one of my favourites

Riddhima’s break down in Armaan’s house

Few days later. Dr. Shashank has been discharged and is now home. He still cannot move very much, but is getting better every day. He has been forbidden to talk very much.
Riddhima goes to Armaan’s house late at night

He is sitting at his laptop and Tam is sitting with a book. He looks up in surprise at Riddhima’s entry.
Ar: Tum? Yahan? Itni raat ko? (then, worried) sab theek hai? Dr. Shashank …?
Ri: mujhe tumse baat karni hai. Akele.

Tam looks at her, she looks at Tam, then Tam gets up and leaves the room quietly.
Ar: Kya baat hai? papa theek hain?

Ri: Papa theek hain. Main theek nahin hun.

Ar (worried immediately): Kya hua, Riddhima? Tum thak gayi hogi. Bahut strain ho gaya hai na, unki care karne mein? Main tumhe tonic deta hun …

Ri: Doctor to main bhi hun, Armaan. Mujhe pata hai mujhe kya takleef hai aur mujhe kya tonic chahiye.

Armaan stops and looks at her. He realizes she is near breaking point.

Ar: Riddhima. Tumhe itni raat ko yahan nahin aana tha. Ghar jao aur so jao. Kal baat karenge.

Riddhima comes to him and holds his hand.
Ri (crying): So jaun? Kaise so jaun? Kal baat karenge? Hospital mein tum ek minute mujhse akele baat nahin karte! Tumhi ne kaha tha ki hum shaadi nahin kar sakte to kya, hum ek doosre se pyar karte hain aur voh kabhi nahin badlega. Phir ab tum mujhse itni door kyun jaa rahe ho? Kabhi mujhse akele mein baat nahin karte! Mujhe baahon mein nahin lete! Mujhe haath tak nahin lagate! Main aise nahin reh sakti, Armaan, main tumhare bina nahin reh sakti! I can’t stand it anymore!!! Please, Armaan, mujhe apne se door mat karo! Papa dheere dheere theek ho rahe hain, aur main … main dheere dheere mar rahi hun …!

She breaks down completely, sobbing her heart out.

He puts his hand over her mouth. There are tears in his eyes too.

Ar: Riddhima … tum mujhe kamzor mat karo. Tum jaanti ho main tumse pyaar karta hun aur hamesha karta rahunga. Please tum …

Ri (stops crying and looks at him desperately): Armaan … ek raasta hai. Hum dono chup chap shaadi kar lete hai. Ek baar humne shaadi kar li, papa kuch nahin bolenge. Mai jaanti hun unhe.

Ar: Riddhima, unhone pehle bhi kuch nahin bola tha. Lekin main aisa nahin kar sakta. Main unhe koi dukh nahin dena chahta, khaskar unki iss haalat mein.

Ri: Aur hamari khushi? Main tumhare bina nahin reh sakti, Armaan! Tumhe papa ki khushi ki worry hai aur meri … hamari … khushi ki nahin!

Armaan puts his hands on her shoulders.

Ar (gently): Riddhima. Please, mujhe samajhne ki koshish karo. Meri poori life mein mujhe baap ki kami ka ehsaas raha hai. Aur pichle do-teen saalon mein, jab se hum saath hain, tab se tumhare papa se jo mujhe mila hai, uska andaaza tum nahin laga sakte.

Baap voh nahin hota jo sirf janam deta hai, baap voh hota hai jo apne bête ka haath pakad ke, use chalna sikhata hai, jab voh girta hai to use sambhalta hai, uthata hai, use phir se aage badhne ki himmat deta hai. Jo himmat, jo hausla mujhe saarI umur nahin mili, voh tumhare papa se pichle kuch saaalon mein mili hai. Unki mere liye izzat, mere liye ek baap jaisa pyaar – yeh bahut mushkil se mujhe mila hai. Ek aur galti karke main ise khona nahin chahta. Mere baap ki ek galti ne – unki patni unse chheen li. Ab main … ek aur galti karke … unse unki beti chheen lun … Riddhima, yeh main kaise karun?


He moves away from her and looks up, fighting for control, fighting himself.
Ar (without looking at her): Chalo. It’s very late. Main tumhe ghar chhod deta hun.

Riddhima comes up behind him. She puts up a hand to his shoulder and he turns around. Her hand goes to his face – the way he always pushes her hair away from her face, she does the same gesture, her hand sweeping over the side of his face.

Ri (whispering, crying): Armaan … please …
Ar: Riddh …
He looks at her and as though her soft touch has finally broken his control, he pulls her roughly into his arms and holds her tightly, as though he will never let her go. She holds onto him as they both break down and cry openly, their shoulders shaking with their sobs, as though they have both lost all hope, have lost everything that was precious to them.

Ishq leta hai … kaise imtihan …

After a very long time, they pull apart and look at each other. Armaan wipes Riddhima’s tears, she wipes his.
Ri: yeh sab meri galti hai. Agar mai pichle saal shaadi ke liye maan jaati, to …
Ar (bitterly): Tumhari koi galti nahin hai. Shayad meri kismat hi aisi hai. Jiska aisa baap ho, uski life mein khushi kabhi aa hi nahin sakti.