Chapter 9:
Scene 1:
Location: Pilgrimage place
Sanskar is standing in front of Bhagwan’s idol. His eyes are moist and he is doing aarti and singing a bhajan. Suddenly, he hears a familiar voice. It is a lady. She is reciting along with others. He recognizes this voice and mutters.
Sanskar: (whispering to himself) Swara! (he turns back in order to find her. After much struggle, he found her walking on some distance from him. Her eyes were closed and tears were flowing continuously from her eyes. She was smiling and was looking peaceful. Before he could go to her, some people passed by and he missed her. He was searching frantically for her when he fell down.)
Scene 2:
Location: Maheshwari mansion, Sanskar’s room
His eyes opened and he found himself in his room. He got up and saw himself in the mirror. He again saw her in dream. He controlled his tears and got ready for the marriage ceremony. He went to the lawn where his sister and brother-in-law were seated. Music was playing in a very loud sound. He was finding no interest in all that but still he was standing there because he was brother of Anita. He saw his mother dancing on the floor. All females were wearing very tight clothes clinging to their bodies. They had deep necks and were sleeveless. Even Anita and his brother-in-law were dancing there. There was a time when he like these sort of parties and loud music. But now he was totally changed. His mother came to him and insisted to dance but he refused. After some time, Lakshya came and he went to meet him.
Sanskar: Namaste! (hugs him)
Lakshya: hello dude! How are you?
Sanskar: all fit and fine! I thought you will not come.
Lakshya: when you would insist, how could I refuse? Your family seems to be very modern. I think you are the odd one out.
Sanskar: my family also says this but if you were with me some years back, I was completely different. I was more modern than my family. But now, I am really an odd one out. Come, we have to break our fast.
Lakshya: yeah! (they both headed towards the Mandir)
Scene 3:
Location: road, Sanskar’s car
Lakshya: why don’t you come with me to my village?
Sanskar: what will I do there?
Lakshya: you are a very good economist. You can start your projects here.
Sanskar: no Lakshya! These things demand full attention and time. And you know that I can’t give these two things. (He did not tell him that he can’t live in India. He starts getting occupied by Swara’s memories. His guilt increases here and he gets depressed)
Lakshya: you are on holidays now-a-days. So why don’t you visit the village once?
Sanskar: I will try.
Lakshya: call me when you make up your mind.
Sanskar: fine!
Scene 4:
Location: Lakshya’s village
Sanskar was wandering here and there. He was observing people. This was the extremity of poverty. He felt pity. He was continuously thinking that what deed did he do that he was granted with all the facilities of Elite class and what sin these people have done that they were deprived of even the basic facilities of life. He planned to start something here with his savings. His mind was once again occupied by Swara. They were in his car.
Sanskar: at least tell me where are we going?
Lakshya: do you remember when once you said that you don’t have peace. I am taking you to a place where you will surely get peace.
Sanskar: listen! I don’t believe in all this.
Lakshya: what?
Sanskar: in all these superstitions like saints etc.
Lakshya: you are coming and that’s final.
Scene 5:
Location: a family house, sitting room
Lakshya and Sanskar entered the room and sat down with others. Lakshya told him that he brought him here to meet Dr. Verma. He met him few years before and was very depressed but now he is perfectly fit. After some time, a man of age around 40 years entered. He was dressed in casuals. Nobody stood up and he sat down. He started his lecture. Sanskar felt relaxed after his lecture. H then started coming there almost daily. On his last day in Pakistan, he met Dr. Verma and asked for his contact number because he was going to US once again. After going to US, he maintained his contact with him and was in peace but still he needed sleeping pills.
Scene 6:
Location: a road
After some time, he again came to Pakistan and met Lakshya. They discussed different things and then he started walking on roads aimlessly. He stopped at some place and was waiting for a taxi when a car stopped in front of him and his old friend Vihan came out.
Vihan: Sanskar! Is that you?
Sanskar: Vihan! (Vihan hugs him)
Vihan: what are you doing here?
Sanskar: I was waiting for a taxi.
Vihan: why taxi? Come, I will drop you. We will have talk also.
Sanskar: (hesitating) fine!
Vihan: come! (makes him sit) you have changed very much Sanskar! I mean your hairs and dressing sense is completely changed.
Sanskar: so many years have passed. So we should look mature.
Vihan: only eight years have passed and you are looking like in some depression from a long time.
Sanskar: so are you married?
Vihan: yeah! I have a son. And you?
Sanskar: no! (some cards fall down and he picks up them and places them in dash board. Suddenly his eyes fell on ear rings kept over there. Swara’s face flashed in his mind and his eyes welled up with tears. He barely controlled his emotions and asked him) these ear rings are of your wife?
Vihan: (laughing) wife? No. these are of my girlfriend!
Sanskar: girl friend? (he felt his voice coming from a deep ravine)
Vihan: yeah! She is a girl of red light area. (Sanskar felt earth slipped underneath his feet. He never thought that he will find out Swara like this. He felt sudden wave of anger passing down his spine and in next minute, he was strangulating Vihan’s neck.)
Sanskar: how dare you say like that? (punches Vihan on his nose and it starts bleeding. He stopped the car)
Vihan: what the hell are you trying to do, Sanskar?
Sanskar: (comes to his senses) I am sorry. I got emotional.
Vihan: (starts the car again) by the way, why you reacted like this?
Sanskar: you need first aid!
Vihan: no, it’s okay.
Sanskar: what is her name? your (trying to control his inner turmoil) girlfriend!
Vihan: Sonia! (Sanskar let out a sigh of relief) but this is not her real name.
Sanskar: (curiously) what is her real name?
Vihan: Swara! (Sanskar felt like he will die the very next moment. He was imagining Swara in red light area and his eyes started turning red) Sanskar! Are you fine?
Sanskar: no, I want to meet her. Right now!
Vihan: come to my house and freshen up. Then we will go.
Sanskar: (shouting) I said right now. Can’t you hear?
Vihan: ok fine, young man. cool down! (after some time, they reached that area. Sanskar also used to come there eight years ago when he has not met Swara. But now he was here once again, only to find his lady love there. He has decided in his mind that if he finds Swara there, he will kill himself right there, in front of her because he cannot live with her guilt. They reached a room and he stood frozen near the door. Vihan went in and called her.) Sonia! Someone is here to meet you! (Sonia turns and the moment Sanskar saw her, he fell down on his knees and bent down. He was crying continuously. Vihan got worried.) Sanskar! Hey, what happened? Get up man.
Sanskar: (got up and was staring at Sonia) I am sorry! I am sorry Swara.
Vihan: she is not Swara!
Sanskar: I know! I know. (He took his wallet out and emptied it. He gave all his cash to Sonia and turned to go out.)
Vihan: wait! What happened? I can drop…..
Sanskar: no need. I can go on my own. (he ran from there and on the way, he fell downstairs and got major injuries. He was now lying on a footpath. He saw some silhouette before fainting.
Scene 7:
Location: private clinic of family doctor of Maheshwari family
Sanskar felt his hand moving. He was feeling very tired. He opened his eyes slowly and saw Lakshya standing near his bed.
Lakshya: how are you, Sanskar?
Sanskar: I am feeling fine.
Lakshya: thank God! You have not got any fractures otherwise you have not left any stone unturned to break every single bone of yours.
Sanskar: what happened?
Lakshya: this should be my question. What happened to you?
Sanskar: I was walking when I fell from staircase.
Lakshya: oh really! Don’t try to be smart. Someone has attacked you. At least by seeing your injuries, we can tell this.
Sanskar: my parents?
Lakshya: I will tell them.
Sanskar: no, don’t inform them. They will get worried for no reason.
Lakshya: ok! Anything else you want?
Sanskar: yeah! Give me some tranquilizer.