Monday,11,2019
Dramatis Personae
Shamshaad -- Somak Mukherjee
Gulabi -- Sunandini Mukherjee
Azgar -- Suddha Satwa GuhaRoy
Nagma -- Sampreeti Sen
Afzal -- Ankush Goutam Ghosh
Crew
Music by -- Dibyokamal Mitra and Siddhesh Gooptu
Concept and Idea -- Sampreeti Sen
Written and Directed by: Ankush Goutam Ghosh
Af: “It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul.
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars,
It is the cause. Yet I’ll not shed her blood,
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow
And smooth as monumental alabaster.
Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light.
[The 4 characters turn and put out the light]
Chorus: “Who there? OTHELLO!!”
Af: “She wakes.”
[Azgar with a chessboard]
A: Insaan jo hai, woh 2 tara ke hote hai. Ek hote hai harami aur dusra bewakoof. Lekin aurat iss daldal ka hissa nahi hoti. Woh bewakoof ke samne ban jaate hai harami aur harami ke samne ho jate hai bewakoof.
Duniya bhi shatranj ki tarah hoti hai. Rani raja ko bachati hai, baki sab launde apne raste peh hi chalte hai. Sab ka time fix hota hai. Sab marne ke jinda hote hai. Aur rani maarne ke liye. Raja sirf tamasha dekhta hai. Ee raja bohut swarthi kahika hai—khud mara gaya toh khel hi khatam??? Lekin neye zamane ki rani khel ko apne tarike se likhna pasand karti hai.
[Topples the King by the Queen]
[Light on Afzal and Azgar with a chilim]
Af: (After shooting once): Kidhar ka maal hai re? Dimag jhanjana jata hai.
A: Kahe? Kal raat koe toh shuru kiya thha. Burbak bhul bhi jata hai.
Sultanwa ka bare meh kuch pata chala?
Af: ha. Lucknow se nikle the. 10 gariya leke. Muzzafarnagar ke bahaar highway par zordar dhamaka. Accident. 2 gariya bachi thhi. Usko humlog dekh liye!
A: Aur Sultan?
Af: Gaari ki purje ki tarah uska sharir ka tukra tukra karke Lucknow bhej diya. Chalo achha hai, dafnane meh mushkil nahi hogi.
A: [Laughs] toh tu abhi Mumbai jayega ki yahi rahega?
Af: Jasn ka waqt hai miya. Wasseypur pe Qureshio ki maat itni asani se bhula nahi ja sakta. Chand dino ke liye yaha rehne se hame nafarman toh nahi kaha jayega.
A: So toh hai. Lekin apni rumaesho par thoda lagam bhi dena chahiye.
Af: Matlab?
[At this point, Gulabi enters with food]
Af:[Looking at her intently] Gulabi abhi taak yahi pari hai? Kalkatta nahi bheja ka?
A: Kambhakt naseeb hi kuch aisa hai. Iske liye dimaag sathiya gaya hai. Na khud ghar peh rakh sakte hai nahi bahaar chor sakte hai. Aur upar se, koe taur tarika bhi nahi hai. Samaj ko nabina samajh ke behthhi hai.
[gets up to leave]
Af: aare tum kaha chal diye?
A: Wasseypur ke aap mehman hai, hum nahi. Hum zyada der fareeq nahi reh sakte.
[Aside to Gulabi]: Jeisa kaha giya hai, weisa karo. Warna anjaam se tum bach nahi sakte.
Gulabi:[Aside] Anjaam ka dar apne bharwo ko dikhana. Mujhe nahi.
[exit Azgar]
[Gulabi takes the dishes out]
Gul: Mubarakho Afzal mia. Wasseypur wapas pahne ke liye.
[Afzal hugs her. Gets into an intimate position]
Af: Ghar meh koe nahi hai na?
Gul: Weise aap se ek baat pucche Afzal bhai?
Af: Zabaan bohut chalta hai tumhara. Maan karta hai kit ala laga de.
[Strokes his hair]
Gul: Hume bhi marne ka iradha hai?
Af: Isse maut nahi, maza samjhiye.
Gul:[Suddenly] aapki biwi keisi hai?
Af: Jeise hamne rakhha hai.
Gul: Aapki nikaah peh hume nahi bulaya gaya.
Af: Aapka kusurwar aapke liye kya kar sakta hai?
Gul: Kya Shamshaad aapke shaadi par maujud thha?
Af: Ha!
Gul: Aapki aur Nagma ki mohabbat par uska kya khayal hai?
Af: Wohi jo ek dost ka hona chahiye.
Gul:[Smirks] Yakeenan!
[Afzal leaves her. She returns to her work]
Af: Achanak yeh sawaal?
Gul: Aise hi.
Af: Jhuth bohut buri cheez hai.
Gul: Mujhe laga who ek dusre se waakif nahi hai. Lekin shayad humse bhul ho gayi ho.
[Afzal grabs her by her hands tightly]
Af: Mujhse khel khelne ka anjaam bohot bhari parega Gulabi.
Gul: Aaji[hugs him] khel toh aap mard khelte hai. Hum toh sirf khiloney hai. Savdhan rahiyega. Kahi haath na kat jaye!
Af: Shamshaad ek sachha Musalman hai. Aur ek saschha dost bhi.
Gul: Sacche toh sabhi dikhte hai! Hote kitne?
[touches her lips, then puts a knife to it]
Af: Khuda ka vasta, aapki man ki baat toh meh jan ke rahunga!
Gul: Mera dil katke haath pe rakh dijiye, tabh bhi aapki khawish puri nahi hogi.
[Afzal lets her go]
[She laughs]
” O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger:
But O, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er
.Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!”
Gul: Kadoorat se savdhan rahiyega janab.
Kadoorat bohut buri cheez hai.
Insaan ko jala ke khak me mila deti hai, aur dhuye ka nishaan bhi nahi rehta.
Doh pyaar karne waalo ki sabse bari galti hai Kadoorat. Aur use janam leta hai Maut.
Af: Tumhe laga ki mujhe Nagma ki khubsurti par rask hai? Meri biwi par aarop lagane she pehle sabot tayyar rakhna zara!
Gul: [Acting shocked]
Tauba Tauba Tauba! Aarop kaun laga raha hai? Sirf ek baat ka khayal rahiyega.
[Light on Nagma and Shamshaad. They are having a wonderful time]
Gul: Apni biwi ko Shamshaad ke sath zyada na chorna. Jo aurat aapne bap ko dhoka de sake, uske liye pati kya cheez hai!
[Gulabi, Nagma and Shamshaad laugh in unison. Afzal leaves the stage]
[Conversation shifts]
Sh: Aaji jo baat hamne kahi hai, us par gaur farmayige zara.
N: Beshakh!!
[Afzal suddenly enters]
Af: Kis baat ke bare meh guftagu ki ja rahi hai?
Sh: Aare Afzal! Nahi, Bas waise hi.
Af[mocks]: Bas weise hi?? Toh weise hi bata do kya chal raha hai?
N: Aaji ap police wale kab se ban gaye? Dost pe karwahi karenge kya? Shamshaad, ap ja sakte hai.
[exit Shamshaad]
[Afzal is fuming at a corner. Nagma comes from behind and hugs him]
N: Kya baat hai? Aj mera shohar kuch naraaz nazar aa raha hai. Koi takleef?
[kisses her eyes]
Af: Aagar bata diya toh duur kar sakogi?
N: Shayaad! Lekin use pehle aapko meri ek takleef duur karni paregi.
Af: Farmayiye!
N: Shamshaad ko aapne sath wapas le lo! Aap ke liye achha hoga!
[Afzal stares at her intently]
N: Kya baat hai?
Af: Hame iss baat ki ilim na thhi ki aajkal Shamshaad ki takleefe aap sambhalengi!!
N:[Worried look] kya kehna chahte hai aap?
Af: Shamshaad mera dost hai. Lekin uska sharaab nahi. Highway par jab truck ne sultan ki gariyo ko kuchal diya thha, tab humne saaf dekha ki Sultan ur Jhanda Singh jinda the. Humne Shamshaad par bharosa kiya, aur usne sharab par. Uske liye hume Bakhtiyaar ki kurbani deni pari jabki HUM AASANI SE JEET SAKTE THHE.
Shamshaad wapas nahi ayega. Ha, mera dost zaroor rahega!
N: Hume maaf kijiyega. Hum sirf puuch sakte hai. Faisla lena ka haaq toh hamare pas nahi hai.
Af: Aura agar hota?
N: Matlab?
Af: Aagar aap faisla leh sakte the, toh kisse chunte?
[pulls her close]
Afzal? [And then puts a knife to her throat]
Ya Shamshaad?
[Nagma is not perturbed. She forcefully, yet elegantly puts down the knife, comes forward and kisses his neck. She then allows her pallu to drop and lecherously walks into backstage. The excited Afzal follows suit. AS they leave, Azgar enters from the other side. He has seen what has just transpired]
A: Afzal hai mazedar. Aur Nagma bekhawf. Dono ki jugalbandi meh ek bhi girhain nazar nahi aye. Lekin iss Shahenshah ki ek hi bimari hai, aur ek hi taqaat. Aagar unke beech…….
[Gulabi enters with the black knight and places it in the middle of the two]
Gul: Aagar inke beech koi teesra aa jaye, toh khel palat sakta hai!
[Azgar is angry]
A: Khel eise hi nahi paltega. Mukammal jeet pane ke lye tumhe kuch muktalif karna parega. Kar sakogi?
Gul: Kar chuke hai!
A: Matlab?
[A ruckus is heard. Afzal has entered. Azgar leaves immediately]
Af: Gulabi!! Kaha ho? Bahar ayo.
[gulabi enters. His attitude changes]
Af:[Meekly] Keise hai aap?
Gul: Aadab! Lekin mere aane se pehle itna gussa aur hamare aane ke baad itna pyar! Mazra ka hai?
Af: Aaji mera dil hi kuch aisa hai. Aur tumhe hum ye bayaan karne aye hai ki hamari jaach ke baad hume yeh pata chala hai ki Nagma aur Shamshaad ke beech kuch nahi hia! Humare biwi peh hume naaz hai!
Gul: Istakbal Afzal mia!! Tab hume bhi wo baat bhul jani chahiye!
Af: Kaunsi baat?
Gul: Wohi jo humne suna thha.
Af: Kya suna thha?
Gul: Aare Shamshaad miya upar ke kamre meh soye hue the. Hum waha se guzar rahe the ki achanak unki awaaz aane lagi. Hum toh bhai dar gaye! Darwaze ke pas jab pahuche, tab sunae dia
[she laughs uncontrollably]
Af: Kya sunae diya?
Gul: Meri pyari Nagma, hum apni mohabbat ko duniya se chhupa ke rakhenge. Tabtak jabtak hume aazadi naseeb na ho. Aur Afzal ki har saas hamare liye intekaam ki siri ban jaati hai.
[Afzal grabs her by her throat. Is prepared to kill her]
Gul:[Laughs] Aaji kabutar ko marne se kya faeda? Chithhi likhne walo ko mariye!
[From the other side, Shamshaad appears. Gulabi and Afzal hide]
Sh: Azgar bhai, hum ja rahe hai! Khuda Hafiz!!
A: Aare itni jaldi? Chae, nachta ko karke jao
[And his eyes fall on a necklace in Shamshaad’s hands]
Aaji yeh kiske liye hai? Janab toh sharma rahe hai!!
Sh: Hum sharma rahe hai??? Sach batau, mujhe bhi malum nahi ye kiska hai. Shayad Gulabi ka?
A: Gulabi haar nah pehenti janab!
Sh: tab toh Allah ki meherbaani se yeh hum rakh lenge!
A: lekin aap ek aurat ka haar leke kya karenge mia?
Sh: Apni mohabbat ke liye ek taufa hi sahi. Apko ye toh manna parega ki yeh haar hai khubsurat.
[Afzal leaves fuming]
Sh: Aaji, waqt bohot kam he mere kismet meh! Khuda hafiz!
[Exit Shamshaad. Azgar and Gulabi embrace and leave the stage ‘victorious’ ]
[next scene;- Nagma is seen sleeping. Afzal enters with a dejected look, and a gun]
Af: hamare pyar key eh anjaam chup chap nahi sahenge. Hamare bharose ka katal kiya he tune. Goli nahi marenge. Teri keh ke lunga. Tujhse tera sabkuch chheen lenge, apne aap hi mar jayegi harami.
[Bends over her body]
Keise chaine se soh rahi hai. Yakeen nahi aata ki isske liye hum jan de sakte thhe!!
[NAgma suddenly wakes, turns her head and kisses him. Afzal is baffled.]
N: Hume marne ka irada hai sahib!! Lekin mera kasoor toh bataiye?
Af: Bakwaas bandh! Hume sab pata chal chukka hai. Ab sirf faisle suna na baki hai!
N: Kya saboot hai apke pas?
Af: Woh haar kaha hai jo maine tumhe diya thha?
N: [Suddenly becomes very stern]
Wohi haar jo aapki Abbu ne aapki Ammi ko diya thha unke pyar ki nishani samajhke? Wohi haar jo doh pyar karne walo ki wajoot banchuki hai? Wohi haar jise khone par pyar khatam ho sakta hai?
Af: Ha. Ha. HA. Wohi har!!
N: Chillao mat. Hamare gale meh bhi zor hai!
Af: Woh haar kaha hai?
N: [Claps]
[Shamshaad enters with the necklace]
Af: DHOKEBAAZ!!!
[Nagma stops him, and holds the knife to his throat]
N: Aagar himmat hai, toh asli dhokebaaz ko pehchano!
Sh: Afzal bhai, pichle kai mahini se Azgar aapki taqaat se khawf khane laga. Kaebar usne aapko marne ki koshish ki. Lekin lagatar nirash hote hote usne apni soch palti. Tab aapki sharir se nazar hatakar aapke dil pe waar kiya. Usne janbujhkar Gulabi ko istemaal kiya, aapko Nagma bhabi aur mere khilaf bharkane keh liye.
N: Woh haar humne nahi khoya. Gulabi jab usse chura rahi thhi, tab humne kuch nahi kaha. Kyuki asli maksad chori nahi, kuch aur thha.
Sh: Aur kal jab hum neend ka natak kar rahe thhe, tab Gulabi neh hamare kamre meh ghuskar yeh haar chor gayi. Azgar mia darwaaze ke pas khare thhe. Muskurate hue.
N: Toh? Asli gunhegaar kaun hai?
[still silence. Then Afzal gets up, calls his henchman to execute Azgar and Gulabi, and to bring the bodies to him]
Sh: Kya ab bhi hum aapke dost hai mia?
[Afzal hugs him]
Af: Maloom hai ki hum maafi ke haaqdar nahi hai, lekin ho sake toh hume maaf karna mere bhai.
Sh: [aside to Afzal]: Aaji maafi humse nahi, unse mangiye! Aurat jab gussa ho, toh Shaitan bhi khauf khata hai!
[They laugh. Shamshaad leaves]
[Nagma is weeping]
N: Hume yakeen thha ki agar duniya ki puri taqat aapko mere khilaf bharkaye, aap mujhe nahi chorenge. Lekin hum galat thhe. Shayad mere pyaar hi khokla hai!
[afzal kisses her, and then takes her to bed. Nagma is feeling shy. And she gets on top of him.]
N: Ek baat bataye?
Af: Ha ha! Kyu nahi?
N: [Goes closer to him]: Hume laga thha ki Amitabh Bachhan ke ghar meh hum Rekha ban ke aye hai. Magar jab aakh khula toh pata chala ki hum toh Jaya Bachhan hai. Rekha toh koe aur hai!!
Af: [Smiles] Kya matlab??
[Shamshaad suddenly enters and stuffs a pillow over his face. Both of them kill Afzal]
Sh: Mubarakho meri jaan! Kamyabi aakhir aa hi gayi!
N: [after patting him like a dog] Soh to hai!
Sh: [furious] Aj se tum hamari amanat ho!
[Nagma slaps]
N: Amanat?? Bhosrike! (And she laughs hysterically)
N: She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,
Never lacked gold and yet went never gay,
Fled from her wish and yet said “Now I may,”
She that being angered, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,
She that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail,
She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind,
See suitors following and not look behind,
She was a wight, if ever such wights were—
To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.
ENDS
Nagma by Ankush Goutam Ghosh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, by which it is illegal to use the material available on this website for reproduction online or offline as well as for commercial purposes or performances of any kind.
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