtaq sits on the chair just above them surrounded
by his men and listens as Babban narrates his joke. They
chuckle through the narration.

BABBAN
Ek Maulvi sahab bade pareshan
the.. apni toti se.. Unke paaq
gharane ka maahaul kharaab kar
dala tha kamzarf toti ne.. ye munh
se aisi gandi gandi galiyaan
phoot-ti theen ki mujh jaisa bhi
sharmaa jaye.. jhenpte huye Maulvi
saahab ne ek din apne dost Qazi
 sahab ko ye baat bata dee.. Qazi
sahab bole, usse mere yahaan bhej
do.. Maine do tote paale hain..
Bade shareef hain...Sara din
Allah-Allah karte rehte hain..
Sahi sangat hogi toh do din mein
zabaan aap hi sahi ho jayegi..
Maulvi sahab bade khush..! Apni
toti laaye aur usse Qazi sahab ke
ghar chhor diya.. Qazi sahab ne
toti ko pinjre ke andar daal
diya.. Jaise hi toti andar gai..
ek tote ne usse ektak dekha aur
kalma padhna band kiya.. Muskuraya
aur apne dost ko bola ki..

Babban stops.

MUSHTAQ
Kya bola..?

Babban smiles awkwardly. He gestures for Mushtaq to come

closer.

MUSHTAQ
Kya bola..?

Babban goes closer to him. As he starts to speak he grabs

Mushtaq and pulls him towards him. Mushtaq falls from the
chair and tumbles into the grave. Khalujan immediately
comes into action and points a tiny knife very close to
Mushtaq's face. The knife was concealed inside the pendant
on his neck.

KHALUJAN
Sorry Mushtaq bhai..

EXT. FARMHOUSE - LATER

Mushtaq's henchmen are tied behind him and Khalujan toils

to get Mushtaq tied up in his own chair. Babban has the gun
pointed attentively.

KHALUJAN
15 saalon mein 132 carein.. 78
laptop aur 238 mobile phone
churaye hain apke liye.. Badle
 mein jo bhi diya aapne.. Bina gine
jeb mein rakh liya.. Kabhi choon-
chapad nahi kiya..
(to the henchmen)
Kiya..?

They shake their head tentatively.

KHALUJAN
Socha ki itna sa paisa mil jaaye
ki apne mulq jaake mobile phone
BPL, Airtel, Reliance nahi toh
Garuda ki hi agency daal lein..
Maine toh saari janvar ki tarah
guzaar dee.. Par Babban ki toh
bachi hai bhaijan.. Iska nikaah ho
toh iske bachche khilaaoon..
unhein
is-school le jaaoon aur ek din
wahin apni mitti me faut ho
jaaoon.. Bas yahi sapne ne thali
mein chhed karaa daala..

Having done with the job, Khalujan gets up.

KHALUJAN
(to Babban)
Chal..

BABBAN
Isse zindaa chhor ke bahut badi
galati kar rahe ho Khalu..

KHALUJAN
Apne haathon se apni behen ka ghar
ujaad doon..? Ye mujhe saala mane
na mane.. Main inhein kaleje se
jeeja manta hoon..
(to Mushtaq; politely)
Rassi teit toh nahi hai..?

MUSHTAQ
Chalo maaf kiya.. khol do mujhe..

BABBAN
Kya hai Mushtaq bhai ki humne
galti mein thodi jaldi kar dee aur
 aapne maafi mein thodi der..
Sorry..

Babban picks up the bag and follows Khalujan towards the

gate.

MUSHTAQ
Agli baar kabar bhi tumheen se
khudwaoonga saalon..!

BABBAN
(walking away)
Maulvi bhi le aiyo saath faateha
padhne ko..!

The two men walk away from the farmhouse. Smiling.

FADE TO:

EXT. BHOPAL STREET - D/N

Music kicks in as the credit sequence begins. Camera

travels through various streets of Bhopal. The landscape
changes from wide open streets to crowded bazaars; from
glitzy malls to squalid ghettos; from day to night.

Music continues over the following shots of Babban and

Khalujan driving in the Indica:

A. EXT. HIGHWAY -

They share an apple as the car speeds out of the city

limits.

B. EXT. HIGHWAY -

Babban drives fast, races another car while trying to

overtake.

C. EXT. HIGHWAY -

Car passes a baba sitting under a tree smoking a chillum.

Car stops a little distance away and reverses. Cut to
Khalujan and Babban laughing uncontrollably.
D. EXT. HIGHWAY -

Babban stands next to the car and yawns. Through the window
we see Khalujan peeing on a tree.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

Music fades out and we hear snatches of phone conversations

over various shots of the car driving.

BABBAN (O.S.)
Hello Feroze bhai Aadaab.. Babban
bol riya hoon..

FEROZE (O.S.)
Arrey kya panga le liya tune
Babban..! Na bhai na Dilli ki toh
soch bhi mat haan.. Mushtaq ke
bande baavle saand ki tarah ghoom
raha hai ilaake mein.. Tere saath
hum bhi jayenge..

BABBAN (O.S.)
Par Feroze bhai..

FEROZE (O.S.)
Na bhai na.. Maafi..

The phone clicks as the line goes dead.

The car travels back in the direction it came from -

MAN ON PHONE (O.S.)

Iftekhar..? Oh Khalujaan bolo na..
yara mein toh jail mein hoon..
Pataa nahi tujhe..? Arrey vo 84 ka
case.. Har dus saal mein khul
jaata hai saala..

Car drives erratically and sputters.

EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER

The mood inside the car is much subdued now as -

WOMAN ON PHONE (O.S.)

 Pichhle saal panhaa di to hamari
ladki ko pet se kar diya aapke
bhanje ne..! Aur aapki ye majaal
ki aap humse madad maange..? kuch
sharm-lihaaz hai apko..?

Car overtakes another vehicle, narrowly misses being hit by

a bus coming from the opposite direction

Car drives slowly, being overtaken.

ASIF NEPALI (O.S.)

Nepal ka raja kaun..? Asif
Nepali.. Arre tum yahaan aa jao..
Mushtaq kya.. Musharraf bhi nahi
chhoo sakega tumhein... haan..
Gorakhpur ka border sabse safe
hai..

The car breaks down. The sun sets in the horizon.

EXT. HIGHWAY - CAR - NIGHT

Babban disconnects the phone while driving. Khalujan looks

at him.

BABBAN
Gorakhpur..

KHALUJAN
Verma..

BABBAN
Kaun Verma..?

KHALUJAN
Woh MLA ke murder case ka
faraari.. Chhupa nahi tha hamare
yahan..?

Babban looks for the number in his phone.

BABBAN
Vidyadhar Verma..

He presses the key to call the number but Khalujan snatches

away the phone from him.
 KHALUJAN
Phone pe tarka dega..

BABBAN
Toh waapas chalein kya..?

KHALUJAN
Kabhi nahi.. Seedha dhamak padte
hain uske yahaan.. Apne aap paas
karaayega border..

They drive on a dark highway.

INT. POLICE CHECKPOST STATE BORDER - NIGHT

A shoddy print of the photographs of 8 to 10 criminals -

Iftekhar and Razzaq Hussain - among them.

A constable walks inside, cigarette dangling from his

mouth. He looks around and picks up the paper with the
photographs and puts it on fire from the stove.

EXT. POLICE CHECKPOST STATE BORDER - CONTINUOUS

Babban and Khalujan are nervous as they arrive at the

police post. They aren't sure that if all this checking is
routine or specific. They pretend to act nonchalant as they
wait for their turn in the line of vehicles.

The Policeman comes out smoking his cigarette.

Their car having reached the last of the barricades, the

duo exchange a look of subdued relief. In the background,
the cop smokes his cigarette. His eyes light up as he looks
ahead. He barks immediate orders and his men come into
action. Babban presses on the accelerator and drives away.
The police fires at the vehicle.

Glass is shattered with the barrage of gunfire. The car

swerves wildly before gaining control and speeding away.

INT/EXT. BUS - MORNING

Khalujan leans out of the window. A dupatta flies against

the wind ahead of him.
Babban and a young woman play a staring game. She smiles at
him as he tightens the knot of the bandage in his hand. He
opens the top button of his shirt to show a big scar just
below the neck. She is suitably impressed. He gestures to
show he has many wounds, down in the leg, stomach and so
on. She smiles coyly. Babban gets up and walks to her.

As Babban gets up, a middle aged woman who was sitting next
to him, rolls over in her sleep and leans on Khalujan's
shoulder. Khalujan is awkward at first, then he props
himself in such a way that she becomes more comfortable
while he seems rather ill at ease. Despite the obvious
discomfort, he smiles gallantly.

EXT. BUS - MORNING

A state transport bus travels through the interiors of

Uttar Pradesh.

EXT. GORAKHPUR STREET - HOUSE - EVENING

The door of the house opens to see a Pizza delivery boy

smiling obsequiously.

PIZZA BOY
Hello madam.. I'm from Puja
peeza.. this is your order of
paneer tikka peeza.. and one
Frooti.

As he speaks, Babban climbs onto the bike in the background

and kickstarts it. The Pizza boy turns around and sees his
bike being stolen. He runs for it.

PIZZA BOY (CONT'D)

Oye..!

But he is too late. He throws his cap on the ground in

frustration.

PIZZA BOY (CONT'D)

Le gaye bhainchod..!

EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER

Khalujan sits behind the Pizza delivery bike and takes a
bite of the pizza. Babban accelerates on the highway to the
village.

EXT. VILLAGE - NIGHT

Khalujan and Babban arrive into the village. It's

completely deserted but for an old woman, TAI, huddled up
on the parapet under the giant banyan tree. Babban stops
the bike near her.

KHALUJAN
Ye Vidyadhar Verma ka makaan kaun
sa hai..?

The old woman has a unlit wooden torch by her side.

TAI
Cigarette peeta hai..?

KHALUJAN
Nahi..

Babban offers a beedi to her.

BABBAN
Beedi chalegi..?

TAI
Mujhe machis chaahiye..

KHALUJAN
Kyon..?

TAI
Pyaas lagi hai yoon.. Abey
sulphate lakdi kya nal se
jalaaoon..?

Babban fishes in his pockets but can't find a match.

EXT. VILLAGE - HUT - MOMENTS LATER

Khalujan uses a stick to lift a lantern through the window

of a hut. He performs the task with such dexterity and ease
that the child sleeping inside is undisturbed.
EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Tai knocks at the door, the lit torch in her hands.

TAI
Krishna..! O Krishna..! Jal mari
kya..?

Babban peers over the wall. Tai looks at him suspiciously.

TAI
(to Babban)
Tum dono daaku ho..?

BABBAN
Nahi..

TAI
Toh chor..?

BABBAN
Arre nahi..

TAI
Phir..?

KHALUJAN (O.S.)
Sulphate..

The door opens as Tai giggles. A woman is at the door, her

head covered with a shawl and an electric torch in her
hand.

TAI
Krishna... Mehman aaye hain tere
yahaan..

The torch light travels from Tai to the duo. Khalujan

smiles tentatively and Babban squints in the light.

Krishna looks at the men.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

We see the house from a distance.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - LATER

Krishna's house is half burnt, some sections still charred
from the fire.

Khalujan and Babban sit on a charpai in the compound just

outside the house. Babban takes out his pistol tucked under
his shirt and keeps it by his side. Krishna catches a
glimpse of the pistol as she serves them water. Babban
covers it with a cloth.

Khalujan, unaware of this, takes out a liquor bottle

wrapped in a newspaper from his bag.

KHALUJAN
Vermaji ke liye... bahut pasand
hai ye rum unhein ghoda chhaap..
Hamare ilaake ki khaas.. Kehte
thay pehle peg mein shaadi ka
ghoda.. Teesre mein daaku aur
panchvein mein race ka..

Khalujan guffaws out on his joke but doesn't get a response

from his audience.

KHALUJAN
Teen maheene mein tees saal ka
yaraana ho gaya tha.. Hamaare
yahaan panhaa li thi.. Nai
Babban..?

BABBAN
(to Krishna)
Aajkal nange hain ki burke mein..?

Krishna turns to him sharply and Khalujan nudges him.

BABBAN
Sheesh..! Matlab ki aajkal andar
hai ki faraar hai..?

KRISHNA
Main chai chadhhaati hoon..

BABBAN
(to Khalujan)
Teim toh rum ka ho riya hai
waise..

Krishna stops.
 KHALUJAN
Nahin nahin.. Ye aise hi mazaak
kar raha hai..

KRISHNA
Dalaan ke peeche gusalkhaana hai..
Maine tauliye laga diye hain..
Barf aur namkeen lagaa deti hoon..
Gilaas kaanch ke nahi steel ke
hain..

She starts to leave and stops.

KRISHNA
Khaane ki thaliyaan dhhak ke rakhi
rahengi..

KHALUJAN
Na ji na.. Khaana toh hum Vermaji
ke sath hi khaayenge.. Kab tak
aayenge vo andaazan..?

KRISHNA
Kabhi nahi..

She walks away. Babban and Khalujan look at each other.

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Babban and Khalujan are still outside on cots laid for

them. We see them in an animated discussion from inside the
house. They stop and look towards camera.

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE CORRIDOR - NIGHT

From their POV - Krishna walk through the corridor of the

house, switching off the lights. She shuts the door to her
room.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Krishna shuts the door and walks past the room. In the
corner is an old dusty Tanpura, covered with a cloth.

We hear strains of tanpura on the sound track.

EXT. VILLAGE - MORNING

Morning greets the countryside. The tanpura continues

playing on the sound track as we see glimpses of country
life.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MORNING

SONG: Babban and Khalujan are fast asleep. The music

continues and a female voice sings a classical melody.
Babban tosses and turns and keeps a pillow over his head.
Khalujan opens his eyes slowly and hears the soft music. He
gets out from the bed.

INT./EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MORNING

Khalujan follows the sound and walks through the house. The
music is coming from a room in the house. He approaches the
window to the room and steals a look inside. Krishna sits
on a mat in the centre of a sparsely set room. She has a
tanpura with her and she sings the soft Hindustani
classical melody. Khalujan stares at her, captivated with
the sweetness of her voice and the serenity on her face.

Soon, he is completely lost in the music. He leans on the

railing and sways to the melody. The song reaches crescendo
as Krishna hits a high note and Khalujan stretches his hand
in compliment. A flower pot placed precariously on the
ledge becomes victim to his ecstasy and falls down. It
falls with a loud thump on the ground, providing the last
beat to the song.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

Tai sits by the small Gur manufacturing workshop. She picks

up pieces of wood and other trash and flings them into the
furnace, absentmindedly throwing things that shouldn't go
into the fire at all. Krishna asks her to stop as she
supervises the work in the workshop.

Labourers at the workshop bring a hot tub of freshly made

gur for Krishna to inspect. She looks at it closely.

KRISHNA
Iss baar agar kirkiri nikla toh
dekh lena..
 WORKER 1
Khude hi chakh ke dekh lo na
bhabhi..

Krishna turns to see Khalujan waiting for her. He looks

fresh out of a bath.

KRISHNA
(to Workers)
Tune chakhaa na..?

WORKER 2
Maine toh pichhli baar bhi chakhaa
tha..

Krishna takes out a spoonful of the jaggery and gives it to

Khalujan.

KRISHNA
Chakh ke bataayenge zaraa..?

Khalujan takes a bite from the spoon, still in her hand,

and closes his eyes, savouring the fresh gur.

KHALUJAN
Subhaan Allah..

The workers leave, satisfied with the result.

KHALUJAN
Ek chammach aur milega..?

Krishna smiles and gives him some more.

KHALUJAN
Aap..?

KRISHNA
Main meetha nahi khaati..

KHALUJAN
Toh itta meetha gaati kaise
hain..?

She smiles. Khalujan takes a bite.

KHALUJAN (CONT'D)
Muaaf kijiye.. Aapka podha barbaad
kar diya maine..
Krishna shakes her head to indicate that it doesn't matter
and turns around to work on the sugarcane machine. There is
silence for a bit as he looks around the workshop.

KHALUJAN
Badaa dukh hua Vermaji ka sun ke..
Hamein toh lagaa tha sab sulat
gaya tha.. Phir achaanak kaise..?
kya yaarbash aadmi the..

Krishna looks at the house.

KRISHNA
Ye makaan gavah hai unki yaariyon
ka.. Yamraaj se dosti mein ghar
toh chitaa hona hi tha..

Babban appears on the terrace. He has a cup of tea in his

hands and he raises it to them.

BABBAN
Cheers..!

KRISHNA
(to Khalujan)
Aap aur aapke dost mein zameen
aasman ka fark hai..

KHALUJAN
Zameen aasman kya ji.. Hindu-
Musalmaan ka fark hai.. waise main
itna galeez lagta hoon ki uss
jaise aadmi ka dost kehlaun..?

He points at Babban. Krishna laughs.

KHALUJAN
Woh bhaanja hai mera..

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - TERRACE - CONTINUOUS

Although he is not within earshot, Babban realises that his

uncle has made some unflattering remark about him. He
gestures to Khalujan asking what is the cause for mirth but
is ignored.
Babban shakes his head. He hears something behind him and
is alarmed. A boy of about 15, NANDU, has Babban's pistol
pointed at him.

BABBAN
Oye.. Kaun hai tu..? pare kar
bandook..!

The boy swings the pistol in his hands smartly and gives it
to Babban. He has a broom hanging by his shoulder.

NANDU
Bandook nahi.. Tamancha hai..

Babban checks the pistol to see if it was loaded.

NANDU
Aur ghode ka taar mud gaya hai
andar se.. Fire kiya toh haath
mein phat jaayega.. La idhar la..

Babban, quite taken with the boy's confidence, gives the

pistol back to him. Nandu inspects it carefully.

BABBAN
Umar kya hai bey teri..?

NANDU
5 kam 20.

BABBAN
Hathiyaar ke baare mein itta kaise
janta hai tu..?

NANDU
Hamaare gaon mein chootar dhone se
pehle tamancha chalaana sikhate
hain..

Nandu gives the pistol back to Babban.

NANDU
Kuch aur panga hai.. Jungle
jaoonga toh dena.. bapu do minute
mein theek kar dega..

Nandu turns around to leave.

BABBAN
 Sheher chalega mere saath..?
Phatphati pe..

NANDU
Jhaadu poche ke baad..

BABBAN
Waahaan pe red light area pata hai
tujhe..?

NANDU
Paise lagenge..

BABBAN
Haan haan.. Kothe pe katora leke
chadhoonga kya..?

NANDU
Abey sulphate.. Main kothewaali ki
nahi.. apne paise ki baat kar raha
hoon..

Babban smiles at him. Nandu walks away.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - LATER

Khalujan opens the door to a room. He looks around and

walks to a closet. Khalujan has the bag with the money in
his hands.

Khalujan keeps the bag deep inside the closet. He takes out
a 500-rupee note. He puts the money in his wallet and stops
seeing an old wrinkled picture of a young woman in it. On
the picture:

KRISHNA (O.S.)
(singing)
Tumhein dekhti hoon..

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

Krishna hums the song softly while cooking. We see Khalujan

standing quietly at the door, listening.

KHALUJAN
Tumhaare liye..
Krishna turns, surprised.

KRISHNA
Ji..?

KHALUJAN
Tumhaare liye film ka gaana hai
ye.. Jaidev ka sangeet.. Aur kya
gaaya hai Lata bai ne.. Aa ha
ha..! Saraswati hain sakshat..!

Krishna smiles.

KHALUJAN
Raag pahaadi hai na..?

Krishna turns back to the stove.

KRISHNA
Ji Bhopali.. Sangeet ke bade
shauqeen lagte hain aap..

KHALUJAN
(blushing)
Bas aise hi.. Mere chachajaan
tablanavaaz the.. Shakoor Hussain
Khan saab.. Indore gharaana..

KRISHNA
Oh.. lekin aap to..?

KHALUJAN
Bas kismat thi.. Waise thoda bahut
main bhi baja leta hoon..

He plays a vessel on the shelf. Well enough.

She smiles at him. He smiles back and starts to peel a

garlic.

KHALUJAN
Gungunaate rahiye... varna tarkari
teekhi ho jaayegi..

Krishna stops stirring the vegetable and turns to him.

Khalujan stops peeling and looks at her. She looks at him
straight in the eye. Khalujan is flustered. He gives her
the peeled garlic.
 KHALUJAN
Humein border paar jana hai
Nepal.. Ab Vermaji ji toh hai
nahi.. So naya jugaad dhoondhne
mein do-chaar din toh lag hi
jayenge.. Koi chhoti-moti mehfooz
si saray hogi aaspaas..?

Krishna listens to him intently.

KRISHNA
Aap chaahen to kuch din yaheen reh
sakte hain

KHALUJAN
Ji par...

KRISHNA
Aur sarai mein na sunne ke liye
gaana hoga.. Aur na hi todne ke
liye gamle.. Thoda lehsun aur kaat
dijiye..

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

Babban drives the Pizza bike and Nandu sits behind him.

NANDU
Wo dekh wahan.. Wo janglon ke
peechhe mera gaon hai.. Aur wo
jheel paar Thakuron ka.. pichhle
maheene 6 Thakur kamaaye hamaari
sena ne..

BABBAN
Kamaaye..?

Nandu brings his hand to Babban's neck and runs it like a

knife.

NANDU
Jaati yuddh chal raha hai yahaan
saalon se.. Har jaat ki apni sena
hai.. Meri bhi jaldi bharti hone
wali hai..

EXT. GORAKHPUR STREET - LATER

Ramshackle buildings, roadside stalls and stray dogs litter
a seedy part of the town. Babban looks around, sipping tea
by a stall and Nandu relishes a plateful of aloo-tikki.

NANDU
Tikki ke kaat ke baanve rupaye
huye mere..

Babban takes out a 500 rupee note and puts it in Nandu's

shirt pocket. The kid looks at him curiously.

BABBAN
Kyun khan..! Sena mein bharti ke
baad kya karega tu..?

Nandu looks at Babban blankly. He wipes his mouth.

NANDU
Iss gali se seedhe jaakar dayein
mudna Domariyaganj ke liye.. Aur
waapas yaheen milna.. Samjha..?

BABBAN
Sun...Sau rupaye dungaa roz.. Sena
chhor hamare saath kaam kar..

NANDU
Tum apna kaam niptaaye lo pehle..

Babban laughs out at Nandu's retort. The kid smiles quietly

at him.

EXT. GORAKHPUR STREET - BYLANE - LATER

A sleazy by lane. Women in blouse petticoats hang

listlessly by the corridors of the old buildings. Babban
strolls past them, eyeing them disdainfully.

A police van passes him by and Babban immediately turns

around and walks into a roadside book stall crammed in with
magazines and cheap novels. He pulls a newspaper and
pretends to read, hiding behind it.

BOOK VENDOR
Do rupaye..

BABBAN
Dekh rahaa hoon..
 BOOK VENDOR
Ussi ke.. Khareedega toh teen
hai..

The police van drives away slowly. Babban smiles at the

vendor.

BABBAN
Khabrein nahi padhni mujhe..

BOOK VENDOR
Toh..?

BABBAN
Kuchh aur hai..?

BOOK VENDOR
Kya..?

BABBAN
Kuchh bhi chatpata..

BOOK VENDOR
Kaun si bhasha mein..?

BABBAN
Matrabhasha..

The Book Vendor pulls out a small, slightly tattered

digest. The cover page reads, 'Kamla - Ek majboor naari ki
marmsparshi dastaan. Lekhak : Mastram'. Babban smiles.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

BABBAN (V.O.)
Kamla bhabhi ki aankhon se lagta
tha jaise wo 6 janam se upwaas pe
hai..

Nandu rides the bike while Babban reads the magazine

sitting pillion. As the bike passes, we see graffiti on the
wall about a sex clinic.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - GUR FACTORY - DAY

 BABBAN (V.O.)
Halaanki unke pati Col. Shyam ko
front par gaye huye abhi 6 din bhi
poore nahi huye they.. Bhabhi
kabhi paas se nikal jati toh garam
bhatti ka bhabhka sa chhoo jata
tha.. oopar se barsaaton ka haseen
mausam Bharpoor gudaaz, Kamla
bhabhi ko itna garam kar jaata tha
ki chahe toh unke kulhon par anda
phod kar double fry senk lo.. Uss
dopahar wo akeli apne aangan mein
baithi udaas haathon se lauki
chheel rahi thi.. Aur iss tadap se
chheel rahi thi ki unka dard
mujhse dekha na gaya.. Main seedhe
neeche pahuncha aur haath pakad
kar unhein bedroom mein le gaya..
Jaise hi maine unhein apni aagosh
mein liya.. Kamla bhabhi ki
aankhon se saawan baras pada..
Khushi ka sawan..

On the voice over we see visuals of :

A) Krishna in the Gur workshop - lonely, melancholic.

INT./EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MUSIC ROOM - DAY

Voice over continues:

B) She sits by the window as it rains down.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MUSIC ROOM - DAY

Voice over continues:

C) She sings in her room, playing the tanpura.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - GUR FACTORY - DAY

Voice over ends midway:

D) Babban reads the story slowly flanked by Nandu. Krishna

is in the workshop in the background. He enjoys the
narration thoroughly. Nandu gets up and goes to Krishna.
She gives instructions to Nandu as Babban watches from a
distance.

She walks away and Babban follows. Nandu sees him go.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MUSIC ROOM - DAY

We see Krishna in her room, changing into a saree. Babban

watches her from behind the window.

She walks up to the window and closes it although she

doesn't see Babban. Babban sighs and leans down by the
wall.

FADE TO:

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

Krishna and Khalujan riding on a cycle. Khalujan cycles and

Krishna sits on the bar in front. Grocery bags hang on the
handle of the bike.

Khalujan's transistor plays 'Ek maine Kasam li' from the

film 'Tere Mere Sapne'. Khalujan hums along but hits a
wrong note.

KRISHNA
Galat.. Aahista gaao.. Hum.. Ni
dha pa ni dha pa ga ma pa..

KHALUJAN
(slowly)
Ni dha pa ni dha pa ga ma pa..

Krishna pats him on the back.

KRISHNA
Shabaash mere shaagird..!

KHALUJAN
(blushing)
Sach..! Apna shaagird banayengi
mujhe..?

Krishna smiles.

KHALUJAN
 Ek roshni si hai aapke gale mein..
wo gaana aata hai aapko Lata ka..?
Imtihaan film ka.. Vinod Khanna,
Tanuja the..?

As she starts to sing the song, 'Roz sham aati thi', we cut
to a long shot of them cycling through the fields.

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

A few shots of Krishna and Khalujan in the market shopping

groceries together.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

As Krishna sings the phrase, 'Ye aaj meri zindagi me kaun

aa gaya', we see a car arriving in a wide shot. The car
stops very close to camera and a head leans out of the
window.

Mushtaq looks at the house.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - INNER COURTYARD - DAY

It's absolutely still and quiet but for the sweet chirping
of a bird in the courtyard of the house.

All of a sudden, Khalujan and Babban are thrown inside.

Mushtaq's men pound them hard and the duo offer no
resistance. Mushtaq joins in on the fun. Both men are
beaten mercilessly.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - INNER COURTYARD - DAY

Krishna watches from a room on the first floor of the

house.

Downstairs in the courtyard, Mushtaq sits on a chair and

Babban squats right under him on the floor. Khalujan is on
the floor too right behind him. Both of them bleed
profusely.

KHALUJAN
(whispers)
Maaf kar do..
 MUSHTAQ
Kya kar do..?

KHALUJAN
Maaf..

Mushtaq looks at Babban quizzically.

BABBAN
Jo ye keh riye hain kar do..

Mushtaq smiles and takes a deep breath.

MUSHTAQ
Paisa kahaan hai..?

KHALUJAN
Oopar hai..

BABBAN
Kharch diye..

Babban and Khalujan look at each other. Mushtaq bursts into

laughter and his men join him.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - GUEST ROOM - LATER

Khalujan opens the door of the closet where he had kept the
bag of money. He puts his hand inside and fishes for it.
Nothing.

He bends down and looks inside. The shelf is stacked with

old clothes and trinkets. He shoves them to look for the
bag but it isn't there. He looks at Babban who stares back
questioningly.

KHALUJAN
Yaheen toh tha..! Kahan jaayega..?

BABBAN
Aaj subaah hi toh 500 rupye nikale
they usmein se..!

Immediately both men start to turn the closet upside down.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - GUEST ROOM - LATER

The room and some other areas of the house are in complete
disarray yet there is no sign of the bag.

Khalujan sits atop a suitcase, defeated. Babban still walks

around throwing things angrily. He glares at Krishna.

As he walks towards her, Mushtaq arrives. Serious. He eyes

her.

MUSHTAQ
Aapka tarruf..?

Krishna tries to leave. Mushtaq stops her.

MUSHTAQ
Bataana nahi hai toh pooch hi
lijiye..

KHALUJAN
Inko beech mein mat dalo jeeju..
Chhoro..

MUSHTAQ
Masha Allah.. Kya tevar hain..
Kahiye toh inhein bhi dafan kar
dein tumhaare sath..?

Khalujan stares at him agog. Babban gasps.

EXT. FIELDS BEHIND HOUSE - DAY

This time Khalujan and Babban have to dig their grave on

their own. Both men sweat and pant hard.

Babban goes about his job quietly, angrily but Khalujan

still sees some hope and tries to sway Mushtaq emotionally.

KHALUJAN
Allah miaan sab dekh raha hai.. Ye
sila milta hai khuloos aur
muravvat ka..

MUSHTAQ
Aap log humein sabzi ke bore ki
tarah baandh gaye they veerane
mein.. Pehle hum chillaye mil ke..
Cheekhe .. Roye.. Par Parinda bhi
nahi phatka..
 JUMP CUT TO:

EXT. FARMHOUSE - LATE EVENING

Mushtaq tied up on the chair and his henchmen right by his

side, tied up together on the ground.

MUSHTAQ (V.O.)
Phir humne antakshari bhi kheli..

HENCHMAN
(singing)
Darde dil..

MUSHTAQ
Ga se bey.. Gaa se..!

Mushtaq's henchmen sing 'Gapuchi gapuchi gum gum' in

unison.

MUSHTAQ (V.O.)
Par wo khaufnaak thandi raat kate
nahi kati.. Subah bhangan ne jab
khola toh hum log beyhosh pade
they..

EXT. FIELDS BEHIND HOUSE - DAY

BABBAN
Par humne jaan toh nahi lee na
apki..

Mushtaq bends down closer to the two men.

MUSHTAQ
Teri niyat toh thi.. Par ye hai na
mera aadha gharwala.. Chalo chalo
ruko mat..! khodte raho..!

KHALUJAN
Par hum gaye toh aapka paisa bhi
jaayega Mushtaq bhai.. Hamesha ke
vaaste..

Mushtaq thinks for a bit. Khalujan seizes the moment and

leaps out of the grave and squats close to Mushtaq.
 KHALUJAN
Ek Mauka.. akhiri.. please..

Mushtaq looks at Khalujan thoughtfully when his phone rings

out all of a sudden. He takes out the phone and looks at
it. Khalujan watches expectantly. Mushtaq's face tightens
as he looks back at Khalujan. He offers him the phone.

Khalujan takes the phone from him and puts it on his ear.

KHALUJAN
Jiji..! Kaisi hain aap..? Mein
Iftekhar.. Badi mushkil mein hoon
Jiji... bacha lo hamein.. Mushtaq
bhai chhoti si khata ke liye itti
badi sazaa de rahe hain hamein..
zinda gadva riye hain ..!Agle
maheene raksha bandhan hai jiji..
Bacha lo kamein ji.. ji..

Khalujan cleans the phone with the sleeve and gives it back
to Mushtaq. Mushtaq listens to his wife on the phone
quietly. All of a sudden, fires three shots towards Babban
and Khalujan before disconnecting.

Babban and Khalujan are in a corner, cowering and shaking

with fear.

EXT. GUR WORKSHOP - DAY

Krishna reacts to sound of gunfire and runs out of the

house towards gur workshop.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - OUTER COURTYARD - LATER

Mushtaq's henchman arrives holding Krishna harshly by the

neck. Mushtaq walks to her and observes her carefully.

There is silence for a bit.

MUSHTAQ
Mujhe paisa wapas chahiye.. Sood
samet.. Raksha bandhan se pehle
pehle.. Samjha..!

Khalujan nods. Mushtaq leans closer to them.

 MUSHTAQ
Bhagna hai toh shauq se bhaag
sakte ho.. Nepal, Dubai, Qatar,
Doha.. Kahin bhi.. Dhoondh toh
tumhein lunga hi main.. Magar iss
laundiya ke aadhe-aadhe hisse
tumhari kabron mein gaadne ke
baad..

He points the gun to Krishna's forehead and clicks it.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - INNER COURTYARD - LATER

Babban gargles and spits out blood at the handpump. He

looks at his bruised face in the mirror.

KRISHNA (O.S.)
Ek chhota sa aspataal hai paas
mein.. Meri maaniye wahan chal ke
x ray kara lete hain..

KHALUJAN (O.S.)
Nahi aap bila-wajah pareshan ho
rahi hain.. Moch si aayi lagti hai
bas..

KRISHNA (O.S.)
Main haldi ka doodh bana ke laati
hoon..

She walks to the kitchen and Babban comes in her way.

BABBAN
Bag kahaan hai..?

Krishna tries to walk away but he blocks her path.

BABBAN
Zyaada masoom mat ban..! Kahaan
hai paisa..?

KHALUJAN
Tu paagal hua hai Babban..?

BABBAN
(angrily)
Tum ho gaye ho pagal..! kahan
jaayega kahan bag..? Kal tak toh
 tha.. Aur hum teenon ke alava koi
ghar pe nahi aaya hai..

KRISHNA
Aaya hai.. Nandu..

BABBAN
(taken aback)
Kab..?

Krishna looks directly into his eyes.

KRISHNA
Jab tum mere kamre ki khidki pe
tange huye they.. Tab wo tumhare
kamre ki safai kar raha tha..

Babban understands perfectly well what Krishna has just

said. He steps back and she walks past him into the
kitchen. Khalujan is still not fully aware of what's going
on.

KHALUJAN
Unki khidki par kya kar riya tha
tu..? hain..?

Babban runs out of the house.

EXT. VILLAGE FIELDS - DAY

Nandu's village can be seen from a distance. Babban rides

the bike towards the village. A truck crosses him causing a
minor dust storm and a coughing fit.

EXT. NANDU'S VILLAGE - LATER

Babban enters the village and slows down the bike.

There aren't too many people in the rather sullen looking

rural setting. Whosoever is there, doesn't seem too pleased
with an alien entering their area. They stare at him
suspiciously. Babban looks apprehensive and tucks his
pistol inside.

He slows down to stop near the village square. A pig

crosses his bike and a few kids, armed with pistols, chase
the animal.
A few men sit under a tree. They smoke beedis and are
covered in shawls.

BABBAN
Bhaisaab ye Nandu ka ghar kaun-sa
hai..?

The men get up and walk towards him. As their shawls come
off, Babban notices they are all armed.

MAN
Tu kaun hai..?

BABBAN
Dekhiye main haliya gaon mein..

MAN 2
(interrupting)
Woh toh Thakuron ke gaon ke paas
hai.. Raasta kaun ne banaya yahaan
ka..? naam kya hai..?

BABBAN
Babban..

One of the men starts to frisk Babban.

MAN
Musalman hai..? Asli naam bol..?
Kaun se gaon ka hai tu...?

BABBAN
Dekhiye main Bhopal se hoon..
Haliya mein Vermaji ke yahaan unka
mehman hoon..

The man finds Babban's pistol and shows it to the others.

MAN 3
Ye kya hai bey mehman..?

BABBAN
Tamancha kharaab ho gaya hai..
Nandu ne bola tha theek karaa
dega.. ussi ke liye bas..

One of the men comes close to Babban.

MAN
 Nandu sena mein bharti ho gaya
hai.. Samjhaa..? Dhoondhne ki
koshish bhi mat karna usse..

He points the pistol close at him. The pistol clicks and

Babban breathes a sigh of relief. The men see fear in
Babban's eyes and chuckle.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

Khalujan is having a mild fit of laughter sitting in the

workshop.

He picks up a bag; the money bag which is partially burnt

and completely empty and throws it up in the air. The bag
falls listlessly on the floor.

We see Tai sitting by the fire toasting some wood into the
furnace.

TAI
Peechhe ahaate mein pada tha..
Mujhe laga raddi hai.. Itta anmol
tha toh taale mein rakhna chaahiye
tha na.. waise bhi lakdi ke
gaththe hi toh bhare they ismein..
lakdi kya bahut mehengi hai
aajkal..?

KHALUJAN
Zindagi ke alaava sab mehenga hai
aajkal Tai..

Krishna looks at Khalujan, pensively. He looks defeated as

he walks away.

EXT. FIELDS NEAR HOUSE - EVENING

Khalujan paces up and down, thinking hard. He has his knife

in his hand and hacks at a sugarcane, deep in thought. He
stops as he sees Babban arriving. Babban walks up to him.

BABBAN
Kyon khan..?

KHALUJAN
Haan Khan..
 BABBAN
Chal Khan..

KHALUJAN
Kidhar khan..?

BABBAN
Jaan Khan jaan.. Maut ka intezar
karega yahaan..?

KHALUJAN
Na.. Jitni bhi hai jiyega.. Seena
khol ke..

BABBAN
Arrey wo Asif Nepali ne dhokha
diya saala.. Abke aise soom banke
gayab honge ki budhha jaayega
Mushtaq dhoondhte-dhoodhte..

KHALUJAN
Aur hum bhaagte-bhaagte.. Aane de
usse iss baar.. Dekh lenge..

BABBAN
Khamakha.. Tu Mushtaq se ladega..?

KHALUJAN
Aur koi chaara nahi hai.. Apne
kiye pe main kisi masoom ko sooli
nahi chadha sakta..

BABBAN
Kaun masoom ..?

KHALUJAN
Krishnaji..

BABBAN
Ghante se.. Marti hai mare..
Humein kya..?

KHALUJAN
Mujhe hai..

BABBAN
Oho ho... paer kabar mein aur dil
hatheli pe..! Budhhape ka ishq
 cancer hovey hai khalu... tabaah
ho jaoge..

KHALUJAN
Oye..!

BABBAN
Ladega khan..?

Khalujan swishes the knife menacingly in front of Babban's

face.

KHALUJAN
Marega khan..

Boom! A gunshot rings out in the air. Both men duck. Before
they can recover, another shot is heard.

KHALUJAN
Kaun hai..?

BABBAN
Kaun hoga..?

They look at each other momentarily before breaking into a

run. Khalujan stops midway and turns around, a look of
determination on his face. Babban picks up earthen pots
lying in the field. He breaks it and speaks through it,
much like a megaphone.

BABBAN
Mushtaq bhai..! Galatfehmi ho gayi
hai tumhein.. tumse ladne ki
kuvvat kahaan hai hamari..! Tumse
bhaag ke jayenge kahan..?
Jahannum..?

Bent low, Khalujan heads towards the direction the shot

came from. He conceals the knife in his waistband as he
parts the sugarcane fronds and makes his way through them.

KHALUJAN
Main toh mazak kar riya tha..

BABBAN
Main bhi..!

The scarecrow next to Khalujan is blown to bits. He almost

falls to the ground.
Slouched low Khalujan emerges from the fronds with his
hands in the air and stares at the attacker. It is Krishna.

She walks up to them and keeps the butt of the rifle on the
ground. Khalujan looks at her speechless. She stares back
right at him.

KRISHNA
Zindagi toh nahi par hum teenon ki
maut ek doosre se zaroor jud gayi
hai.. Ab jo hoga wo meri marzi ke
mutabik hoga.

She looks at Babban as he peers through the cane fronds a

little distance away.

KRISHNA
Teri haramzaadgi ka andaaza toh
mujhe tha..
(to Khalujan)
Aap samajhdaar lagte they mujhe..
Lekin ek number ke chootiyam
sulphate nikle..

Krishna drops the gun and walks away. Khalujan is too

stunned to speak. Babban watches her go.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - OUTER COURTYARD - EVENING

Krishna chops wood in the backyard. Babban enters and puts

the rifle by the wall. He looks at a gas cylinder in the
corner and taps at it.

BABBAN
Har kamre mein gas ka cylinder hai
phir bhi lakdi pe kyon khaana
pakaati ho..?

Krishna doesn't reply. Babban comes close and sits next to

her.

BABBAN
Bandook chalaana kahan seekha
tumne..?

No answer. Krishna carries on with her task.

BABBAN
 Tum pe paise churane ka shaq
kiya..
(holding his ears)
Ladai ladai maaf karo kutte ka..

Krishna looks at him sharply, interrupting him. Babban

smiles and holds her hand which hold the axe.

BABBAN
Dekho mujhe gaane bajane ki zabaan
bolna nahi aati..

Krishna jerks her axe-holding hand free from him and it

cuts him just a little bit on the finger. She holds his
hand and blows it on the wound.

KRISHNA
Phir kis zabaan mein samjhaaoon
tumhein..? Hmmm..?

BABBAN
(whispers)
Kya..?

She licks off the wound in reply. She spits the blood and
looks at him. Babban stares back, quite taken.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - OUTER COURTYARD - NIGHT

Khalujan is a bit tipsy, pouring his seventh peg of the

evening. He has a mild laughing fit as Babban looks at him
expectantly.

Krishna is some distance away, preparing dinner in the

kitchen.

KHALUJAN
Kiska idea hai ye..?

BABBAN
Tum pedh ki chhoro na... batao aam
kaisa hai..

KHALUJAN
Guthli teintuye mein atak jayegi..

Babban sighs and leans back in his chair.

 BABBAN
Tum gusse mein ho Khalu..
(whispers)
Uske sulphate kehne se tum
sulphate thode hi ho gaye..? Aur
jaisi hum.. Matlab tum soch rahe
the laundiya waisi nahi hai..

KHALUJAN
Kaisi nahi hai..?

BABBAN
Matlab ki rooi ka phaha.. Gulab ki
patti.. Devi nahi.. sutli bum
hai.. Saali desi tamancha.. Verma
ka poora dhandha ghol ke pee gayi
hai.. Kamaal ka plan hai uske
paas..

Khalujan looks at Babban poker-faced and drops his bottle

on the floor all of a sudden. The bottle smashes on the
ground. He starts to laugh. Krishna turns to look towards
him. Khalujan grins and folds his hands towards her.

KHALUJAN
(loudly)
Maafi Krishnaji maafi..! Dekhiye
hum jaison ko apne gang mein
shaamil karengi toh na ghar ki
rahengi na ghat ki.. Hum toh
chhote mote uthaigire hain..
Laptop, mobile aur himmat hui toh
car.. Aaj tak kisi ke kutte billi
bhi kidnap nahi kiya hai aur aap
humse karodpati agva karaayengi..?
Waise aap humpe ye meherbaani kar
kyon rahi hain..? Arrey bahut bade
sulphate hain hum.. Sun rahi hain
na aap..?

Having done with his tirade, Khalujan turns to leave. As he

takes a step, he slips and falls sloppily on the ground.
Krishna and Babban watch incredulously.

Babban tries to help him up but Khalujan raises his hand.

He doesn't need help. He picks himself and stands dignified
before walking away.
EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - TERRACE - NIGHT

The transistor plays 'Ye raatein ye mausam'.

Khalujan lies on the cot on the terrace staring blankly at

the stars above. The fall has resulted in a bleeding cut on
his forehead but he pays no heed to it.

Krishna walks up the stairs onto the terrace. Khalujan

realises it's her and he shuts his eyes. She comes and sits
beside him, a first aid box in her hands.

She looks at him as she dips a bit of antiseptic liquid on

a piece of cotton. She tries to apply the liquid on his
wound but he shrinks away.

KRISHNA
Naraazgi mujhse hai.. Phir khud ko
takleef kyon de rahe hain..?

Icy silence. She comes close to him again but he pushes her
away rudely.

KHALUJAN
(loudly)
Nahi.. Aap jaaiye yahaan se..

KRISHNA
Kahaan jayein..?

Krishna looks at Khalujan directly in the eye. Khalujan's

anger lets up a bit as he looks away. She dabs more
antiseptic into the cotton.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Theek hai.. Nahi sunna toh na
sahi.. Bas agli baar jab Mushtaq
aaye toh uske pairon mein girkar
gid-gidaiyega nahi.. Achcha nahi
lagta dekhkar..

She applies the medicine to his wound. He does not resist

yet does not look at her.

KHALUJAN
Jo hua.. uske liye main apse maafi
maangta hoon.. Lekin ab aur koi
raasta nahi hai.. Mushtaq se
ladte-ladte mar jaaoonga.. par aap
 par ek aanch nahi aane dunga.. ye
mera vaada hai..

KRISHNA
Mujhe maut se nahi.. zindagi se
matlab hai..

Khalujan reacts as he allows her to turn his face towards

her. She starts to bandage the cut.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Vermaji ke sath mere jeene ka
shauk bhi bhasm ho gaya.. Aurat
akeli ho toh har mard ki nigah
kapde kachotna chahti hai.. Oopar
se ye ghar ka soonapan.. Kai baar
kalaaiyaan katne ki koshish kar
chuki hoon.. gud bech ke itna bhar
aa jata hai ki shareer ko genhu
kam nahi padta.. Lekin pehle kabhi
laga hi nahi ki mere paas bas do
sooti saariyaan, ek kangan, aur do
bindi hain.. Aapke aane ke baad
sab kuch kam kam sa lagne lagta
hai..

Khalujan is moved. He tentatively puts a hand on her

shoulder. Krishna looks at him trying not to cry.

KRISHNA
Ek baar phir zindagi jeene ko mann
kar aaya hai..

KHALUJAN
Aapne mujhe kyon nahi bataya apna
plan..?

She smiles and embraces him. Khalujan stiffens at the

contact.

She gets up and leaves. Khalujan looks at her as she

leaves. Although he wants her to, he is unable to ask her
to stay.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - OUTER COURTYARD - NIGHT

Downstairs, Tai lights a fire. Music fades into the sound
track.

FADE TO:

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

Krishna moves about doing something.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

MATCH CUT: Khalujan doing something

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

MATCH CUT: Babban doing something

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MORNING

Camera travels through the corridor of the house. We see a

locked door at the end of the corridor.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

The door is unlocked. It's the same room we saw earlier

when Krishna was with Verma, her husband. A part of the
wall is covered with paper cuttings and photographs.

Headlines in Hindi and English regarding Verma and his

death - 'Ancient caste wars with modern weapons'; 'Mafia
fights turf war for greater control over arms
smuggling';'Verma gang guns down Brahmanand Thakur';'Where
is Vidyadhar Verma now?';'Kidnapping kingpin dies in gas
cylinder explosion at home.'

We see Babban and Khalujan looking keenly at the news

collage.

As we leave them and go close on a photograph of Verma -

KRISHNA (O.S.)
Target..

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

They sit across a table in the room. Krishna slides a sheet
of paper towards Khalujan.

KRISHNA
Target hi plan hai.. Jo karna hai
wo humein target bataayega..

Khalujan looks at the sheet of paper as Babban peers in.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Income tax department mein apne
doston ki madad se Vermaji ne ye
list taiyyaar ki thi..

KHALUJAN
Sachche kalakaar thay Vermaji..

We go close to the list of names. Some of them have been

crossed out. The last few names are clean.

BABBAN
Par inmein se kaun..?

KRISHNA
Firauti kitni hogi..?

BABBAN
5 crore..

KHALUJAN
50 Lakh..

KHALUJAN
5 karod kyon bey..? Mushtaq ko
pachchis dene hain.. baki 25 kafi
nahin hain hamare liye..?

BABBAN
Chor bazar se bahar niklo khalu..
Bada khel hai ye..
(to Krishna)
5 kam toh nahi hai na..?

EXT. GORAKHPUR -VARIOUS - DAY

Shots of big houses in Gorakhpur town.

KRISHNA (V.O.)
 Maroo, Agarwal, Kediya, Pandy..
inke liye koi bhi firauti zyada
nahi hai.. Lekin jitni badi rakam
utna zyada khatra..

As Krishna speaks, we see heavy security around the houses.

Shots of two menacing dogs barking into camera.

EXT. STREET - KULFI STALL - DAY

The men gorge on the kulfis seated on a bench near the

stall. Krishna sips a cold drink. Khalujan speaks as he
bites a mouthful of the kulfi.

KHALUJAN
Na na na... laalach marvaayega
humein.. Kuchh chhota-mota karte
hain Krishnaji ki kaam bhi ho
jaaye aur jaan salamat rahe..

Babban sits beside Krishna. He looks at her from the corner

of his eyes and moves his hands surreptitiously towards her
back.

BABBAN
(distracted)
Haan chalo.. 5 nahi... 2 hi sahi..
Koi chhoti machchli hai..?

As Babban touches her back, Krishna pinches him hard.

Khalujan turns around smiling as Babban winces.

KHALUJAN
Kya hua..?

INT. KAKKAR'S HOUSE - DAY

A kid freaks out dancing and singing Akon's 'Smack that'

which he listens to on an ipod. He jumps on the furniture
and checks himself out in the mirror.

We see the living room which is quite plush though rather

tasteless, complete with bathroom tiles and the microwave
oven next to the TV set.

EXT. KAKKAR'S HOUSE - DAY

In the garden we see Kamal Kishore Kakkar or KK, a mild-
mannered and extremely successful businessman. He uses a
pair of large garden shears to trim the plants in his lawn
while talking business on the blue tooth.

MANJU KAKKAR (O.S.)

Hamaare ye toh bade wo hain..

INT. KAKKAR'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

In the bedroom KK's wife, MANJU KAKKAR, plump and pretty in

mid thirties, talks to a friend on the phone while applying
nail polish on her toes.

MANJU KAKKAR
NEW york mein bhi inhein masoor ki
daal-chaval chahiye hi chahiye..
Maine kahaa dus saal ka visa lag
gaya hai.. Ab toh peeza khaana
seekh lo.. Bole na Manju teri
kasam visa aur peeza dono gaye
bhaad mein.. mere liye toh apne
Gorakhpur ki bhain ki sabzi hi
achchi..

She switches on the TV and flips the channels.

MANJU KAKKAR
Ek din mera serial wala channel
nahi mil raha tha.. Bas apna dish
lagva liya.. Mental hi hain Kakkar
saab..

She stops on a local cable channel that shows a commercial

of Kakkar Carpets.

MANJU KAKKAR
(loudly)
Kukku..! Kukku... Oho..
(on the phone)
Aajkal itne busy hain ki kaam ke
alava koi sudh hi nahi.. Arre
Kukku tumhara ad..!

We go close to the ad on TV. KK smiles as he talks about

the quality of his products.
INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - INNER COURTYARD - DAY

We pull out from the TV as KK's ad comes to an end.

Krishna, Babban and Khalujan watch TV quietly, intently.

INTERVAL:

EXT. KK'S HOUSE - TERRACE - MORNING

A tight close of KK's wide open eyes. As the camera pulls

back gently, KK heaves and haws, performing Kapal Bhati
Yoga.

INT. KK'S HOUSE - MORNING

KK taking a shower.

He opens his closet and takes out a shirt. He takes out a

gold locket from the drawer. A small pistol is kept inside
the drawer.

KRISHNA (V.O.)
Aslaha..

KK picks up his mobile phone from the table.

KRISHNA (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Phone..

KK checks his fat wallet with cash.

KRISHNA (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Paise..

EXT. KK'S HOUSE - DAY

KK steps into his car. His driver greets him. Manju waves
him goodbye.

KRISHNA (V.O.)
Gaadi..

As the car drives, KK looks at his watch.

KRISHNA (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Aur sahi waqt.. Kakkad kahan tha
kahan hai aur kahan jayega..
 Bathroom se daftar se bistar tak
pal pal ka hisaab..

As the car leaves we see Babban across the street on the

Pizza delivery bike. He makes a call from his cellphone and
as he drives in the direction of the car -
SUPER : Som

EXT. TEMPLE - DAY

Krishna receives a call on her cell phone.

EXT. TEMPLE - LATER

KK's car arrives outside the temple. KK walks inside the

heavily crowded temple. Krishna looks at the time and makes
a call.
SUPER : Mangal

EXT. FACTORY - DAY

Khalujan is outside the factory. He looks at the time as

KK's car arrives.

EXT. FACTORY - NIGHT

Khalujan, nearly dozing off. Late night. The gates to the

factory open. KK's delivery trucks leave the factory. KK
supervises personally, surrounded by his employees.
SUPER : Buddh

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - INNER COURTYARD - DAY

Guns, phones and other paraphernalia lies on the bed.

A WAD of cash falls into frame. Khalujan and Babban look at

it. Khalujan looks up at Krishna.

KRISHNA
Meri apni kamai ke hain..kam se
kam ek purani gaadi to khareed
sakte hain isse...

KHALUJAN
 Arre nahin nahin..koi zaroorat
nahin hai..waise bhi hume gaadi
uthani padegi..kharedenge to pakde
jaayenge...

BABBAN
Haan sahi hai..kal main..

KHALUJAN
(interrupting)
Kal kuchh nahin hoga..kal uthaoge
to kal hi thane main report jayegi
aur parso hum jayenge..pehle
Kakkar ka pata karte hain.. jab
uthana ho usse ek din pehle hi
gaadi ka intezaam karenge

Khalujan speaks with authority. Babban is flustered.

Krishna smiles quietly.

KHALUJAN (CONT'D)
Aur gaadi gorakhpur se nahin
Azamgarh se uthayenge..

KRISHNA
Kyun..?

KHALUJAN
Kyunki gaadi main hum Azamgarh ke
hotel aur petrol ka bil daal
denge..jab police ko gaadi milegi
tub wo tehkikaat bhi wahin
karenge..

Krishna's eyes are full of admiration. Khalujan knows that

she is fully impressed.

KRISHNA
Chai piyenge..?

Khalujan nods. Krishna walks to the kitchen. Khalujan

starts to follow her.

BABBAN
Kyun khaan
 KHALUJAN
Haan khaan..

BABBAN
Zaada uddo mat..pehle Kakkar ko
uddane ka plan banao..sirf aath
din bache hain..

SUPER : Brihaspat

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - EVENING

Tai does make up in front of the mirror. Krishna appears,

wearing a new saree. She smiles in front of the mirror.

EXT. HOTEL - NIGHT

KK's car makes an entry into the Hotel. The guard salutes.

INT. RESTAURANT - LATER

KK sits at a table talking animatedly to another

businessman. Babban and Krishna sit at table nearby, behind
KK.

Babban is uncomfortable in this alien environment. He looks

at Krishna but she doesn't pay any attention to him. Her
focus is on KK and she listens intently.

KK
My dear bhai sahab..aap is
mughalat main na rahen ki bijines
bahut profitable hai..bijli main
70,000 ki har mahine minimum
guarantee deni padti
hai..hain..aur 12-12 ghante ki
load shedding upar se..
.. steel 38,000 rupaye ton ke
rate.. 16% ki excise duty aur 7%
VAT par 2% ki education cess..
Bhilai Raurkela se transportation
karana aur dulai ki minimum wages
mila ke apni to costing hi babuji
65,000 rupaye ton aati hai..aur
market main chinese made item bikte
hain kitte main ..? Only 55,000
 sir..! Retailers se baat karo to
kam se kam 3 mahine ka credit
mangte hain aur bank ke paas jao
to sale loan dene main duniya bhar
ke kanoon chant te hain..industry
chalana to gunaah ho gaya hai
sir..

While KK speaks his son comes to his side and KK picks him
up and puts him in his lap.

Babban looks bored and yawns.

SUPER : Shukra

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - GUR WORKSHOP - DAY

Mushtaq's name can be read big on the ringing cellphone.

Khalujan takes the call on the cell phone walking out of

the house.

KHALUJAN
Ji Mushtaq bhai..

MUSHTAQ
Chaar din hain tumhare paas..

KHALUJAN
Ji? Par rakhi main to abhi 6 din
hain bhai..

INTERCUT: INT. LUCKNOW MARRIAGE HOUSE - DAY

Mushtaq speaks on his cellphone as people in wedding

finery, servants carrying fruit and mithai baskets etc.
mill around.

MUSHTAQ
Lekin tumhari maut main
chaar..meri bhanji ki shaadi hai
lucknow main parso..wahan se
seedha aa raha hoon..taiyaar
rehna..
 KHALUJAN
Ji..par!?

The phone clicks as the line goes dead. Khalujan looks at

Babban and Krishna, pensively.

The three of them sit silently near the gur workshop,

worried.
SUPER : Shani

DISSOLVE TO

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

Close on a pink card stuck in the wall that reads,

'Sunday', written in Hindi.

BABBAN (O.S.)
Kah riya tha main..bhaag chalte
hain magar akal paidal ho gayi
thi..ye putlibai ke pal pal ke
chakkar main Kakkar akela to
milega nahin..tumhari jiji ka pati
rakhi bandhne zaroor aa
jayega..gardan pe..

As Babban speaks, camera travels to see that a detailed

chart of KK's daily routine has been prepared, hour to
hour. Khalujan crosses out most of the options with a pen.

He stops on the card that mentions KK's morning routine.

KHALUJAN
Krishnaji..Kakkar mandir subah 8
baje pahunchta hai aur wahan se
daftar seedha 11 baje..mandir se
daftar aadha ghanta..dhai ghante
kuchh zyada nahin hain mandir
main?

Babban starts to speak but Krishna cuts him.

KRISHNA
Zyada hai...kal hume mandir ke
andar jana chahiye
 BABBAN
Bheed dekhi hai mandir main..?

KRISHNA
(to Babban; intently)
Akeyla na mile to bheed se hi utha
lenge..

KHALUJAN
Par..khatra zyada hai..

KRISHNA
Khatra hai..magar ho sakta hai..

BABBAN
Aur nahin hua to..?

KRISHNA
Nahin hua to jiji ke bajay tujhe
rakhi main bandhoongi..theek..?

Temple bells overlap on the soundtrack.

EXT. TEMPLE - MORNING

Khalujan and Babban are dressed a bit differently today.

Krishna has a puja thali in her hand. They watch from
across the street as KK walks inside the temple.

I/E. TEMPLE - MOMENTS LATER

The arti is on full swing inside the temple. Crowds throng

near the sanctum sanctorum. KK is seen inside near the
idol. He bends down in prayer.

Khalujan leads the way, gently pushing through people on

the way in. He manages to push in while Krishna and Babban
remain behind.
We stay with him as he realises that he has lost sight of
his team. He looks behind him. He turns around to see that
KK is no longer near the idol. He panics.

Khalujan takes out his mobile phone and tries to make a

call but he is pushed by someone and the phone slips out of
his hand. He scrambles on the ground for it.

BEHIND THE SANCTUM

KK is behind the sanctum. He looks around. Babban catches

sight of him just as KK walks away. He pulls Krishna by
hand and walks behind KK.

KK takes steps down in the backyard of the temple. This

area is isolated in comparison to the temple courtyard. He
walks out through a small gate behind the temple. Babban
and Krishna follow him.

BACK ALLEY

KK suddenly takes a back alley. He walks quickly. Krishna

and Babban maintain a safe distance. They follow him for a
bit and KK turns a corner and enters -

GLORIA BEAUTY PARLOUR

Krishna and Babban watch intrigued as KK enters a small

rundown structure. This is a deserted residential area and
the building of Gloria Beauty Parlour has just a few houses
close to it. KK opens the door and walks in.

INT. GLORIA BEAUTY PARLOUR - MOMENTS LATER

KK enters and look around the beauty parlor. It is dark and

there is nobody inside. He bolts the door and grins.

KK
(birdlike)
Kukku...!

(no response)
Kukku..!
KK waits for a moment and as he goes to call again, someone
creeps from behind him and pushes him hard against the
wall. KK crashes against the wall, yelping. Mamta, A
Nepalese woman in thirties, grabs his arm and pulls it.

MAMTA
Kaun hai tu..?

KK
Ghulaam..

MAMTA
Kya laya hai..?

KK
Tohfa..

KK takes out a necklace and gives it to her.

MAMTA
Bas..?

KK
Saath mera dil bhi hai..

Mamta smiles and pulls his arm. KK groans in pleasure.

EXT. GLORIA BEAUTY PARLOUR - CONTINUOUS

Babban presses his ears to the door and is piqued by

whatever little he can hear from inside. He walks towards
the back of the parlour. Krishna follows.

In the backyard of the parlour, a car is parked under the

asbestos roof. Babban sees a gap between the wall and the
roof. He picks up a small box kept near the car and stands
on it to get a view of the proceedings inside.

KK is now tied up and blindfolded on the bed. Babban stares

wide eyed and then tries to control his laughter with great
difficulty. Krishna is curious. Babban asks her to come up
but she is reluctant. Babban pulls her up. They are perched
precariously and very close to each other. They watch the
game unfolding inside.. gaping.

Mamta, wearing a red flowing gown, sashays past the room

and arrives at the bed. Behind the blindfold, KK waits
expectantly. Mamta smiles at him mischievously as she
climbs onto the bed and settles on top of him. She runs a
whip gently on his shirtless torso.

MAMTA
(whispers)
Tu mera zar khareeda gulaam Habshi
Yakoot..! Dekhti hoon kitna dum
hai tere andar..!

KK grits his teeth in a muffled expression of joy. Mamta

comes close to him.

MAMTA
Ab bol meri pyaas bujhaayega..?

KK
(whispers)
Main Mamta ko dhokha nahi de
sakta..

As Mamta continues to tease him, KK is excited but shakes

his head.

MAMTA
Ab bol.. Ab..?

KK
Na.. Nahi..

Mamta gives up as KK does not relent. She lies down by his

side and opens the blindfold.

KK
Mamta tum..!

MAMTA
(sweetly)
Tum jeete.. Main haari.. Tumhara
pyar amar hai.. Ab toh meri pyar
bujhaao..!

KK
Jaan..!

MAMTA
(babytalk)
Raaje..

KK
 (babytalk)
Baba..!

MAMTA
Boo.. Boo..!

KK
Joo.. Joo!

MAMTA
Moo.. Moo..!

KK
(birdlike)
Koo.. Koo..!

MAMTA
Koo... Koo..!

They embrace each other. Krishna can hardly control her

laughter. She loses her balance. Babban grabs her by the
waist and stops her. They look at each other.

EXT. GLORIA BEAUTY PARLOUE - LATER

Krishna and Babban watch from a distance as KK comes out to

the backyard. Before he gets into the car, he looks towards
the door. Mamta raises her hand and mock fires a shot at
him with her fingers. KK takes the bullet in his heart as
the couple laughs.

As KK drives away -

KHALUJAN (V.O.)
Toh duniya ke liye mandir jataa
hai magar pooja beauty parlour
mein hoti hai..

EXT. TEMPLE - LATER

Khalujan sits between Krishna and Babban. He chuckles

softly.

KHALUJAN
(rubbing his palms)
 Hmm.. matlab ki iss-se zyaada
mehfooz jagaah ho hi nahi sakti
hai usse uthane ki.. mubaarak..!
Babban kal hi banaras chalte hain
car laney.. waise koi aur tha unn
dono ke alava wahan..?

BABBAN
(nodding)
Haan..

KHALUJAN
Kaun..?

BABBAN
Hunterwali..

KHALUJAN
Kaun si wali..?

Babban manages to keep a straight face as Krishna bursts

into laughter.

KHALUJAN
Kya hua..?

Babban shrugs. Khalujan, infected with Krishna's laughter,

smiles at her.

KHALUJAN
Kya hua Krishna ji..?

KRISHNA
(seriously)
Main Mamta ko dhokha nahi de
sakti.

KHALUJAN
Kaun Mamta..?

This time Babban erupts into a fit of laughter. Khalujan is

terribly confused.

KHALUJAN
Arrey kya hua kya hai..?

Krishna shrugs. A young man walks out of the temple.

 YOUNG MAN
O chacha.. ye tera toh nahi hai..?

KHALUJAN
Haan bhai.. Mera hi hai..

Khalujan runs to take his phone. Babban and Krishna look at

each other, still grinning ear to ear. Babban comes closer
to her.

Krishna stares back at him. He has stopped smiling. She

gets up and walks away.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MORNING

Khalujan knocks on the bathroom door.

KHALUJAN
Abe so gaya kya..? Babban..?
Ghante bhar se ande de riya hai
andar..?

BABBAN
Nahi murgiyaan gin raha hoon..

Krishna walks out of the kitchen and starts to get the

table ready for breakfast.

KRISHNA
Khalujan... paratha..

Khalujan walks up to her.

KHALUJAN
Aap mujhe Khalu na bulaaya
karein..

KRISHNA
Kyon..? Kitna achcha naam hai..

KHALUJAN
Nahi nahi.. Khalu mane mausa..
Boodhha-boodhha lagta hai.. Naam
toh Iftekhar hai mera..

KRISHNA
Par Iftekhar toh aur boodhha
boodhha lagta hai..
 KHALUJAN
(softly)
Theek hai.. Phir Khalujan se Khalu
ghata do..

KRISHNA
Ji..?

Babban comes out of the bathroom hurriedly.

BABBAN
Khalu main nahi chal sakta..

KHALUJAN
Kyon..?

BABBAN
Marod uth riye hai pet mein..
Subah se chaar baar ja chuka hoon
Khalu.. Waise bhi aap toh champion
ho car churaane mein..

KHALUJAN
Akele risk hota hai hamesha..

KRISHNA
Toh main chalun sath..?

A beat. Khalujan smiles at the prospect. Babban stares at

Krishna.

BABBAN
Nahi theek hai.. Main taiyyar hota
hoon..

As Babban walks-

KRISHNA
Dawaai deti hoon.. 10 minute mein
theek ho jaaoge..

INT. BUS - BUS STAND - MORNING

Babban mopes, sprawled into his seat inside the bus.

Khalujan sits next to him. The Conductor calls out for
prospective passengers.

CONDUCTOR
 Azamgarh.. Azamgarh..! Non stop
super fast..! Chalo bhai
Azamgarh..!

Khalujan runs his hand through Babban's hair tenderly.

KHALUJAN
Kuch theek laga..?

Babban shakes his head morosely.

KHALUJAN
Ho jaayega.. Krishnaji ne kaha hai
toh theek ho hi jaayega..

Babban grimaces at Khalujan.

KHALUJAN
Kuchh din ki baat hai bas.. Phir
chain se apne gaon mein.. Peepal
tale paadenge aur nadi naare hagne
jaayenge... aahaha.. Thandi thandi
hawaa lagegi pichhwaade..
Krishanji ko poochhe wo bhi
chalegi..?

BABBAN
Kahaan.. Nadi naare..?

KHALUJAN
Nahi sulphate.. Gaon.. Yahan kya
karengi akele..? Wahan toh main
bhi hoon.. tu bhi hai.. aur tera
toh nikaah hone wala hai bachchu
pahunchte dhayeseena..! Unhein
achcha laga toh kahenge yaheen bas
jao hamaare saath..
(softly)
Mere saath..

Babban's cramps get worse. He groans and runs out of the

bus.

KHALUJAN
Oye kya hua..?
INT. PUBLIC TOILET - BUS STAND - MOMENTS LATER

Khalujan covers his nose and shouts at the door of the

lavatory.

KHALUJAN
Bus chhoot jayegi namuraad..!
Jaldi aa..!

Inside, Babban stands at the door, his nose covered.

BABBAN
Aah..! Masla mere hath se bahar
hai khalu..!

KHALUJAN
Abe bus chhoot jayegi!

CONDUCTOR
(loudly; from the bus)
Oye chacha..!

The driver honks one last time and the bus starts to move.
Khalujan looks at the door and hesitantly runs out to the
bus. He manages to get in just in time.

As the bus leaves, Babban comes out of the bathroom. He

watches it go. A song fades in.

SHORT MONTAGE: CUT TO SONG. EXT. HIGHWAY - MORNING

SONG starts:

The bus drives to Benares. Khalujan sleeps.

INT./ EXT KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Krishna takes a sip of tea sitting by the window in the

guest room. She looks at the bed, smiling. Khalujan's side
is made neatly while Babban's is left messy. She gets up.

EXT. FIELDS

Babban walks through some fallow land. Wildflowers grow in

a patch behind him.
EXT. HIGHWAY DHABA

Khalujan takes a sip of tea from the kullhar. A woman sits

by the open kitchen stirring vegetables; her husband peels
garlic, sitting by her side. They smile at each other.
Khalujan looks mesmerized.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

We stay with Krishna in the house - to be elaborated.

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Babban opens the door and walks in. He looks for her
quietly and realises she is in the bath.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Krishna comes out of the bath. She is startled and looks

down to see flower petals strewn on the floor. They lead up
to her room.

INT. KRISHNA'S BEDROOM

She walks into her room to see Babban standing inside with
a flower in his hand. They look at each other for a bit and
then he walks to her. He offers her the flower. He touches
her tenderly and she does not resist. He holds her gently.

EXT. AZAMGARH STREET

A Maruti Swift parked on a lonely street. Khalujan starts

to fumble with the lock. It doesn't seem too easy. He
struggles even more. Finally the autocop system comes to
life and the car makes a racket disturbing the quiet of the
neighborhood. Khalujan panics and runs hard. He enters a
back alley literally wheezing and pauses to catch a
breath.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Krishna smiles as she recovers her breath on the bed. She

turns to one side, smiling gently. Babban is looking at her
lovingly. He holds her tenderly, and shuts his eyes. She
cuddles up.

KRISHNA
Utho.. Aane wale honge Khalujan

BABBAN
Aane do.. Main nahin ja raha kahin

KRISHNA
Jaana to padega

BABBAN
Kabhi nahin..

KRISHNA
Yahin rahoge..? Hamesha..?

BABBAN
Hmmm..

KRISHNA
Aur karoge kya..?

BABBAN
Nikaah

KRISHNA
Mujhse..?

BABBAN
Hmmm..

KRISHNA
Meri shaadi ho chuki hai..

BABBAN
Phir se kar lo..

KRISHNA
Chaar saal bitaaye hain maine ek
mard ke saath

BABBAN
Maine pichhle chaar saal pataa
nahin kitni aurton ke saath bitaye
hain..
 KRISHNA
Kitni..?

BABBAN
Kai..

KRISHNA
Bataao na.. Kitni..?

Babban shakes his head

KRISHNA
Kyon..?

BABBAN
Hmm..mujhe.. Chavaalis ke baad
ginti nahin aati..

Krishna breaks into laughter. Babban smiles.

INT. RESTAURANT

Khalujan sits alone on a table, somewhat morose. He looks

at the photograph from his wallet. He smiles wistfully as
he looks away and suddenly he perks up.

Khalujan walks out of the restaurant, revived and

confident. The photograph is left at the table.

EXT. HIGHWAY - EVENING

Khalujan drives the Maruti van towards Krishna's house.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Khalujan enters quietly, tiptoeing so he doesn't wake

anyone up. He walks to his room when he stops hearing music
playing softly in the house. But this isn't a classical
melody; in fact it's some cheap filmi item number. He
reaches his room and finds Babban isn't there. He follows
the sound and realises, much to his dismay that the music
comes from Krishna's room.

He peers inside through the window. Krishna and Babban are

half-naked, dirty dancing to the filthy music emanating
from a tape recorder. Babban makes 'lewd' gestures to her
and Krishna reciprocates eagerly. Khalujan would rather die
than watch this for too long. He turns away and storms into
his room.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - GHAT STEPS - MORNING

Khalujan sits alone. Lonely, crestfallen. His knife lies

next to him.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - BATHROOM - MORNING

Babban bathing. Singing merrily, raucously.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MORNING

DELETED.

Krishna's reflection on her framed wedding picture.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MORNING

She comes out to serve breakfast to Khalujan. She looks

excited, in complete contrast to the last shot. Babban can
be heard, gloriously out of key.

KRISHNA
Aap kab aaye raat pata hi nahi
chala.. Jagaaya kyon nahi..?

KHALUJAN
Aapke sapne mein khalal daalne ki
himmat nahi huyee..

KRISHNA
Aap bhi Khalu.. Jaan..
(loudly, to Babban)
Uff..! band karo ye kaaen kaaen..!
(to Khalujan)
Aapke sainyyam ki toh daad deni
padegi.. Itne bhonde besure kauvve
ke saath aap reh kaise sakte
hain.?

Khalujan looks at Krishna seriously and then breaks into a

smile.
 KHALUJAN
Kyonki koi zehreeli koyal nahi
mili..

Krishna smiles back and turns around. Her expression

changes.

KRISHNA
Mera toh ek din mein dum ghut
jaayega iske sath..

KHALUJAN
Ji.. Samajh sakta hoon..

KRISHNA
(to Babban)
Arrey band kar kauvve..!

She picks up a pebble and throws it at the bathroom door.

The stone clinks at the tin door of the bathroom. Babban
falls silent but only for a moment. He picks up the song
again, even louder this time. Krishna puts her hand on her
ears. Khalujan stares at her coldly.

EXT. CAR/HOUSE - DAY

Babban walks towards the car looking dapper as a Traffic

Constable. He is in an upbeat mood and still hums the tune.
He gets into the car.

KHALUJAN
Ab yahaan se mera naam doctor..
(to Krishna)
Tumhara painter..

Babban cuts him mid-sentence.

BABBAN
Aur mera kisaan..! Kal se dus baar
bata chuke ho.. Poora plan yaad
hai.. Ab chalo..!

Babban takes out a whistle from his pocket and blows it on

Khalujan's ear. Khalujan instinctively puts his hand on his
ear and turns around to hit Babban but is placated by
Krishna who puts a hand on his shoulder.
He looks at her and their eyes are locked for a moment. He
slowly takes her hand away from his shoulder. He starts the
car and puts it in gear. She looks at him.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

Long shot - their car stops and Babban is dropped who

salutes as the car drives away.

EXT. BEAUTY PARLOR - DAY

Krishna and Khalujan wait in the car for KK. An old song,
'Kuchh dil ne kaha' sung by Lata Mangeshkar plays on the
car radio. Krishna hums along with it. Khalujan looks away
towards the parlour, deliberately avoiding her.

KRISHNA
Anupama film na..?

KHALUJAN
(looking away, whispers)
Hmmm.

KRISHNA
S D Burman..

KHALUJAN
Hemant kumar..

KRISHNA
Galat.. Ye SD Burman hai..

KHALUJAN
Hemant kumar..

KRISHNA
SD..

Khalujan chooses to remain quiet this time. Krishna rests

her head on his shoulder.

KRISHNA
Theek hai Hemant kumar.. Ab toh
bata dijiye ki subah se phugge
kyon bhare huye hain gaalon
mein..?
She holds Khalujan by his chin and turns his face towards
her.

KRISHNA
Kya hua hmmm..?

KHALUJAN
Kuch bhi nahi..

He looks away.

KRISHNA
Aapko toh jhooth bhi theek se
bolna nahi aata..

KHALUJAN
Mard hoon na.. Isliye..

Krishna stops smiling.

KRISHNA
Achcha.. Aur aurat hote toh..?

Khalujan looks at Krishna directly.

KHALUJAN
Toh tumhein kabhi pata hi nahi
chal pata ki main pari hoon ya
tawaayaf..

As Krishna takes in the statement, KK emerges from the

building. Khalujan goes tense. KK comes to his car and
looks up to the window. Mamta, the 'beautician', stands
there, seeing him off. She gestures like she has a machine
gun in her hand and fires at KK. He takes the bullets and
mock dies.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

Babban receives a call. He looks towards the road ahead.

EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS

Khalujan and Krishna follow KK's car as it crosses a

populated district and continues to a quieter part of the
highway. Krishna is looking at Khalujan..
 KRISHNA
Kis haq se gaali de rahe hain aap
mujhe.. Haan..? aap mere pati
hain..? yaar hain..? ya dalaal
hain..?

Khalujan presses the horn. Krishna stops speaking.

EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS

KK looks at the rearview mirror casually and sees a Maruti

van behind.

EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS

KK's car emerges on the road in front of Babban. He waves

for it to stop.

Khalujan sees KK slowing down ahead. He drives slowly.

Krishna covers her face with her dupatta.

KK has a slight frown as he sees the traffic policeman on

the deserted road. The blue ambassador is stopping not too
far behind. He looks at the policeman as he stops the car.

Babban walks to KK's side and steals a glance at Khalujan.

A bit nervous. He asks KK to pull down the car window.

BABBAN
Haan bhai.. License... kidhar se
aa rahe hain aap..?

KK shuffles in his seat, going for the license in his

wallet.

KK
Kaunse thane se hain aap

BABBAN
Kavva bagh colony.... License

KK
Achha Kavva Bagh...Omveer ji wahin
posted hai naa? Unko mera namaste
boliyega
 BABBAN
Hain? Haan...

In the mirror, he sees a man get out of the car. KK smells

trouble. He pushes on the accelerator and speeds ahead.

Babban is taken aback and screams behind him. Khalujan runs

after KK's car. He has taken out his pistol. He shouts from
behind asking KK to stop. Khalujan looks like a man
possessed.

KK sees the man taking aim in the rearview mirror. Khalujan

fires. The car veers uncontrollably and hits a tree by the
side of the road.

All goes quiet for a moment. Khalujan stands rooted to the

spot, staring blankly at the car ahead. Babban is amazed by
the accuracy of Khalujan's shot. Krishna fears the worst.
She starts the car. Khalujan and Babban run towards KK's
car.

They find KK unconscious, his head on the wheel and blood

coming out of his forehead. It looks like a fatal accident.

BABBAN
Kya ho kya gaya hai tumhein..?
Isse uthana tha maarna nahi.. Ab
kya karein..?

A few people can be seen approaching in the distance.

Krishna has stopped the car closer and looks through KK's
window. KK groans slightly.

Krishna looks at the people approaching.

KRISHNA
Log jama ho rahe hain.. Utha ke
apni gaadi mein dalo isse.. Jaldi!

BABBAN
Iski car ka kya karen..?

KRISHNA
Baad mein dekhenge.. Vaapas aa ke
le lenge.. Abhi isse jaldi
nikalo..!

Few men come close to them.

 MAN
Kya hua..? Tyre fataa kya..? Mar
gaya kya..?

BABBAN
(as a cop)
NAhin nahin kuch nahin.. Gulati
saab bilkul theek hain.. Bas zaraa
si chot aaee hai.. Ghabrao na..
Main khud unhe hospital le
jaaoonga.. Chalo bhai.. Meherbani
karo.. Nikalo inhen.. Ae bhai
bheed ikatha mat karo... chalo
yahaan se.. Chalo!

Babban takes the help of the people to take KK out of his

car.

KK is slid into the backseat of the Maruti van. Babban asks

people to help push the car to the side of the road.

Krishna checks on KK and finds his cell phone and a small

pistol which she tucks away. KK moves in his seat.

Babban, aided by the crowd pushes the car to the side of

the road. Khalujan stands quietly in the corner.

BABBAN (CONT'D)
Bhai aao madad kar do..!

Khalujan reluctantly joins in. As the car is set:

BABBAN (CONT'D)
Okay bhaiyon thank you.. ab
nikaliye.. Kuch nahin hua yahaan
pe.. okay..? Hum seedha hospital
jaayenge.. Don't worry.. Tata..

Babban waves to the impressed crowd and drives away.

As the crowd walks away, we stay with 2 of the men who

stand back at the accident site.

MAN 1
Pata hai budhau ne goli chalaai
thi
 MAN 2
Pataa kaahe nahin, andha hain hum
ka..?

MAN 1
To bole kyun nahin ?

Pause. Man2 looks at Man1

MAN 2
Tum kyun nahin bole?

They turn and walk

MAN 1
Arre hum so rahe the..

MAN 2
Achcha achcha..

EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER

The car drives on a thin strip of road off the main

highway. We hear Babban singing, in continuation to his
upbeat mood all day. KK sits blindfolded and tied, still
unconscious. Khalujan is still sulking, looking out of the
window. Krishna is edgy, checking on KK. Babban raises his
pitch.

KHALUJAN
Reinkna band karega tu..?

BABBAN
(shaking his head)
Na..

In retort, Babban raises his volume. Khalujan can't take it

anymore and slaps hard on the back of Babban's head.

BABBAN
Oye doctor.. Hosh mein.. Kya hua
kya hai..?

KRISHNA
Sach atak gaya hai halak mein..
Nigal nahi paa rahe hain..
Babban looks at Krishna in the rearview mirror.

BABBAN
Kaun sa sach..?

Krishna doesn't reply. Babban looks at Krishna and then

Khalujan. He realises what has been cooking all the while.
His expression changes:

BABBAN
Oh..! Par pata kaise chala.. Tumne
bataya..?

Babban looks at Khalujan glaring at him. Babban looks away

like a guilty child.

BABBAN
Sorry Khalu.. Sorry.. Jab tak
mujhe tumhari neeyat ki khabar
padti.. Tab tak meri tabeeyat
phisal gayi thi saali.. Maine
socha ki tumhein bataaoon na
bataaoon..

Khalujan doesn't reply; instead glares at Babban even

harder.

BABBAN
Par achcha hua na khalu.. kudrat
ne masla hal kar diya.. Ab bas
hamaara nikah kara do bas..
Krishna nahi chalo unke bachche hi
sahi..

He laughs tentatively. Khalujan glares at Babban and slaps

him again.. harder this time.

BABBAN
Oye..! ek aur maara toh mujhse na
kahiyo..!

Phattakk..!! Khalujan whacks him even harder.

BABBAN
Bas bahut ho gaya.. Maatha mat
thanka mera..!
Khalujan hits him yet again and the car comes to a
screeching halt. Babban turns around and punches Khalujan
right on the face. Khalujan falls back.

Khalujan feels blood trickling from his nose and touches

it. He sighs and calmly steps out of the vehicle.

KHALUJAN
Bahar aa..

Babban steps out, equally calm.

BABBAN
Lo aa gaya..

EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINIOUS

Khalujan gestures politely to Babban to walk to the other

side of the road. Babban obliges. Khalujan keeps a hand on
Babban's shoulder like a friend.

KHALUJAN
Naliyaan chatne ke layak hai tu..
Tera baap toh bhag gaya tha Maulvi
ki laundiya ke sath saale.. Main
na paalta toh wahin Aligarh ki
galiyon ka kutta rehta tu..

BABBAN
Aur tu..? Paaltu rehta Mushtaq
ka.. Bhool gaya..? Main na hota
toh zindagi bhar uske daalaan mein
jeebh se pochha maarta..

Khalujan takes a step forward and rips off Babban's shirt.

KHALUJAN
Apni aulaad ki tarah paala hai
tujhe haraamzaade..

BABBAN
Haan..! nikah tak toh kara nahi
paye mera.. Meher ke paise bhi
nahi jute they tumse.. Baaraat
ghar se aake laut gayi thi...

Babban rips off Khalujan's shirt after the retort.

 KHALUJAN
Tujh jaise randibaaz ko deta kaun
apni laundiya..! Dono ka chaal-
chalan bhanp liya tha unhone..

BABBAN
Dono kaun..?

KHALUJAN
Ek tu..

BABBAN
Aur..?

KHALUJAN
(whispering)
Teri ammi..

BABBAN
Hain..? Kaun..?

KHALUJAN
Ek tu aur teri ammi..!

BABBAN
Ammi ko beech mein mat la khalu..

KHALUJAN
Main thodi laaya.. Saari duniya
kehti thi..

BABBAN
Kya..?

KHALUJAN
Yaarbaaz amma ka randibaaz
chhora..!

There is only so much that Babban can take. He pounces on

Khalujan who responds immediately. A fierce fight starts.
Both roll on the ground mouthing abuses and inflicting
blows after blows to each other - to a point that their
guns are about to be drawn.

Inside the car, Krishna shoots a desperate look at the duo.

She looks back inside. KK whimpers, coming to
consciousness.
Babban and Khalujan still struggle with each other when
they hear the engine of the car rev up. They stop and look.
Krishna drives away.

FADE OUT.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - COURTYARD - DAY

Water is splashed on his face as KK comes to. He finds

himself propped up on a chair in Krishna's backyard.
Krishna stands tall above him, pistol aimed at his
forehead. KK squints in the glaring sunlight.

KRISHNA
Vidya kahaan hai..?

KK, dazed and confused, takes his time. He frowns and

mumbles under his breath. Krishna is patient as she waits
for a reply. KK gathers himself and looks at her.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Hmmm..?

KK
Kaun kahaan hai..?

KRISHNA
Mere pati parmeshwar.. Vidyadhar
Verma..

KK looks around the courtyard. Despite his situation, KK

manages to chuckle softly.

KK
Apne haathon se uksi raakh ganga
bahai hai tune..

Krishna hits him hard with the butt of the pistol. KK cries
out.

KK (CONT'D)
(loudly; in pain)
Pehle bhi samjhaaya tha tujhe..!
Tera wehem hai ki wo zinda hai..

KRISHNA
Phone laga usse..
 KK
Tu paagal ho gayi hai Krishna..?

Krishna fires a shot in air but frighteningly close to his

temple. KK falls down on the floor as blood trickles out of
his ear.

He screams in agony as Krishna walks to him calmly and

offers him his cell phone.

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - LATER

Krishna opens the door to a store room in the backyard of

the house. Bundles of sugarcane waste is kept in the room.
She covers her face with a cloth as she picks up a bundle.

I/E KRISHNA'S HOUSE - CONTINIOUS

Shots of Krishna keeping the bundles in the rooms of the

house.

She shuts all windows and doors of the house except for the
main entrance.

I/E KRISHNA'S HOUSE - CONTINIOUS

Krishna sets up the bedroom. She dusts the furniture and

puts up a clean sheet on the bed.

She checks on the two gas cylinders in the room. She opens
the tap and checks for the leaking gas.

Behind her, a newspaper headline announces the death of

Verma in a gas cylinder explosion at his home.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

Exhausted, thirsty, limping; Babban and Khalujan arrive at

the house.

BABBAN
Krishna..!

Krishna comes out. She wears a red saree. The men look at
her.
INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - COURTYARD - LATER

Wads of cash and some jewellery are piled up on the bed

next to a bag. The men look at the money incredulously.

KRISHNA
Aaj se aap log aazaad hain.. Shaam
5 baje ki Bhopal ki train hai.. Ye
ticket..

BABBAN
Kakkad kahaan hai..?

KRISHNA
Poore 25 lakh hain.. Shaayad kam
lage.. Par aap apna udhar aaram se
chuka sakte hain.. Gin lijiye...

Khalujan picks a wad and looks at it carefully.

KHALUJAN
Gintey they.. Roz gintey thay..
Jab ye chori nahi hua tha.. Tab
din-raat hum dono isse baith ke
bas gina hi karte they..

Babban picks up a wad and looks at it. Realization dawns

upon him as he looks at Krishna, enraged.

BABBAN
Chotti..!

He pounces upon her but Krishna takes out a pistol and

points right at him, close.

KRISHNA
Chahti toh paise leke gum ho sakti
thi... saari zindagi dhoondhte
rehte mujhe.. Magar mujhe paisa
nahi chahiye..

KHALUJAN
Zyada paisa chahiye..!
(to Babban)
Le.. Hamari Amma nikli.. Nikah
padhwaaoon ab..? Bachche
khilwaayega meri godi mein apne..?
 KRISHNA
Ye jagah aap log jitna jaldi chhor
dein utna behtar hai..

KHALUJAN
(calmly)
Ji behtar hai..
(to Babban)
Chal..

Khalujan points to the bag and sits down next to the money.
Babban steps back and picks up the bag. They start to fill
the money in the bag slowly.

KHALUJAN (CONT'D)
Jaane se pehle wajah jaan-ne ka
haq toh hamaara banta hai.. Kam se
kam..

KRISHNA
Ishq mein sab bewajaah hai..

Khalujan chuckles sarcastically looking at her. Babban

doesn't find anything funny. He looks at her seriously.

BABBAN
Bag neeche se phat gaya hai.. Wo
wala le loon..?

Babban points to a gunny sack and walks cautiously towards

it. Krishna's pistol follows him as he picks up the bag to
check if its empty.

Khalujan, in a swift movement, flings the money at her. She

loses focus momentarily and Babban whips his pistol out
immediately. Now the gun is on her as Babban presses it on
her forehead, still seething in anger.

BABBAN (CONT'D)
Kakkar kahan hai..?

Silence.

KHALUJAN
(loudly)
Kahan hai..?

Krishna has her back to the wall but she looks at the men
defiantly.
Khalujan is enraged yet cannot bring himself to commit any
violence on her.

KHALUJAN (CONT'D)
Yahin ghar mein hoga.. Dhoondh
usse..

BABBAN
Khalu.. Tum dekho..

Khalujan looks at Babban and understands. As he starts to

move:

KRISHNA
Bahut badi galati kar rahe ho tum
log..!

Khalujan stops.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Kakkar bahut hi khatarnaak insaan
hai.. Uska steel ka dhandha sirf
dikhava hai.. wo asal mein Nepal
se hathiyaaron ki supply karta hai
yahaan..

The men take in the information seriously.

KHALUJAN
Achchha..?

KRISHNA
Kakkar Vidhyadhar Verma uska
daahina haath hai.. Usne Kakkar ke
saath milkar mujhe marne ki
koshish ki thi..

Khalujan tries to digest this information

KHALUJAN
Verma zinda hai.. Aur usne Kakkar
ke saath tujhe marne ki koshish
bhi ki.. Aur fail ho gaya..! Wah
wah..

Khalujan is amused and walks away.

INT. SAME - MOMENTS LATER

Babban is tying Krishna to a chair.

KRISHNA
Waqt bahut kam hai.. Paise le ke
chale jaao.. Varna mere saath tum
dono bhi maare jaoge..

Babban stops as he looks at her. Krishna looks at him

sincerely.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Uske log yahaan pahunchne wale
hain..

BABBAN
Tune bulaava bheja hai..?

KRISHNA
Haan..

BABBAN
Aur kya karegi usse yahaan bulake
tu..?

Babban awaits an answer but Krishna just looks at him

quietly.

KHALUJAN (CONT'D)
Kal raat jab tu so gai thi na, to
saari raat baitha bas dekhta hi
raha tujhe.. Tu pehli aurat hai
jisse dil lagaya.. Aur tu harami..
Khel rahi thi mere saath.. jee
chahata hai ki yahin halaak kar
doon tere ko.. Mohabbat itni
gaadhhi hai ki jhel jaunga main
bas..

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Khalujan reacts to the smell of the rotting sugarcane as he

looks around urgently in a room. There is no sign of KK. He
opens another door and finds this room empty as well.

He walks to the window and opens it.

 KHALUJAN
(loudly)
Babban..! pata nahi kahaan dabaaya
hai saali ne.. Mil hi nahi raha..

Babban reacts and as he turns around with the pistol

towards Krishna, they hear a loud banging noise from inside
the kitchen. The men stop as they hear the sound.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Khalujan rushes to investigate. The noise is closer now

although the kitchen is completely empty. He checks behind
things but it leads him nowhere. He scratches his head in
puzzlement when it strikes him that the sound is coming
from somewhere below him.

Khalujan bends down to see that the noise comes from under
the cooking set up. He peers in closer and discovers a
small lever. A trapdoor.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

The cooking set up is moved and the men struggle as they

manage to open the trapdoor.

They look down to see KK. Bleeding, bound and gagged, he

makes quite a sight but is ecstatic to see the men.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - COURTYARD - CONTINUOUS

KK trembles as he gulps down water. Babban and Khalujan

look at him. Krishna is tied to a chair.

KK
Janata tha main Varma ko.. Ek
number ka chhata badmash... mujhe
dhamkaata tha paise ke liye.. Par
usne bhi kabhi itte nahi maange
bhaisaab..! Dekhiye paise hai mere
paas.. par aisa nahi ki chutki
bajaate hi 4 karod aa jayega..

BABBAN
4 karod..?
(to Krishna)
 Humne toh do tay kiya tha na..?

KK
Dhai ka offer toh khud maine diya
hai ji..

KK looks at Krishna directly.

KHALUJAN
Iska pati tere dhandhe mein
partner hai..?

KK
Kaun sa dhandha..?

KHALUJAN
Nepal se hathiyaron ki supply.

KK looks at Krishna, shocked.

KK
Mujhe pata nahi aap logon ke aapsi
sambandh kya hain.. Par mujhe apni
safai mein ab kuchh nahi kehna..
Ho sakta hai isne 4 karod maange
hi nahi.. Bas main kahani bana
raha hoon.. Aur kya pata iska pati
shaayad maraa bhi na ho.. Kyon
deviji..?

KRISHNA
Kuch der ki baat hai.. sab jaan
jaayenge ki kaun zinda hai kaun
murda..

KK
(to the men)
Aap kahein kya karna hai..

Babban and Khalujan look at each other.

BABBAN
Dhai ke intezam mein kitta tem
lagega..?
INT. GLORIA BEAUTY PARLOUR - DAY

Manju Kakkar is getting a manicure from Mamta when her

phone rings. She gestures to Mamta to take the call.

The scene is intercut between them and KK at Krishna's

house.

MAMTA
Hello..

KK
(surprised)
Mamta..? Par meine toh..

MAMTA
Ek minute.. Didi ke haath busy
hain..

MANJU KAKKAR
Speaker pe kar do..

KK
Nahi Mamta nahi..!

Mamta puts the phone on speaker mode anyway.

MANJU KAKKAR
Kuku.. Haan bolo..

KK
Phone speaker se hatao..

MANJU KAKKAR
Arrey bolo na.. Mamta se sharma
rahe ho..?

The women giggle.

KK
Dhyaan se suno.. Kuch paise
chahiye mujhe jaldi..

MANJU KAKKAR
(serious)
Tum kidnap ho gaye ho kya..? bolte
kyon nahi.. Kisne kiya hai..? Kaun
sa mafia hai..?
INTERCUT

Babban and Khalujan look at KK intently as he speaks to

Manju. KK smiles at the men.

KK
Income tax.. Papers mein gadbad
nikli hai.. Par saab log bahut
bhale insaan hain.. Ab tum dhyaan
se suno.. 50 lakh guest room ke
flush tank mein hain.. 50 purane
microwave mein.. 50 bade fridge ke
freezer mein hoga.. Aur er..

MANJU KAKKAR
50 piano mein dala tha parson..

KK
Haan correct correct.. ye paise
lekar tum factory pahuncho.. 50
aur wahaan mil jaayega.. Income
tax department ke do log wahaan
pahuchenge ek ghante mein.. Unhein
de dena.. Meri chintaa mat karna..
Main shaam tak ghar aa jaoonga..
Theek hai..?

The women look at each other.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - LATER

Khalujan is locking the bedroom door when Babban joins him,

ready to leave.

BABBAN
Isse hamare baare mein sab pata
hai.. Police peechhe aayegi
hamare.. Kya karna hai..?

Khalujan looks at Babban thoughtfully. He takes out his

pistol and offers it to Babban.

KHALUJAN
Karna kya hai..? Uda de saali ko..
khatam kar afsana..
Babban considers the proposal as he looks at the pistol. He
shifts uneasily before he picks it up. Khalujan opens the
door. Krishna is tied up on a chair in the room.

Babban tries to avoid eye contact with her. He lifts up the

gun to aim at her. The pistol stares at Krishna.

Babban doesn't fire. He looks away and then back, steeling

himself. Again, he cannot bring himself to pulling the
trigger. He drops his hand and offers the pistol to
Khalujan.

BABBAN
Tum udao..

KHALUJAN
Kyon..?

BABBAN
Kyon kya..? Tum udao..

KHALUJAN
Tu kyon nahi udata..?

BABBAN
Tum kyon nahi udate..?

Khalujan is taken aback. He looks at Krishna.

KHALUJAN
Mujhe sach mein iss haraamzaadi se
ishq ho gaya tha..

BABBAN
Aur mujhe..? Sala tumhara ishq
ishq hamara ishq sex..!

He forces the pistol into Khalujan's hands and walks away.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - LATER

The men have one last look at the house as they drive away.
Tai comes running behind the car and tries to stop them but
it's too late.
EXT. KK'S FACTORY - DAY

The factory is abuzz as workers load goods into trucks

ready for departure. The motley crew of workers go about
their task quietly when all of a sudden the silence is
broken by the shrill ring at the gate. The men stop and
look towards the gate.

One of the men proceeds cautiously to the gate and opens it

partly. Babban and Khalujan smile at him.

GUARD
Haan..?

KHALUJAN
Manju ji hain..? Hum Income tax
department se hain..

The man sizes up the two bedraggled men. They definitely do

not look like they're from any office. He shuts the door
and opens it after a bit.

The duo is let in. They walk in and look around. Some of
the workers look intently at them. The man leads them
towards the office. As they walk, Babban sees someone who
looks familiar.

BABBAN
Ae Nandu..!

But the guy is gone. Babban frowns and looks around.

KHALUJAN
Kya hua..?

Babban gets a slightly uneasy feeling. All the people

staring at him resonates with the moment in Nandu's village
when the villagers were staring at him.

BABBAN
Kuchh nahi.. Jaldi nikalte hain..

INT. KK'S FACTORY - OFFICE - DAY

Two large suitcases stacked with cash stare at Babban and

Khalujan. They stare back. Manju looks at them with a
slight smile.
 MANJU KAKKAR
Ginenge nahi..?

BABBAN
Sharminda kar rahi hain aap.. Ab
toh ghar ki si baat hai..

She smiles. The shrill call-bell blares out as they shut

the suitcases.

EXT. KK'S FACTORY - MOMENTS LATER

The gate opens. Followed by his posse, Vidyadhar Verma

walks in. As he enters, the workers stop work and greet him
respectfully.

I/E. KK'S FACTORY - CONTINUOUS

Babban and Khalujan walk out of the office, lugging the

suitcases.

We intercut between them and Verma as they walk towards

each other having yet not seen each other.

The men come face to face with each other in the foyer.

Verma smiles incredulously. He is genuinely surprised to

see them here.

Babban and Khalujan freeze in their tracks. Their face goes

ashen, as if they've seen a ghost.

Mamta, the Nepalese beautician stands behind Verma.

INT. KK'S FACTORY - LATER

A cache of arms is being packed neatly into containers to

be loaded on a truck.

Visibly anxious, Babban and Khalujan sit nearby, quietly

staring at Verma.

VERMA
Ab main Varma nahi.. Kulshreshth
hoon.. Shyam Prasad Kulshreshth..
Babban and Khalujan look at each other. Verma walks close
to them.

VERMA (CONT'D)
Kyon bula rahi hai wo mujhe..? Kya
karna chahti hai..?

KHALUJAN
Allah kasam Varmaji.. Zara bhi
khabar hoti toh hum kabhi nahi
padte iss chakkar mein.. Mushtaq
bhai ki talvaar latki hai hamare
sar pe.. Nahin toh hum kabka nikal
gaye they yahaan se..

Verma looks straight into Khalujan's eyes. Khalujan looks

back earnestly.

VERMA
Theek hai.. Khud mil aate hain uss
se..

Verma gets up and turns around to his men.

KHALUJAN
Hum jaayein phir bhaijaan..?

VERMA
Kyon..? Milna nahi chahenge ek
baar aur uss se..?

EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER

Verma's car leads the way followed by the duo's car on the
highway. Khalujan and Babban sit silently sandwiched
between two armed burly men in their car.

The cars cross a bridge on a river when their car turns off
onto a side road while Verma's car ahead carries on.
Khalujan and Babban react, confused and try and tell the
driver he's taken a wrong turn.

All of a sudden, the men sitting next to them, grab hold of

them roughly and blindfold them. Babban and Khalujan
struggle but are no match for them.
BLACK

On black, we hear sounds of footsteps on gravel and heavy

breathing.

BABBAN (O.S.)
Bhaisaab.. Kahan le ja rahe hain
humein.. Hain..? dekhiye humein
jaane dijiye..

KHALUJAN (O.S.)
Kisi ko pata nahi chalega bhai..
Chup-chaap nikal jayenge hum..
Hamein maariye nahi please..

Before he can finish, Khalujan lets out a cry as we hear

sounds of falling on the ground. A pistol clicks.

EXT. RIVERSIDE - CONTINUOUS

The blindfolds are taken off the men. Babban squints and
looks at his captor, aghast. Nandu stands before them.

Nandu swings the pistol like a pro and pockets it. He

smiles at the men.

EXT. RIVERSIDE - LATER

Nandu sits on the ground with Babban. Khalujan splashes

water on himself from the river.

NANDU
Tujhe jaanna tha na ki sena mein
kya karunga mai..? Ye dekh.. Chini
tamancha..

BABBAN
Varma ne hamein marne ke liye
bheja tha tujhe..?

NANDU
(nodding)
Yahin nadi mein phenkni thi laash
tumhari.. Akele ka pehla kaam hai
ye mera..

Babban swallows as he looks at Khalujan.

 KHALUJAN
Tujhe pehle se pata tha ki Varma
zinda hai..?

NANDU
Na.. Baapu se milne jungle gaya
tha tab dekha tha usse..
(chuckles)
Bhoot bhoot chil-lane laga tha..
Phir baad mein logon ne poora
kissa bataaya..

BABBAN
Kya..?

Nandu looks at the duo seriously.

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The night of the blast in Krishna's house.

Krishna runs out of the kitchen leaving Verma behind. He

watches her go and then quickly turns around.

Verma bends down and opens the trap door. A corpse lies
inside. 2 men enter quietly and Verma helps them in setting
up the corpse, dressed identically to Verma, before they
plant a crude bomb and get away from the house.

Through these visuals, Nandu's voice dominates the sound

track.

NANDU (V.O.)
Kuchh saal pehle Nepal ke raste
hathiyaron ki taskari shuru hui
thi.. Pehle Thakuron ke paas 303
rifle ka dhauns tha aur hamaare
paas desi katta.. Lekin ab.. AK 47
maano toh bachchon ka khel.. Vidya
bhaiyya ko naye dhandhe mein hissa
chaahiye tha.. Magar unki Thakuron
se nahi patati thi.. Khoonam-khoon
ho gaya.. Krishna bhabhi ne bahut
roka.. Par unhone ek na suni..
Seedha Thakur MLA se yuddh kiya..
Bas.. saare Thakur unke jaan ke
dushman ban gaye.. Bhaiyya bhag
 nikle.. unka khule mein rehna
mushkil ho gaya.. Bhabhi ne unhein
bahut dhoondha.. Roz Kakkar ke
paas jaati thi poochne ki wo kab
aayenge.. vo bhaiya ke liye aur
jhanjhat ban gayi thi.. Paani sar
ke oopar chadh gaya aur bhaiya ne
ant mein apni hi maut ka kaand
rach diya.. par usse ummeed nahi
thi ki dhamake mein bhabhi bach
jayegi..

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE COURTYARD - NIGHT

As the v/o progresses:

The house explodes. In the courtyard, a badly bruised

Krishna, recovers and drags herself close to the tap. The
water spouts out. Krishna sits under it, eyes shut.

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

Krishna lies bandaged in the hospital. An emotional KK sits

by her side as a cop shows her husband's belongings, which
were on his person at the time of his death. There is a
silver chain, but not her pendant. She looks at it.

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE COURTYARD - DAY

Krishna, still bandaged, sits quietly at her home. Nandu

and Tai watch her from across the courtyard.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE BEDROOM - DAY

Krishna sticks up news reportages on the wall feverishly.

The last headline in the collage informs about Verma's
death in a household accident -'Kidnapping kingpin dies in
a gas cylinder explosion at home'.

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Krishna takes off the last of the bandage from her hand,
revealing burn scars. Outside, Tai's voice is heard,
calling out to her when Babban and Khalujan arrived home.
 NANDU (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Hamari jaat ke liye Varma ne bahut
kuch kiya.. Par Krishna bhabhi ke
sath ..bahut galat..

Krishna looks towards the gate.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

Nandu escorts Babban and Khalujan as they step closer to

the highway. Just before the main road, he turns around and
points to a spot just under his neck.

NANDU
Yahaan pe haan.. Na idhar na
udhar... samjha.. Aur ye rakh lo
kaam aayegi.

Babban takes Nandu's pistol from him.

NANDU (CONT'D)
Ghabra mat.. Do minute mein hosh
aa jayega mujhe.. Chal maar.. O
maar na..!

Babban hits Nandu on the spot. Nandu looks at him as he

blacks out.

EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER

Babban and Khalujan walk on the highway. Silent. Gloomy.

KHALUJAN
Duniya mein sabse gehri dushmani
miyan biwi ki hoti hai.. Nikah ki
bhool ja tu bhaiya..

BABBAN
Sach.. Hum toh kunware hi bhale
Khalu..

KHALUJAN
Bilkul..
(silence)
Waise.. Laundiya sach bol rahi
thi..
 BABBAN
Haan.. Par pehle bata deti sach
toh kya madad na karte hum uski..?

KHALUJAN
Hmm..

BABBAN
Hamara paisa churaaya usne..

KHALUJAN
Haan.. Chotti kahin ki..

Silence.

BABBAN
Par ek baat toh hai Khalu..
Haraamzaada Verma apni maut saabit
karne ke liye uss pyari si jaan ko
sati banaana chah riya tha...

KHALUJAN
Aur kya.. Woh toh Allah miyan ka
karam tha ki bach gayi..

BABBAN
Haan. Par ab kya karenge Allah
miyan.. Itne haraamiyon ke samne
wo akeli.. Aur tum toh haath-paon
baandh aaye uske.. Bhaag bhi nahi
sakti..

Khalujan looks at Babban full of guilt.

KHALUJAN
(softly)
Khair chhor.. Hum toh bach gaye..

BABBAN
(nods)
Hmmm..

They approach a railway crossing.

KHALUJAN
Par ek baat toh hai.. Laundiya
sulphate nahi hai.. Kuch toh
planning ki hogi usne..
 BABBAN
Kya planning Verma ki sena ke
samne..!

A tempo stops by their side, it makes a peculiar clanging

sound. They casually glance at it. A signage on the tempo
reads,'LPG - HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE!' Both stare at it for a
bit. Mouth open.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Shot of the gas cylinders in Krishna's room. Krishna drags

herself with all her might towards them.

EXT. HIGHWAY - RAILWAY CROSSING - CONTINUOUS

Babban and Khalujan look at each other. Fresh beads of

sweat appear on Khalujan's forehead.

BABBAN
Ek baat toh hai..

KHALUJAN
Na.. Ab baat doosri hai..

The train passes as Babban picks up his pistol and points

to the tempo driver.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Krishna's struggles but manages to reach closer to the

cylinders. With her back to them, she unscrews the tap. The
pipe that hangs loose begins to spout the colorless gas.

EXT. HIGHWAY - RAILWAY CROSSING - MOMENTS LATER

Babban and Khalujan drive off in the tempo as the hapless

driver stands scratching his head.

I/E. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

Cars stop outside Krishna's house. Verma gets out.

Tai is just outside the house, tying up a rope to finish

making a torch. She is surprised to see Verma.
Verma's men get off. Mamta and Manju follow as Verma walks
into his house.

INT. / EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY

2 cops sit languidly and chat. We catch them mid-

conversation.

COP 1
To humne ghuma ke dui kantaap
maara aur bola aurat ho aurat ban
ke raho, nahin to jaakar apne baap
ke khopadiya pe baith jaao

He stops as he hears someone shouting outside. The cops

walk up and peer out of the window.

Babban is across the street, on the other side, yelling at

the cops.

BABBAN
O kaamchoron... pichhwada baith
baithe baithe bhains ban gaya hai
saalo! Abbe tumhaari maan
rikshawale ke saath bhaag jaye..
Tumhaari biwi doodhwale ka bachha
janey..! Kambakht maaro! Tumhaari
behen ko chechak ho jaye.. Tumhare
bachhon ko dast lage..!

The cops realize that this is an assault on them.

COP 2
Abbe oe..! Chup kar..!

Babban has now started pelting stones in their direction as

he screams.

BABBAN
Kutton..! Bavasir ke kidon..!

The Inspector of the chowki arrives. Filmi Kaliyan magazine

in his hands.

INSPECTOR
Kya hua..?
The officer looks up stepping into the doorway. As soon as
he sees them in the doorway, Babban whips out the pistol
and fires over their head.

The cops duck back inside and draw their guns.

Babban fires another shot in the air. As the cops run

towards him, Khalujan drives up from behind and Babban gets
into the tempo.

The cops run helter-skelter and get into their jeep to

chase down the miscreants. As the jeep drives up, Khalujan
speeds up the tempo.

The cops fire at them. Babban and Khalujan drive out as a

chase begins through the streets of the town.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - DAY

Verma's men are spread over the house. Verma looks at the
house, standing in the centre of the courtyard. He reacts
to foul smell in the house.

Mamta and Manju walk through the corridor of the house,

looking for KK.

MANJU KAKKAR
Kukku..? Arrey Kukku kahaan ho..?

She opens the door to a room. No sign of him.

Mamta touches Manju's shoulder reassuringly. She cups her

palms near her mouth.

MAMTA
(birdlike)
Kukku.. Kukku..

A reply, faint but not too distant is heard. Manju looks at

Mamta for a moment before she rushes towards the store room
in the backyard.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE STORE ROOM - DAY

KK is in the store room. He is shocked to see Manju. She

rushes to his side and hugs him.
 MANJU KAKKAR
Tum theek ho na..?

KK
Manju? Tumne aawaz lagai thi
mujhe..?

Manju looks at him seriously. Mamta stands behind in the

doorway, emotional. KK looks at her and then his wife.
Mamta runs and hugs him. Manju smiles ever so slightly.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Verma walks in the house looking for Krishna.

Inside the room, Krishna can hear footsteps approaching the

door.

Verma arrives at the door, knowing that Krishna is inside.

He stops at the door.

Verma opens the door and sees Krishna inside. They look at
each other for a moment.

He looks away and she chuckles in spite of the situation.

He is awkward at first, then smiles hesitatingly.

VERMA
Itti khushi hui thi sunkar ki uss
raat tum bach gai..

She is smiling, staring at him. He walks to her and starts

to untie her.

VERMA (CONT'D)
Pata kaise chala tujhe..?

KRISHNA
Uss raat ghar mein gas nahi thi..

Verma reacts quietly. Krishna turns to him as her hands

come free.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Mujhe leke bhi toh ja sakte they..

VERMA
Tum aati nahi..
 KRISHNA
(nodding)
Isiliye tumhein bula liya..

They are very close to each other.

VERMA
Par kyon..? Haan..?

KRISHNA
Bas.. Ek cheez ki kami thi.. Jo
aapke sath chali gayi thi..

Verma grins and fishes his pockets for the locket. He takes
it out and shows it to her.

VERMA
Khazaana laya hoon tere liye..

He offers her the locket. She goes to take it but he tries

to pull it back. Today, she is too quick for him. She
snatches it away from him.

VERMA (CONT'D)
Aur koi khwahish..

KRISHNA
Haan.. aakhri..

Verma waits for her reply. Krishna rushes and locks the
bedroom door.

KRISHNA (CONT'D)
Aapke saath iss makbare mein dafan
hona hai humein..

She takes out a lighter from under the blouse.

Verma stares at her and realises what she has done. He

looks at the gas cylinder in horror. He stares back at
Krishna.

VERMA
Krishna nahi..!

But she has her fingers tight on the lighter. As her

fingers move:
Gunshots are heard outside the house. Verma makes a move
but Krishna stops him in his tracks. He stays put. She
walks to the window and opens it just a wee bit:

OUTSIDE

The tempo car swerves and screeches to a halt. Khalujan and

Babban jump out. The police jeep is driving up some
distance away.

COURTYARD

Babban and Khalujan run inside shouting for Krishna, but

stop when they confront Verma's men in the outer courtyard.

Verma's men are surprised but have their guns aimed on the
duo. KK, Manju and Mamta come out and look at the scene.

In the meantime, one zealous policeman rushes into the

house ahead of his colleagues. He comes inside, gapes at
the proceedings and runs back out.

INSIDE

The gas cylinder spouts the colorless gas making a 'hiss'

sound.

VERMA
Dekho Krishna.. Thande dimaag se..

His hands are moving towards his back pocket.

KRISHNA
Bandook do..!

VERMA
Haan..?

KRISHNA
Pistol do apni..!

Verma bends down as he slides the pistol on the ground

towards her. She bends down and takes out the magazine and
flings it across.
As she comes back up, Verma pounces upon her. A struggle
begins as he tries to take the lighter away from her.

OUTSIDE

Cops creep stealthily towards the entrance of the house.

One of them makes a call for backup. Another takes aim
towards the courtyard.

COURTYARD

Khalujan is trying to explain to a confused KK.

KHALUJAN
Aur cylinder kabhi bhi phat sakta
hai.. Hamein yahaan se jaldi..

All of a sudden a gunshot booms out. KK ducks. His men come

into action and scatter around.

Seizing the opportunity, Babban and Khalujan rush towards

the stairs for the bedroom.

A firefight begins between KK's men and the police. KK

steals a look outside. He thinks for a bit and starts to
creep towards the backdoor. His wife holds him tightly by
the arm while his mistress has her pistol pointed out for
protection.

KK's men take notice of the duo. A couple of them run

towards them, firing incessantly.

OUTSIDE

KK rushes out towards the front of the house followed by

Manju and Mamta. Tai comes in the way.

TAI
Arrey bhaiya jhagda kaahe ka
hai..? Suno toh..! Maachis hai
kya..?

KK rushes towards the cops, ignoring Tai. She frowns and

looks around, the unlit torch in her hands.

The Inspector turns around and is surprised to see KK.

 INSPECTOR
Arrey Kakkar saab.. Aap yahaan..?

KK
Firing rokiye..!

INSPECTOR
Hain..? Par saab..

KK
Arrey sab mere log hain andar..!
Stop the firing now!!

The Inspector is still confused when he turns around to his

men.

INSPECTOR
Firing band karo..! Stop stop..!

CONSTABLE
Hain..! Kya sir..?

Gunshots are heard as Tai finds a matchbox in the trash and

smiles. Behind her, we see a car driving up to the house.

INSIDE

Krishna is bleeding slightly but she has managed to free

herself from Verma. The door is open now and she drags
herself towards the lighter that lies near the door.

As she picks it up, Babban and Khalujan emerge into the

corridor, followed by KK's men. They are being fired at
constantly.

From Krishna's POV; high speed: Babban and Khalujan dodge

bullets, fall, get up again but run towards the room.

BABBAN
Krishna..! Nahi..?

Krishna's fingers are wrapped tightly around the lighter

but she stares at the duo who run towards her; trying to
save her.

A bullet grazes Babban's shoulder sending him tumbling to

the ground in front of Khalujan who crashes into him and
falls down himself.
 KHALUJAN
Ruk jaiye Krishna ji..!

All of a sudden, Verma lurks up from behind. The men watch

in horror as Verma hits at Krishna with the butt of his
pistol. Blood pours out from her forehead as she stares at
Babban and Khalujan, transfixed.

Krishna collapses. Verma rushes out of the corridor while

Babban and Khalujan run inside. KK's men stop firing as
they see Verma.

Babban and Khalujan kneel down by Krishna's side. She is

unconscious. They try to shake her up but there is no
response.

Babban cries out loud when suddenly, she opens her eyes. A
beat. She smiles as tears roll down the men's face.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

The Cops and KK's men have surrounded the house and are
walking purposefully towards it, guns drawn.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Verma rushes down the stairs. As he enters the courtyard, a

volley of gunfire forces him to run back to the stairs. One
of his men steals a look to see what's going on.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Mushtaq and his men have arrived! Their car has rammed into
the police jeep. The cops and KK's men turn back to deal
with this new intruder but they have been taken by
surprise.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Verma thinks for a bit and looks back upstairs. He turns

around and takes a pistol from his man. He cocks the pistol
and creeps up the stairs. He points the pistol but as he
goes to fire, he realises that the trio is not there.
INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE - ROOM

Babban has picked up one of the cylinders and uses all his
strength to break down the window in the room. The wooden
frame gives way.

He turns to look at Krishna and Khalujan. This is the only

hope.

CORRIDOR

Meanwhile Verma and his men rush into the corridor.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Krishna, Babban and Khalujan jump out.

Tai, with the lit torch, is shocked to see them. The three
of them fall on the bundles of sugarcane waste in the
backyard. Babban helps prop Krishna up. Khalujan limps up.
He grabs Tai by hand and pulls her away from the house.

The torch is left behind on the ground. The sugarcane waste

catches fire as the fumes rise up.

INT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Verma enters the room but there is no sign of any of them.

He rushes to the broken window. The fumes and sparks from
the torch rise up.

The deadly gas leaks. Close on Verma. He knows this is the

end.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

The firefight carries on. Mushtaq and his men have used the
element of surprise and fire from a secure vantage point.

The cops barks out instructions to his falling men

desperately.

KK and his women are hidden behind the wall. Both women hug
him tightly.
Explosion. All firing stops and the house catches fire.
Smoke fills the air.

Silence but for the sound of the burning house.

BEHIND HOUSE

As the smoke settles, Khalujan staggers up behind the

house. Some distance away, Babban heaves himself up.
Coughing. Wheezing.

They find each other. They look around. They call out for
Krishna. She is nowhere to be seen.

INT. KSRISHNA'S HOUSE

Bloodied but just about alive, Verma crawls into the

courtyard. The house burns. As he gets down into the
corridor, he looks up.

Close on Krishna. She stands by the pillar near the door,

staring at him blankly. He stops and looks at her. A beat.

As Verma drags himself forward, Krishna turns around and

walks away. He is too injured to stop her, even talk to
her. He simply watches her go out.

Khalujan and Babban are outside. Worried. The compound is

littered with bodies.

She stops near them. They stand next to each other. They
look at the burning house.

Krishna turns and starts to walk away. The men wait a bit
before Babban runs behind her. Khalujan follows.

EXT. KRISHNA'S HOUSE

Their car is outside the house. Babban opens the boot and
takes out the bag with their money. He rushes back to join
them.

The three of them walk together. Holding hands. Babban

pulls her closer. Khalujan smiles.

Behind them, the house burns. The roof caves in.

We stay with them as they walk away.

Although they haven't realised yet, Mushtaq follows them

with his men.

FADE TO BLACK.