FADE IN:
1 INT. KITCHEN - DAY 1
AYESHA enters the kitchen. She rests her back against the
counter. She peeks slightly at the stove.
AYESHA
Chalain ami abb mein vapis agayi
hoon toh bataye khanae mein kia
banarai?
AMI (NAYELA) stops stirring the spoon in the pot. She walks
towards the sink.
AMI
Tumhae khanae ka bhi ehsas hae?
Halaat dekho apni kamzoori saay
haadia (bones) nazar arahi hae.
Ayesha sighs. She turns toward the fruit basket on the
counter.
Ami takes an apple from Ayesha’s hand and cleans it with her
dupatta.
AMI
Dho kar khana.
Ayesha rolls her eyes slightly. She takes the apple back from
her mother's hand and takes a bite.
AYESHA
I became the president of the debating team.
Ami folds her hands, standing in front of her daughter. She
looks at her with curious eyes and a proud smile, rejoicing
over the victory.
AMI
Aray wah! Good job Ayesha par
football team ki captain kab ban
rai ho?
Ayesha takes a pause, sighing deeply.
AYESHA
Voh... debate team ki captain hoon
so that needs my 100% commitment.
Ami looks at Ayesha, stunned by her words.
AMI
Meinay tumhae sports mein dala aur
tumneh voh team hie chordi?
(beat)
Meinay masters kartay hovae tumhae
paida karlia aur sambhal liya aur
tumsay 2 teams nai manage horahi?
Ami looks at her with disappointment.
AYESHA
Dono teams ka part rehti toh kisi
mein behtar nah ho paati, sports
team chor kar debate team ki
captain baani hoon. Dono teams
mein thi toh kisi team ka part nai
feel kar rahi thi. I was always
left out and I was not able to fit
in anything. Kahi bhi important
feel nai hota tha, I was always
left alone... aur—
Ayesha walks around the kitchen, trying to express herself.
Ami
cuts her off. Ami pours milk into a glass and adds a spoon of
turmeric.
AMI
Jitni tum kamzoor hogayi ho sports
team valo neh tumhae khud hie
nikaldena tha, yeh doodh haldi
peeo.
Ami forwards the glass toward Ayesha.
AYESHA
Mein apsay kia baat kar rahi houn
aur app kia soch rahi hae and
please do not body shame me.
Ayesha stands tall with anger, her hands formed in fists by
her side.
AMI
Body shame? Mein tumhara khayal kar
rahi hoon aur tumhari na-shukri ko
toh dekho. Mein tumharay lia itna
karti hoon aur tumsay meri aik
baat bardasht nai horahi. Meinay
itni qurbani di hae, meray bhi
itnay khwab thae.
Ami puts the glass next to the sink and turns away.
AMI
(inhales deeply)
Mein thi football team ki captain,
sabsay acha khelti thi. Sports
scholarship bhi offer hovi thi,
tum meray lia aik sport nai
continue kar sakti thi beta?
Meinay toh apna sab kuch tumharae
lia sacrifice kardia.
Ayesha places her hand on her mother’s shoulder to console
her.
AYESHA
Ami I am sorry par mein sports ki
jagha debating prefer karti hoon
and I really need it to be
considered for International
events and I really need the
international events for my Career
and Job connections. I am planning
a secure future.
Ami turns around, facing Ayesha.
AMI
Beta future secure ho hie jata
hae, uski tension nah lo. Mujay
dekho—
AYESHA
Ami apko dekh kar hie yeh decision
lia hae. Mein aik aik ruppee kaay
lia kisi admi kaay pass nai ja
sakti, meri koi self respect hae.
Ayesha takes a few steps back. She folds her arms in front of
her chest.
AMI
Yeh meray upar tanqeed thi kaay
meri koi self respect nai?
AYESHA
Ami—
AMI
(shouting)
Nai tum rehnay do! Yeh tumneh
mujhay hie bola hae, mujhay bhi
koi shouq nai tha kaay mei ghar
par rahoun magar tumhae bara karna
tha, tumhari tarbiyat karni thi
toh nokri nai ki aur tumhae dekho!!
AYESHA
(declarative tone)
Toh maat karti paida! Mein bhi
haar cheez apko khush karnay kaay
kia karti hoon. Yeh meri zindagi
hae apki toh nai!
AMI
Meinay apni poori zindagi tumharae
kia guzar di... aur tum aisay baat
kar rai ho? Tumhae apni zindagi ki
sab saay piyari cheez samajhti
hoon aur tumneh kitnay aram saay
mujhay apnay zindagi kaay plans
saay nikal dia? Kia ma ki koi
jagha nai hoti?
AYESHA
Ami I meant—
Ami starts stirring the food in the pan again.
AMI
Rehnay do baap ki beti.
AYESHA
Iss baat ka kia matlab hae?
AMI
Mujhay tumhae jawab denay ki koi
zaroorat nai hae, mein maa houn.
Ami places the lid on the pan and turns around.
AYESHA
Toh why would you use abu has an
insult?
(mumbling)
Why can't you just be happy.
AMI
Kiu kaay tum aur tumhara baap dono
mujhay kaam tar samajhtay ho sirf
islia kaay mein koi job nai karti?
Jab kaay bohat qabil hoon mein.
Voh toh tumnaray baap neh bola tha
beti hae job chordo khayal karlo.
Ami points towards her daughter in anger.
AYESHA
Ami apkay lia hie yeh kar rai hoon
meri qabliat par shaq bhi app hie
kar rahi, apko toh qadar hie nai
hae darasal.
AMI
Meray lia tum yeh nai kar rai
apnay lia kar rai ho, aur tumhae
lagta hae meinay tumhari qadar nai
ki? Tumhae Country kaay best
university mein admission meinay
karvaya hae, tumhae har resource
di hae aur tumhae dekho na shukri,
issay kaam mein humneh karlia tha.
Ami puts down a plate on the table and removes the lid from
the pan.
Ayesha moves towards her mother. She stands behind her, opens
the cupboard, and selects a spoon.
AYESHA
Ami app aur mein kabhi aik insan
nai hosaktay. I understand that
you have sacrificed a lot but I am
also doing my best.
Ami turns around. She gives Ayesha a plate full of her
favorite food.
AMI
Hum sach mein aik nai hosaktay.
Yeh lo... tumhara favourite...
tumharay abu raat ko ayengay unko
batana you became debate group ki
president.
Ami walks away.
FADE OUT.