(A man was alone in a dark room. He had an airplane ticket in one hand and a pistol in the other.)
Saturday, September 15, 2007 – This was it, D-Day. Both Rahul and Smita were sitting in the room, trying to speak to each other, contemplating the future. Almost 7 years of being into each other, and yet they were unsure.
“7 years Smita, 7 years. Are you trying to tell me that it has gone waste?”
“No. Certainly not. I am only saying you could have handled this better. You know better than I do that I cannot and will not spend the rest of my life with anyone but you. Thanks to the circumstances…”
“Circumstances eh? What happened to all that LOVE of yours hah? Ok, I do agree we were separated by distance. But I used to call you, come over whenever possible and we’ve shared some lovely moments together! Even you cannot deny that fact Smita, and you cannot take those moments away from me!”
“I’m not, and I won’t. It’s just that…”
“Yeah it’s just that Mr. Ka…”
Just at that moment Karan walks into the room.
(The man in the dark room takes the gun up and keeps the ticket down)
“Sorry I’m late. I had to…”
“Yeah right, MR. KARAN. Always having excuses. Always late, never on time.”
“Maybe I was late you bloody… (Looks gingerly at Smita) you know Rahul, maybe I was late, but I beat you to it! Fair and square!” saying this he pointed towards Smita.
“Beat you to it? BEAT you to it? Yeah right, an innocent girl comes from a small town to a big city, and you guys see her as easy prey. Unfortunately, I had faith in my 7 years of love. I thought she’d see some sense…” Rahul falls away.
“Easy prey? EASY PREY? Goddamn you I love Smita! And she’s no baby – she’s 21 if you’ve not realised. Why do you always bring your SEVEN YEARS OF LOVE into the picture? Haven’t you ever realised that what I’ve done in less than a year for her has probably far outweighed what you could muster in 7 years? I am not even binding her to some contract like you are! 7 years… codswallop”
Smita was getting restless. “Guys I think we’ve come here…”
Karan intervened, “No Smita, not today. You will not come in between us. We need to settle our differences man-to-man.”
Smita winced, “But…”
Karan caught her hand and said, “Trust me”
“Take your hand off her!” roared Rahul.
“Why? She doesn’t seem to mind do you Smita?”
Smita just kept silent. Karan said, “Ok, I do not understand what your silence means, so…”
Rahul pounced on this, “SEE? In one year you cannot understand her feelings. I know that she means no when she’s silent!”
Smita, “NO RAHUL… my silence doesn’t mean that! I’m just waiting for you guys to finish your babble! And please let me say what I have to! Please!”
Now it was Karan’s turn, “Dear oh dear… even seven years hasn’t done you much good eh?”
(The man in the room keeps the gun down, and picks up the ticket)
Smita had enough. “Now it’s MY turn! I will do the talking! Please guys, I have had enough trouble trying to make truce between the both of you. I know this is all my fault – I probably shouldn’t have come here in the first place. Or even if I did…” she looked at Karan, “… I should have kept myself back. Now it’s an awkward situation for everybody. I’m really sorry guys. But we’ve come here to settle differences and make a decision. And I think the decision has been made.”
Now it was Karan’s turn to get hot-headed. “Really, Smita? Do you think the decision has REALLY been made?”
“Karan, you know that I can’t stay here any more. My folks back home are suspicious, and thank God, I at least told Rahul about our relationship or things would have spiralled out of control even more. He took care of my folks back at home. My family and his have known about our relationship for quite a while now. The entire town back home is expecting us to get married. I don’t think I can really…”
“What if I tell you, Smita, that I am ready to stand up to your folks? What if I’m ready to face society for you? What if I tell you I can put everything on the line? You STILL would choose Rahul?” Karan was tense.
“Karan, please understand one thing – it’s not that I’ve stopped loving Rahul or anything. He’s also given me his time, and even he’s ready to do anything for me…”
“But you still love me don’t you?”
Silence from Smita. “Now Mr. Rahul translator, please translate THIS silence for me?”
Rahul smirked and said, “That’s what I’m saying. You guys in the city think it’s a joke and you put the girl through such turmoil that…”
“Turmoil? TURMOIL? What we’ve shared in the last one year has been TURMOIL, Smita?”
Again, a scared silence from Smita. “What do you mean by that Smita? What exactly do you…?”
“KARAN PLEASE!” Smita started sobbing. “Don’t put me through this. You… you just have to forget me. Keep no memories of me, Karan. I have to go back. I cannot take this any more...” she started crying.
“What do you mean Smita? You came into this relationship of your own accord! You yourself told me that whenever you’d come to me with your problems, and I would help you out, you always wished you’d been here rather than there all your life. You said I was the one you were always looking for! I gave you all the support and friendship through your hard times here, and now when I ask you for your support, all I get in return is SILENCE? Now tell me what you’re putting ME through, Smita!”
Saturday, September 15, 2007 – This was it, D-Day. Both Rahul and Smita were sitting in the room, trying to speak to each other, contemplating the future. Almost 7 years of being into each other, and yet they were unsure.
“7 years Smita, 7 years. Are you trying to tell me that it has gone waste?”
“No. Certainly not. I am only saying you could have handled this better. You know better than I do that I cannot and will not spend the rest of my life with anyone but you. Thanks to the circumstances…”
“Circumstances eh? What happened to all that LOVE of yours hah? Ok, I do agree we were separated by distance. But I used to call you, come over whenever possible and we’ve shared some lovely moments together! Even you cannot deny that fact Smita, and you cannot take those moments away from me!”
“I’m not, and I won’t. It’s just that…”
“Yeah it’s just that Mr. Ka…”
Just at that moment Karan walks into the room.
(The man in the dark room takes the gun up and keeps the ticket down)
“Sorry I’m late. I had to…”
“Yeah right, MR. KARAN. Always having excuses. Always late, never on time.”
“Maybe I was late you bloody… (Looks gingerly at Smita) you know Rahul, maybe I was late, but I beat you to it! Fair and square!” saying this he pointed towards Smita.
“Beat you to it? BEAT you to it? Yeah right, an innocent girl comes from a small town to a big city, and you guys see her as easy prey. Unfortunately, I had faith in my 7 years of love. I thought she’d see some sense…” Rahul falls away.
“Easy prey? EASY PREY? Goddamn you I love Smita! And she’s no baby – she’s 21 if you’ve not realised. Why do you always bring your SEVEN YEARS OF LOVE into the picture? Haven’t you ever realised that what I’ve done in less than a year for her has probably far outweighed what you could muster in 7 years? I am not even binding her to some contract like you are! 7 years… codswallop”
Smita was getting restless. “Guys I think we’ve come here…”
Karan intervened, “No Smita, not today. You will not come in between us. We need to settle our differences man-to-man.”
Smita winced, “But…”
Karan caught her hand and said, “Trust me”
“Take your hand off her!” roared Rahul.
“Why? She doesn’t seem to mind do you Smita?”
Smita just kept silent. Karan said, “Ok, I do not understand what your silence means, so…”
Rahul pounced on this, “SEE? In one year you cannot understand her feelings. I know that she means no when she’s silent!”
Smita, “NO RAHUL… my silence doesn’t mean that! I’m just waiting for you guys to finish your babble! And please let me say what I have to! Please!”
Now it was Karan’s turn, “Dear oh dear… even seven years hasn’t done you much good eh?”
(The man in the room keeps the gun down, and picks up the ticket)
Smita had enough. “Now it’s MY turn! I will do the talking! Please guys, I have had enough trouble trying to make truce between the both of you. I know this is all my fault – I probably shouldn’t have come here in the first place. Or even if I did…” she looked at Karan, “… I should have kept myself back. Now it’s an awkward situation for everybody. I’m really sorry guys. But we’ve come here to settle differences and make a decision. And I think the decision has been made.”
Now it was Karan’s turn to get hot-headed. “Really, Smita? Do you think the decision has REALLY been made?”
“Karan, you know that I can’t stay here any more. My folks back home are suspicious, and thank God, I at least told Rahul about our relationship or things would have spiralled out of control even more. He took care of my folks back at home. My family and his have known about our relationship for quite a while now. The entire town back home is expecting us to get married. I don’t think I can really…”
“What if I tell you, Smita, that I am ready to stand up to your folks? What if I’m ready to face society for you? What if I tell you I can put everything on the line? You STILL would choose Rahul?” Karan was tense.
“Karan, please understand one thing – it’s not that I’ve stopped loving Rahul or anything. He’s also given me his time, and even he’s ready to do anything for me…”
“But you still love me don’t you?”
Silence from Smita. “Now Mr. Rahul translator, please translate THIS silence for me?”
Rahul smirked and said, “That’s what I’m saying. You guys in the city think it’s a joke and you put the girl through such turmoil that…”
“Turmoil? TURMOIL? What we’ve shared in the last one year has been TURMOIL, Smita?”
Again, a scared silence from Smita. “What do you mean by that Smita? What exactly do you…?”
“KARAN PLEASE!” Smita started sobbing. “Don’t put me through this. You… you just have to forget me. Keep no memories of me, Karan. I have to go back. I cannot take this any more...” she started crying.
“What do you mean Smita? You came into this relationship of your own accord! You yourself told me that whenever you’d come to me with your problems, and I would help you out, you always wished you’d been here rather than there all your life. You said I was the one you were always looking for! I gave you all the support and friendship through your hard times here, and now when I ask you for your support, all I get in return is SILENCE? Now tell me what you’re putting ME through, Smita!”
(The man picks up the gun, and looks at the ticket and the gun in his hands)
Rahul got up and went towards Karan, “Hello, hello, please stop all this nonsense! Don’t you dare ever speak to her like that! Didn’t you hear her? She’s had enough of you! Now she wants to come back with me and live the rest of her life happily!” he almost caught Karan’s collar.
Karan just laughed slightly, “Before you make me come after you, let me ask you a simple question, man-to-man? Are you ever going to be satisfied or relieved your entire life, that a girl who doesn’t REALLY love you, who’s married you for the sake of society, will always love another man, that’s ME?”
Rahul was livid, “She doesn’t LOVE YOU!! She’s just confused!”
Karan laughed again, “Yeah right, a convenient excuse. Confused. A 21-year old not being able to take a decision on her own life. That’s rich. Or, not being ALLOWED to take a decision, should I say?” Both had each other’s collars in their hands now.
Smita, who was still in tears, separated them, “Both of you have never really understood me have you? You know I can’t see you fight, and still you go at each others throats, right in front of me!”
Karan now looked at Smita, “Smita, this is your one big chance. Here, I have a ticket that goes to the US tonight, where I’ve just landed the most incredible job. We’ll never have to see his face again Smita. We can go to the USA, settle down there and we’ll be safe and secure all our lives.”
(The man again puts the gun down, and looks intensely at the ticket)
Rahul was quick to retaliate, “Smita, you know that your father suffers from diabetes. Your mum has a lot of expectation from you…”
Karan spoke in between, “…learn to eviscerate these bonds as you move on in life Smita. This life is yours, and no one, not even your parents…”
“…I will be the laughing stock of the entire town, your parents won’t be able to bear the pressure…”, “…I’ll take care of your parents for you if you want…”, “It’s YOUR LIFE, YOUR LIFE…”, “…aren’t you indebted to your parents and relations back home?...”
“PLEASE STOP!” Smita had really had enough. “You guys will never understand me, and you’ll keep going at each other. Now I will take the final decision.”
Karan wanted to say something, but Smita stopped him, “Karan, I know we’ve had lovely moments here to ourselves, but eventually I must conform to the norms of my society. Rahul has given me 7 years of his life, and he’s always taken the best care of me. My parents believe that this is the boy I’m marrying. If I suddenly turn up with you, everyone’s going to have a bad impression. Neither Rahul nor my parents deserve it. If you’re worrying about how I’ll manage, don’t worry. Rahul’s love and your memories are good enough for me. And don’t ever think I’ll ever forget you Karan… I never will.”
“It’s easy for you to say that, after one year… you don’t realise what you’re doing to me, Smita…” now Karan was almost in tears.
(The man puts the ticket down and buries his face in his hands)
Rahul now said, “Imagine my plight, after 7 years in a relationship, my girl wants to be with someone else. I guess no one has even thought about that. Have YOU ever loved anyone 7 years Karan? Have YOU ever been ditched? Do YOU know how it feels?”
Karan looked into his eyes and said, “Yes Rahul, before Smita, I was in a relationship that almost drove me to the brink of suicide. So don’t you dare talk to me about this seven-year shit. When Smita came into my life, I thought things would change. But well, I guess I’m destined to be the loser all the time. This conversation was of no use. I was the outsider all the time.”
Rahul and Smita both got up, “Karan, please don’t say that. You will always, always hold a special place in my heart… right now though, I’ve got to go. You’ve got a great job in the US, and I’m so happy for you. I’m sure you’ll find a better girl than me, Karan.”
Karan just half-smiled, “That’s what all the girls say when they want to ditch a guy. Yeah, I’m always the ditched one, the spare piece, the rank outsider…” saying this he suddenly laughs.
Rahul then said, “Hey, we’ve had enough. You’ve a plane to catch, and we’ve a train to catch. Both of us have to catch something FAST. So long, it’s been nice knowing you, bye!”
Karan was fuming. “Ignore him Karan,” said Smita. She hugged him one last time, and put a piece of paper in his pocket. “I love you Karan, and I’m sure you’ll be able to do well without me. Here’s wishing you all the best in life.” She pecked him on the cheek.
Karan then said, “I don’t know about the ‘doing well without me’ part… heck I don’t even know if I’ll be able to make it tonight. But ok, love you too Smita, hope you and Rahul have a great life together. I’ll be on my way… for good…”
(Returning to the man in the dark room, he takes out his face from his hands. The lights come on, and we see Karan. He takes out the paper Smita slipped into his pocket, and puts it on the table between the ticket and the gun. These were its contents: DEAR KARAN, YOU ARE MY LOVE AND YOU ALWAYS WILL BE. THERE’S NO WAY I CAN STOP LOVING YOU. BUT WE’VE GOT TO REALISE THAT AT TIMES IN LIFE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TOUGH DECISION FOR THE BETTER. I WASN’T AS STRONG AS YOU TO TAKE ON THE WORLD KARAN, AND I CAN NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF FOR THAT. BUT YOU MUST REALISE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH. THEY’VE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING IN LIFE, AND I COULD NOT BREAK THEIR HEARTS FOR MY WHIMS AND FANCIES. I HOPE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. BEFORE SIGNING OFF, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ONE THING KARAN: LOVE HAPPENS ONLY ONCE. THE REST IS JUST LIFE. YOUR JANU, SMITA. Karan now looked at the ticket, the piece of paper and the gun. He had a decision to make. 4 hours to a new life, with the memories of Smita, or 4 seconds to end this miserable, lonely life. He looked at the ticket, the gun, and the piece of paper one last time and his hand reached out to take one of them…)
Rahul got up and went towards Karan, “Hello, hello, please stop all this nonsense! Don’t you dare ever speak to her like that! Didn’t you hear her? She’s had enough of you! Now she wants to come back with me and live the rest of her life happily!” he almost caught Karan’s collar.
Karan just laughed slightly, “Before you make me come after you, let me ask you a simple question, man-to-man? Are you ever going to be satisfied or relieved your entire life, that a girl who doesn’t REALLY love you, who’s married you for the sake of society, will always love another man, that’s ME?”
Rahul was livid, “She doesn’t LOVE YOU!! She’s just confused!”
Karan laughed again, “Yeah right, a convenient excuse. Confused. A 21-year old not being able to take a decision on her own life. That’s rich. Or, not being ALLOWED to take a decision, should I say?” Both had each other’s collars in their hands now.
Smita, who was still in tears, separated them, “Both of you have never really understood me have you? You know I can’t see you fight, and still you go at each others throats, right in front of me!”
Karan now looked at Smita, “Smita, this is your one big chance. Here, I have a ticket that goes to the US tonight, where I’ve just landed the most incredible job. We’ll never have to see his face again Smita. We can go to the USA, settle down there and we’ll be safe and secure all our lives.”
(The man again puts the gun down, and looks intensely at the ticket)
Rahul was quick to retaliate, “Smita, you know that your father suffers from diabetes. Your mum has a lot of expectation from you…”
Karan spoke in between, “…learn to eviscerate these bonds as you move on in life Smita. This life is yours, and no one, not even your parents…”
“…I will be the laughing stock of the entire town, your parents won’t be able to bear the pressure…”, “…I’ll take care of your parents for you if you want…”, “It’s YOUR LIFE, YOUR LIFE…”, “…aren’t you indebted to your parents and relations back home?...”
“PLEASE STOP!” Smita had really had enough. “You guys will never understand me, and you’ll keep going at each other. Now I will take the final decision.”
Karan wanted to say something, but Smita stopped him, “Karan, I know we’ve had lovely moments here to ourselves, but eventually I must conform to the norms of my society. Rahul has given me 7 years of his life, and he’s always taken the best care of me. My parents believe that this is the boy I’m marrying. If I suddenly turn up with you, everyone’s going to have a bad impression. Neither Rahul nor my parents deserve it. If you’re worrying about how I’ll manage, don’t worry. Rahul’s love and your memories are good enough for me. And don’t ever think I’ll ever forget you Karan… I never will.”
“It’s easy for you to say that, after one year… you don’t realise what you’re doing to me, Smita…” now Karan was almost in tears.
(The man puts the ticket down and buries his face in his hands)
Rahul now said, “Imagine my plight, after 7 years in a relationship, my girl wants to be with someone else. I guess no one has even thought about that. Have YOU ever loved anyone 7 years Karan? Have YOU ever been ditched? Do YOU know how it feels?”
Karan looked into his eyes and said, “Yes Rahul, before Smita, I was in a relationship that almost drove me to the brink of suicide. So don’t you dare talk to me about this seven-year shit. When Smita came into my life, I thought things would change. But well, I guess I’m destined to be the loser all the time. This conversation was of no use. I was the outsider all the time.”
Rahul and Smita both got up, “Karan, please don’t say that. You will always, always hold a special place in my heart… right now though, I’ve got to go. You’ve got a great job in the US, and I’m so happy for you. I’m sure you’ll find a better girl than me, Karan.”
Karan just half-smiled, “That’s what all the girls say when they want to ditch a guy. Yeah, I’m always the ditched one, the spare piece, the rank outsider…” saying this he suddenly laughs.
Rahul then said, “Hey, we’ve had enough. You’ve a plane to catch, and we’ve a train to catch. Both of us have to catch something FAST. So long, it’s been nice knowing you, bye!”
Karan was fuming. “Ignore him Karan,” said Smita. She hugged him one last time, and put a piece of paper in his pocket. “I love you Karan, and I’m sure you’ll be able to do well without me. Here’s wishing you all the best in life.” She pecked him on the cheek.
Karan then said, “I don’t know about the ‘doing well without me’ part… heck I don’t even know if I’ll be able to make it tonight. But ok, love you too Smita, hope you and Rahul have a great life together. I’ll be on my way… for good…”
(Returning to the man in the dark room, he takes out his face from his hands. The lights come on, and we see Karan. He takes out the paper Smita slipped into his pocket, and puts it on the table between the ticket and the gun. These were its contents: DEAR KARAN, YOU ARE MY LOVE AND YOU ALWAYS WILL BE. THERE’S NO WAY I CAN STOP LOVING YOU. BUT WE’VE GOT TO REALISE THAT AT TIMES IN LIFE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TOUGH DECISION FOR THE BETTER. I WASN’T AS STRONG AS YOU TO TAKE ON THE WORLD KARAN, AND I CAN NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF FOR THAT. BUT YOU MUST REALISE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH. THEY’VE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING IN LIFE, AND I COULD NOT BREAK THEIR HEARTS FOR MY WHIMS AND FANCIES. I HOPE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. BEFORE SIGNING OFF, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ONE THING KARAN: LOVE HAPPENS ONLY ONCE. THE REST IS JUST LIFE. YOUR JANU, SMITA. Karan now looked at the ticket, the piece of paper and the gun. He had a decision to make. 4 hours to a new life, with the memories of Smita, or 4 seconds to end this miserable, lonely life. He looked at the ticket, the gun, and the piece of paper one last time and his hand reached out to take one of them…)
