1.

1 Return to Gaon

Evening town, mostly deserted village. Wind gusting.

Enter Ramesh w a suitcase/trolley in his hands, dressed in a modern attire. Irritated and tired.

R- (looking at his phone) bhai do minute, network ni aare.

Taxi Driver- koi ni bhaiya aram se. Vaise kuch bhi kaho maza toh zindagi ka yahi hai bhaiya.
R- kaisa maza? Ek payment toh ho ni ri…. (struggles finding signals) Ruko yar yeh lo (hands him
cash)
TD- Dhanyawad bhai ji.
R- ok ok.

Takes up bag, plugs in ear phone (Saadho re plays)

Sweating and struggling to go up hill.

To a passerby- Bhai yeh Mahender Pant ji ka ghar kaunsa hoga?

PB(looking at him w amazement/ curiosity): Mahi daju ka ghar. Chalo chalo mai bhi udhar ko hi
hitnu, mai chod dila. Tum kaun therey vaise?
R- Mai beta hua unka, Ramesh.
PB- Ohoo, lao yaar daju bag diya, tum toh biradar hi therey fir. (takes bag off his shoulder)
R- arey nahi nahi.
PB- Arey diya yaar, khali thak jaal. Sher mai kaha their chalne ki adat.
R- …. Acha dhanyawad. Ek baat batao yaha airtel ni chalta kya?
PB- Na na yaha toh sirf jio chalne ya bsnl. Agar tumhe call kara hoga toh mere paas aajal, 4 ghar
dur chen mere ghar.
R- (aside) tabhi toh yaha development ni ho para, basic cheeze toh h ni yaha..
PB- Yo, pahunch gaye. (runs to aama)

(full Pahadi) ya mahi daju chel chu Ramesh. Alle aan chu.
Aama (dressed in purani saree, pahadi lady): hugs him affectionately- Oijaa Ramia, Katu thul
hego. Aa beth re chela.
R- Hesitantly- ji namaste…. Takes a step backward. Sits down.
A- Yas karne che namaste? Pichli baar dekha that oh nange paer rouni, kafal chakni. Ab katu thul
hego, babu jas.
R- (hesitantly) vo bachpan tha aama. Ab sab badal gaya hai.
A- (looks around) han sahi kenu, badal gaya chi. Log jain. Sab chaina. Naa poocha na docha.
R-(looking at the empty houses): Shero mai jyada oppurtunities hai aama. Vikas ho raha hai.
Vaha log aage badh sakte hai.
A- Kaha jaan chu aage bad bati? Pahad bula hi liyo tuke bhi vapas?
R- Ji bas thoda kaam tha. (avoiding eye contact)
A- Thero kaam ghar bechnni hi na? (knowingly, softly)
R(surprised, heads up, defensively): Ji. Ab khali makaan hi toh hai aama. Kab tak aisi padha
rahega.
A- Khali makaan na cha chela, jad hol jadd. Tane jadh ukharne cha?
R- Aisi jadh ka kya fayeda jisme kuch jinda na ho? Bina Parivar ke ghar ghar nahi rehta, keval
diwaare reh jaati h.
A- Yo ghar khali ni huye che, log haige hai re chela. (angry, emotional)

Silence.
A- Chal, chai pinu. Ab toh chalni ki chai bhi bhul jani? (sarcastically) (gets up to move inside
slowly) (music fades in)
R- Bas do min amma. (follows, glancing back at his ancestral home). Lights fade.

1.2 Room in R’s house.

Dim lit, like standing still in time. Dust laden. A couple of old photos hangs about, of goljyu
devta and old people. Also at side is a dust lined trunk.

R enters the room, walks in ducking, take out cob webs. Keeps his bag at a side. Coughs.

R- Bas… Bas ek makaan hai, keval devar or chatt (as if convincing himself)
Lights a lamp.
Goes near trunk. Sweeps the dust of it. Opens it. Neatly folded old woolen sweaters, some
letters, a lantern. Takes them out. A latoo
Lights fade in the background- pauses- Sounds of children running and laughing in bg, dogs
barking, winds and birds chirping.
Fore-front- Flash back starts.

Young boy, in clothes stained in dust, buransh juice, barefooted, string in his hand.
In Pahari- Oo aama dikhe, katu der tak ghumne che.
Lady- Oho chakri master.
Young R- (Shouting happily) Hoyee, sabse bada chakri master! (going out of house, jumping)
Mai jaan che nadi mai nahane.
Lady- Bhalike ke jaiyo chela, der jhan kari. Dubka banana chee, jaldi aa jaii.
Flash back fades…. Sounds fade, warm lights change to the cold tones of the present

To the current time.

R- Holding the lattu (slight smile of nostalgia, nodding head as if convincing himself):
Keeping the lattu and things inside:
Bas ek khel tha… Ek yaad… Kya farak padhta hai.

Moves to his suitcase, take out new clothes, then the thick document file.
Goes through it. Reads a couple of things to finally go through it. Takes a deep breath. Proceeds
to sign it. Tries. Fails. Pen doesn’t work. Shakes it w violence. Finally signs it. Closes the file.
Keeps the pen on top.

Leans back, removes his glasses, closes his eyes. (aside, mumbling as if to the house himself):
Bas ek kahani thi, jo ab khatam hogayi… ab bas kaval kuch kisse bache h.

Lamp flickers, chilling silence. From darkness a shadow moves. Always present there, unnoticed.
Enters Bhoop Singh. Dressed in old, almost torn Pahadi clothes. Old, weak but dignified. A
personification of culture rather than a ghost. Slowly enters from a side. Watches Ramesh sleep.
Neither angry nor sad, but something deeper.

BS- Yeh jagah chodd dyu? Ye toh pagalpan cha.

Moves to the trunk. Holding the lattu
BS- Bachpan mai aayi din chakri chalana seekno, ab hamesha ke liye rok deni?
Takes a round about the house-
BS- Kuno ya bas makaan cha, bas deevar cha aur chatt? Ya sanskriti cha hamar, ya matrabhumi
cha, ya cha pitrabhumi.
Ya mai cha, aur tab tak ru jab tak koi yaad karne che.
Goes to the file:
BS- Ki samajh ni ki ek Rekha khich diye aur sab khatam?..... Jab yadein bhi bikni lag jaul, tab hum
jaise manus kaha jal?
Distressed sad. Looks at Ramesh helplessly as his last resort.
BS- Chela kuch kahani bas sunai ni jaal, vo jeevit bhi honu.
Takes a slow step towards him.
BS- Babu… Ab tu jaha jaale mai tyer dagad hitul…
Merges into his shadows. Lights slowly turns redder and darker throughout the scene and upon
the merging at once lamp goes off, stage dark.
1.3 Bus journey back to Delhi

Typical UTC bus, people sitting in close. Amalgamation of modernity and tradition. Sounds of
vendors and honing in the back, day time sun is bright. Hustle bustle. Bollywood song in bg.
Baby crying, someone eating chips too loudly. Old man eating gutka.

R is sitting in sweat. Suitcase in bw his legs. Bhoop Singh is closely like a guilt etched to him. He
too is uncomfortable.
R is dressed in a modern attire in sharp contrast to bhoop singh. Bus starts and pushes R back
slightly (loud honk).
R is seen uncomfortable and sweating. Seeing him:
A college student is sitting near him.
CS- Bro coke piyoge? Full chilled hai.
R- Looks at him, thinks then shakes his head: Thanks.
(CS opens the coke, takes a sip)
R-(murmuring, half to himself): pehle yeh sode vali bottle milti thi, usko andar ek goli hoti thi,
usko dabake kholte the.
CS- Looks at him confused???? Then proceeds to scroll insta on his phone.

Enter a couple of workers: Dust laden clothes, tired faces. Talking in kumaoni.
For a moment R is hugged warm and feels peace but then the CS is seen talking to his friend in
the bg (like a taunt, loud enough for workers to hear)
CS 1: Bhai sun, yeh log kya bolre hai (nudging his friend)
CS 2: Abey patani kaha se aajate hai gawaar. Koi subtitles lagao yaar (giggles).

Workers falls silent.

BS(aside angry): Ya bhasha koi kapad chu ke, ki gandi hejul toh utarak phek diya?
R uncomfortable w their silence.
R: Ye jubaan bhi mitti ki tarah h, jab tak hath gande karte raho, tab tak chipkki rehti h par ek
baar dhul jaai toh vapas nahi aati.
BS: Dekha abhi bhi mitti ki boo bachi che isme, par katu der chi ye dekha.

Rap songs in the bg(phone). Hustle Bustle R sleeps. Dream like memories again: Rap songs fades
along with noise. Village sounds, women talking and singing in circles in Kumauni. Like a warm
hug.

Dream breaks with a loud honking sound. Noises return.

Conductor: Dilli aagaya dilli. Sab Utro. Chalo chalo.
Everyone gets down except R & BS. R struggling still in a dream-like state.
Conductor: Coming close to him, bhai sahab dilli aagaya. Utarna hai ki ni ya vapsi ka ticket kaat
du?
R: (starts suddenly): Ji bhaisahab han bas ek min.
Picks up his bag (scene ends).

2.1 Ramesh’s house in Delhi

A modern room, that lacks any cultural value. Contains half read books about Himalayan
spirituality. (bg noise of distant honking and all)
Dark room. Sound of door opening.
Enters Ramesh (all sweaty, phone in one hand, earphones plugged in), Bhoop Singh (terrified,
sweaty)

Turns on the light.

BS: (Looks around) Saala katu garam chii. Na pedh chuu, na hawaa. Akhe alag jalnyu. Yas lagno
ki mai mar jaal. Haye re eeja.
BS: Ye kya cha? Taabot jas ghar. Na khidki chu, na Roshni aan che.
(moves around to touch the walls)
BS: Pahad mai ghar maathi mai bethnu, dharti ka hath pakad ke. Aur yaha toh lagnu ki ya bhi
machine se ban jaal. Ki kenu inne? Hoye modern ghar.
R: (Keeps the suitcase to one side. Goes on to wash his hands and face. Automatic tap.)
BS: Hain? Nalke mai binn hath laaye paani kas aane?
(moves to watch him closer) (process repeats) (takes a step backwards)
BS: Ee to jaadu cha, koi mantar phook diye ke?
R: (Goes on to relax. Lies down on the couch.)
BS: (Goes near the tap. Hesitantly moves his hand near the tap. Nothing happens)
BS: Ya nayi duniya bhi ajab che. Paan bhi insaan pe vishwaas ni karno. Jise chaa uske haath
dhulo, jise chaah use pyasa rakhno.
Alexa: Nisha commented “chasing sunsets never got more beautiful.”
BS: (to audience): tum log bhi suna? Koi che re yaha.
(turns on AC) (a sound of starting and bust of icy air)
BS: (shocked and started.) Yau kas jaadu chin. Alle toh saas ni aane, aur alle thithuriya jaal. Koi
toh kaala jaadu chin.
(Goes around to throw rice from his pocket around the room scared.)
R: Alexa continue playing Mirzapur.
Alexa: Playing Mirzapur on Amazon Prime.
BS: (Jumps at the sound. Tries searching for the source fails.) (Going near R): Ye dubara bolnyu.
Koi chudail chu re chela yaha. Mai kuni koi toh che. Bhoot che bhoot….
(TV turns on, S1 E10, marriage shooting scene)
BS: (turns towards tv) Ye log kaha bati aal? Ya fas gaye cha iss dabbe ma.
(realizes that its about to get violent)
BS: (even more scared/moves in panic towards R) Vo maar diyel uske. Oye bhulaa, bacha liye
usko hayee. Bechare ko bacha lie. (scaredly moves towards tv in order to help)
(sounds of shooting) (R watches w pleasure)
BS: (Scared to death, starts running around): Bacha liye Goljyu Devta, bacha liye. Buri aatma
hatal…. (Looks around for mandir)…. Maaf kardiya nyaypriy, bhula ke maaf kardiya. Na mandir
chee na diya batti karno… Tabhi le ye sab huni….
(R continues watching with a smile)
Dimaag le bajjar padno, hasne che logo ko marta dekh. Vash mai chu yo.
(goes on to sit squatting, crying, praying in distress) Ya naye jamane ke bhoot che, bina jaadu
tone ke ni jaal. Bacha liye maharaj. Haye
(all the sounds increase like a never-ending loop: horns get louder, shooting gets louder, Alexa
commenting on photos: Eventually BS voice fades out, as he collapses)

2.2

Next day.
BS stirs open his eyes. Remembering at what happened. BG voice of distant car honks.
BS: Saalo se band ghar mai rehnu, fir bhi dam toh yaha ghutno.
Ramesh lashes through door, half dressed, (suit on top, shorts below, half tie made, brush in his
hand. Feeling good playing in bg.) Laptop is already placed in the table. Goes near the kettle to
get his coffee, automated machine.
BS: Bhai re, ab toh log beed katne bhi haath ni hilanyu. Yaha toh gai bhi agar gobar karni che toh
khud hi zameen mai poch ke saaf kar lenu.
R takes the cup in his hand. Takes a sip. Keeps it aside. Moves infront of mirror to tie his tie.
BS: Ya gale mai rassi kyu badhna che. Pehle angrez zanzeero mai badhni ab yeh khud keg alle
mai fanda badhni. Kaha chu re badlaav?
R: goes to the laptop, typing. Still standing.
BS: Squints near the laptop, half bending.
BS: Ab ye kya bala chi? Ki khatar patar karno che ye.
R: Brings forward the chair, sits near the laptop. Adjusts his position.
Laptop rings for the call.
Online meet starts. A client and a couple of colleagues, on the other side. Voices distorted by
the internet.
Client: Good morning, Ramesh. Are we looking forward to finalize the deal today?
(R leans forward, professionally)
R: Yes, I think we’re in a good position. The legal formalities are almost done.
BS moves in squinting. Can’t see anyone but hear the voices.
BS (to audience, terrified, whispering): Ye log kaha cha? Awaaj toh anu par koi dikhna na. Bhoot
bangad toh hum cha, lekin ye log naye bhoot banne cha.
Colleague 2 (unmutes in a half-woken voice): Yeah, we’re just waiting on the last signatures.
Should be done by today evening.
Client: Good. Let’s wrap this up. Keep me in the loop.
(Disconnects.)
Colleague: Congrats Ramesh! Finally vo purana ghar kisi kaam toh aaya.
R: Thank you yaar. Kab se banjar pada tha, vaise bhi its time to move on ig.
BS: (angered, furious in rage)
BS: Ghar bech ryo cha… “move on” bol riyo cha… Jaise koi bekar chiz ko uthake phek dinu..
(his hand clinches, his voice raised)
BS: Ghar nahi… Zameen nahi… Yade bechne cha.

Ramesh closes laptop. Leans back, stretches. Dials a number.

R(cheerfully): Han bhai kaam hogaya. Party karte hai aaj. Aara hai na?
BS(laughing almost in disbelief): Ghar bechnyo par shok ni manana cha, aur re dhol bajane ki
tayyari cha.
Ramesh gets up, goes to the bed room to change.
BS: Jis mitti ne tuke banaya, aaj usi ki boli laga diyo.
Silence, after a pause, determined
BS: Ab mai tuke batai mitti ka mool.

2.3
Evening in the same house. Lights turned to party lighting. Music playing in the bg. Ramesh is
seen along with 2 other friends (Tanmay, Neerdhi). Glasses clanking. Half empty bottles on the
table. All merged in the phones, occasionally looking to the real world. They laugh, drink, scroll.
BS stands in a corner. Angered at seeing all this.

N (raising glass): Finally yaar vo ghar bhi gaya. You’ll at last be free of mountains.
All three toasts.
R: Yaar sach batau? Bahut halka sa mehsoos hora hai, jaise koi bojh uth gaya ho.

BS eyes flash. A flicker of light. Almost unnoticed by others.

T: Toh bhai ab agli property ka socha hai?
R: Haan yaar sahi poocha… ab ek penthouse ka plan h (half mockingly)
N: Arey vaah yaar… Kaha socha h?
R: DLF side dekhunga…
T: Chal fir agli party vahi hogi ab…

BS takes a step forward, fuming.

Door rattles slightly. Only R notices. Others deep in convo w each other.
A distant sound heard: (lady of the flashback) “Bhalike ke jaiyo chela, der jhan kari. Jaldi aa jaii.”
R looks up, confused, failing to acknowledge. His fingers twitch against the glass.
Sounds of children’s laughter slightly coming in. Laugh of Tanmay and Neerdhi fades out. Raghav
couldn’t believe what he’s seeing. Music also fades away.
Sound through the door: Aa re chele, jaldi aa. Der jhann kari.
Tanmay taps on his shoulder.
Everything comes back (the noise and all)
T: kaha khoya hai bhai? All good?
R: (nodding the head in discomfort) Han bhai, jara washroom tak jaake aata hu.
R: (aside) yeh sirf mera guilt hai. Ya shayad thakaan.
Gets up. (The music starts fading, village sounds get in louder w each step. Moving heavily, BS
walks just behind him, lights turn deep red w each step).
Suddenly he sees the temples bells getting louder and louder. He goes to wash his face but to no
effect. Music changed to sounds of dhol and damau. The kid version of himself running around
him. He tries to catch hold of him but to no effect. The guilt is too much. He looks to the mirror
and sees Bhoop Singh as his reflection.
BS: Bhalike chalne chela. Der jhan kari. Jaldi aa jaii.
Ramesh trembles. Runs outside, trips. Now in his ancestral home. Tanmay and neerdhi distant
still laughing (inaudible though).
The bells get louder and louder. Sounds of jagar blending in. Sound of kids laughing gets louder.
Kid running from one end to another.
BS: as if omnipresent: “Yaad vapas aane lag gaya cha… Ya ab bhi bechne ka irada cha…”
Overwhelmed by sounds R tries to get up but the memories of the past are too heavy.
BS: ye sher ek bhool bhulaiya chu. Keval admi ni par uske yaadein bhi isme kho jaane chu.

Lights fade out.

3.1 (surreal scene)

Ramesh wakes up in village. Almost in a trance like state.
BS leading the way. Back home to the mountains playing.
Confronted by aama.
A: Aye lyo! Beli aagyo cha. Haye ram katu din laga diyo re chela.
R: Yeh yeh kya ho raha h…. Mai toh dilli mai tha… Yeh kya ho raha hai…
A: Chela dilli toh tu leke aaya che apne mann mai. Ek baar apna bachpan bhi dhund liya mann
bati…
(holds his hands. Drums of jagar intensifies. Lighting like burning lamps.) (leads the way holding
his hand)
A: Aa re chela, tera Swagat cha….

Jagar Scene
Many villagers witnessing, some known some unknown
Speaking in bg: Arey ramiya aagya cha…. And whispering
Jagariya in center:
R sits down at peace: sees the boy again:
Now observes the scene with tears:
Boy laughing and playing. Mother caressing him softly. Father playing with him. A joyous blend
of emotions.
Then enter Bhoop Singh: not sad, not angry but joyous and as jubilant as possible. Dancing
freely to Pahadi tunes and all others join in to the drum beats, holding the boy in hands.
Everybody starts spinning around him as he sits with tears in his eyes.

3.2 Back in Delhi…

Wakes this time from a dream like state. Bhoop Singh is absent. Left overs of party. Phone
ringing. Standing confused as of that happened to him but now as a sort of at peace…
Phone: Sir ek baar aap last signatures kar dete toh bas deal final hojati.
R: (With a satisfactory smile)…. Ji uss bare mai ek baat karni thi….

BLACK OUT.