The Watch Tower

Tags

#death, #help, #helpinghand, #police, #save, #suicide, #suicideprevention, Bollywood, entertainment, fiction, India, Short Fiction, Short Story, Stories, story, writing

Hello All,

Thought I’ll share this concept note. Whoever wants to use it, please feel free to do so. If such a programme / series is made and if it manages to save even 1 life and a family is reformed, I’d feel, I’ve been blessed.

FORMAT: TELEVISION SERIES

CONCEPT NOTE:

Each year, India witnesses about 150,000 suicide cases on an average across the country. And more often than not, it’s often the case of financial bankruptcy, family issues, fallout of marriage/relationship, illness etc.  that leads to a person committing suicide.

Likewise, in most cases, suicide is a pre-planned decision and sometimes a spontaneous act undertaken at the spur of the moment.

But do we really understand the mental trauma that a person goes through as he faces hardships in his life that leads to his downfall? Do we see the tell-tale signs that might indicate that the person is on the brink of ending it all?

And what about the aftermath of the action taken by the person committing suicide? The financial repercussion on the family members, the emotional meltdown, the societal pressures, the other negative aspects that the family faces thereafter.

 ‘Watchtower’ will be dramatized stories of such men and women who have committed suicide under extreme pressure.

It will showcase the causes that led them to take such an extreme step, the tell-tale signs that might have given a clue to their mental state of mind to his/her near ones, the aftereffects of their action on their near and dear ones.

And finally the show will explain to others who face a similar situation in real life, what they can do to avoid taking a drastic step. To face the problems of everyday life with grit and determination, not to lose hope and to reach out to others for help and counselling.

The show will also showcase a lesson for the viewers on how to tackle such a situation where they come across someone close to them who shows suicidal tendencies, to keep an eye open for tell-tale signs of a breakdown, to be sensitive to such person and to offer hope and a helping hand.

It’s time we highlighted one of the biggest issues plaguing the families of our country – suicide… before the number of suicidal death increases many folds.

* * *

Sample Episode – The Plumber Who Couldn’t Fix His Broken Life

Mumbai Santa Cruz Slums: The day started on a good note as usual for Uncle John as the neighbours knew him. He was a jovial man in his early 50s who rarely had a harsh word for anyone. But behind the façade of a humorous smile, lurked a deep dark desire to end it all. And he did it at 10.30 in the morning.

His wife who worked as a domestic help, was out at work. His good-for-nothing son had long ago moved out of the family house to stay at his wife’s place. One daughter had abandoned her husband and two kids to elope with someone else. The youngest daughter, always smiling, was alone in the house and was seated at the doorstep cleaning rice when she stepped in the house to bring more rice, and soon shrieks and wailing filled the air.

The neighbours rushed to the house to find Uncle John hanging from the ceiling, an act of suicide committed within minutes. Was it pre-planned? Was it spontaneous? No one would know for sure.

To go back in the timeline, Uncle John was a plumber by profession who took contracts to provide new water connections in their neighborhood. This was the time when legal water connections came at a premium price and after a lot of red tapism and offers of bribery to the BMC officials.

Over a period of time, Uncle John had taken a huge amount of money from various parties to provide water connections. But as the delay took place, the advance money dwindled, and yet the permissions for new water connections were not granted or simply got delayed.

To make matters worse, his good-for-nothing son was a typical local goon who every second day got drunk and was involved in fracas with other guys that often led his parents to rush to the police station to bail him out.

For the people who had invested their hard-earned money in Uncle John for new water connections, their patience was running out. Water is an extreme necessity and with empty promises from Uncle John, it just irks them to no end, and at times, the crowd will descend on his house and verbally abuse him to the point of threatening him.

A man who always had a smile for everyone was now facing the wrath of society for no fault of his.

And so as the pressure started mounting on Uncle John to either provide the water connections or return the money within a stipulated time, time was running out on him. He no longer had the requisite funds to fulfill his commitments as he had spent most of it in either greasing the hands of the powers that be in BMC or in running around from pillar to post to get the requisite permissions. Meanwhile, his nagging wife too offered no moral support while his son himself depended on his wife for his daily survival.

And then that fatal day, Uncle John decided to end it all.

Was it possible to save Uncle John’s life? Yes, considering the fact that a young man would often have tea at his house in the mornings and then offer to drop Uncle John at the BMC’s office on the way to his work. But that unfortunate day, he was late and had his usual cup of tea at the doorsteps offered by Uncle John’s youngest daughter. The young man assumed that Uncle John had already left for the BMC office and hence didn’t bother to ask her about her father. She meanwhile had stepped into the house to get for him a cup of tea and had seen her father seated at a table alive. And it was just a few minutes later, she had found him hanging from the ceiling fan…

For the young man, a daily routine went haywire and a death took place… a life he indirectly could have saved least he had asked his daughter about her father while he was still alive…

For Uncle’s son, he got what he wanted, his father’s house after his death.

For the youngest daughter, it was too big of a shock to witness her father’s death within a span of a few minutes, a sight she would never ever forget for the rest of her life.

For his wife, it was a moment to reflect on where she had gone wrong when her husband was facing issues and needed family support.

For those people who waited so long for a new water connection, the wait simply got longer.

And we ponder why Uncle John preferred to end it all by committing suicide. Was it the financial problems, family problems or was it simply because he lost face in society due to constant verbal abuses and threats?

It’s time for family members too to understand that they too are indirectly responsible for such suicides while people who look down upon those who owe them money too are privy to the death.

And what about Uncle John? Well…

* * *

Reunion

Tags

books, drama, entertainment, fiction, gender, life, music, review, Reviews, Romance, Short Fiction, Short Story, Stories, story, transform, writing

“It’s truly a small world,” Johnie mused to himself, “and the internet serves as the bridge connecting every corner of it. How else could I describe the miracle of reconnecting with my childhood friend Marc?”

Years ago, Johnie and Marc, inseparable best friends in high school, experienced a significant falling out over a trivial matter. Johnie, characterized by his soft-spoken nature and calm demeanor, stood in contrast to Marc, who embodied a more assertive personality. Despite Marc’s athletic prowess, he harbored a disdain for sports and other physical pursuits, while Johnie found solace in books, juxtaposed with Marc’s preference for long walks in the woods.

However, fate intervened to reunite Johnie and Marc, transcending their differences. Indifferent to the opinions of others, they disregarded the curious glances from fellow students and teachers, finding contentment in each other’s company. They embraced their bond, unperturbed by occasional taunts, cherishing their companionship above all else.

As the sound of the approaching train reached his ears, he hurried down the subway staircase. The train was punctual, and so was he. His best friend Marc would also be on time, he thought, as he anxiously arrived at the platform and scanned the crowd around him.

A few passengers disembarked from the train and headed towards the exits. He eagerly scanned their faces, hoping to spot Marc among them. Despite his anticipation, Marc was nowhere to be seen, and he questioned whether Marc’s appearance could have changed during their time apart.

Unaware, he nearly collided with a girl as his attention was drawn to a malfunctioning electronic billboard on the platform pillar. In its reflection, he glimpsed a familiar face, causing him to start in surprise. The resemblance was striking.

Johnie stood there, momentarily stunned by the familiar face staring back at him from the billboard’s reflection. Memories flooded his mind like a relentless tide crashing against the shores of his consciousness. The girl in the reflection before him bore an uncanny resemblance to someone he once knew, someone he cherished deeply—Marc, his childhood friend who had always stood by his side. Yet, this couldn’t be Marc. Marc was a boy, and the figure before him was unmistakably a girl.

For a moment, Johnie’s heart skipped a beat, wondering if fate had conspired to reunite him with a person with a likeness to Marc. But as quickly as the hope blossomed, reality came crashing down like shards of shattered glass as he heard her call out his name softly.

“Hello, Johnie.”

The girl’s gaze locked with his, a blend of confusion and recognition shimmering in their depths. Johnie mustered a faint smile, attempting to conceal the storm of emotions swirling within him. Could this really be Marc transformed into a girl? Or was it merely a cruel twist of fate, teasing him with fragments of the past?

Before he could compose himself and utter a word, the girl spoke again, her voice tinged with uncertainty yet laced with familiarity. “Hello, Johnie,” she ventured, her tone trembling with mixed emotions.

Johnie’s heart quickened its pace within his chest upon hearing his name uttered in that long-forgotten cadence, a melody nearly lost to memory. Could it truly be him?

Taking a hesitant step forward, he searched her eyes for affirmation, for the reassurance he yearned for. And then, like floodgates released, the memories rushed back, eroding the barriers of separation and pain.

“Marc?” he whispered, the word escaping his lips like a fervent prayer, a plea, a promise of rediscovery and reunion.

 “Yes, Johnie. It’s been a long time.”

“Yes, indeed.” He looked desperately at her. He wasn’t expecting Marc in this avatar.

“I hardly recognized you. What have you done to yourself, Marc?” He queried, his voice trembling.

She returned his gaze with a sweet smile, deliberately taking her time to respond. Impatiently, he waited for her reply. At last, she broke the silence.

“This is what I’ve always wanted, Johnie,” she stated, pausing before reaching out to grasp his hand. He hesitantly held it back. “And deep down, I believe it’s what you wanted too.”

“No… no, this is your desire,” he retorted, his voice rising. “This is what you wanted. I had no say in the matter.”

“You don’t appear pleased to see me, Johnie.”

“How could I be happy seeing you like this? You know I never appreciated your feminine demeanor.”

“I understand. It’s a lot to process. But I want you to know, I’m still the same person you’ve always known,” she reassured, attempting once more to bridge the gap between them.

He retreated another step, widening the distance between them. “Yes, I understand. It’s just… different, you know.”

“I understand your struggle. It’s been a journey for both of us. But I’m still your friend, Johnie, regardless of the changes,” she affirmed.

“I never questioned our friendship, Marc. It’s just… I’m grappling with everything. You were my buddy, and now you’re… you’re someone else.”

She nodded empathetically. “Yes, I understand it’s a significant change. But consider this: I’m still the individual you shared moments with, confided in, and laughed with until our sides hurt.”

“No, you’re not the same person. You’re not the Marc I knew,” he yelled with frustration.

“Please, Johnie, give me a chance to explain,” she pleaded, her eyes glistening with tears.

He felt a surge of emotion as he met her gaze, tears welling up in his own eyes. It was the moment their emotions overflowed, tears streaming down their cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Marc. I have to leave,” he said, giving her one last glance before turning around, only to find a police officer observing him with curiosity.

“Are you alright, ma’am?”

He stared intently at the police officer, then shifted his gaze back to the billboard, catching sight of his reflection in its shadowy underside. Except, it wasn’t his reflection; it was hers. He was seeing himself. Marc was no more; Marc had passed away during the operation. Now, he was Johnie, a girl after the surgery. She turned back to the police officer and mustered a faint smile. “Everything’s under control now, officer.”

The Watch Tower

Tags

Depression, drama, entertainment, fiction, Help, Mental Anxiety, Mental Health, Positivity, Romance, Short Fiction, Short Story, Stories, story, Suicide, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Watch, The Watch Tower, writing

It was the movie poster of James Bond film, “No Time to Die” that triggered a warning in her head. Hasna had known Raghav for the last 2 years she had joined the same office where he worked. He was a senior but didn’t behave like one. He was a happy-go-lucky guy who went out of the way to help a colleague irrespective of their standing in the office. His behavior both in his professional and personal life was albeit the same – of a kind, caring, and helpful person.
But today, she felt something pinch her heart as she casually saw his WhatsApp status. This wasn’t like him. Raghav wasn’t into movies. She had always seen him politely decline requests from colleagues to join them for movies or parties. He was more into old Hindi songs. So why did he put up such a cryptic status, she wondered aloud.
She casually walked up with two cups of steaming black coffee to his desk. He gave her a broad cheerful smile as she handed over one cup to him. He gestured for her to sit down as he turned his chair around to face her properly.
“That’s sweet of you, Hasna.”
She could see a genuine respect for her on his face. “Thought I could do with a coffee break.” She leaned over and whispered, “Say, are you free for lunch today?”
He was a bit taken back by her abrupt question but next moment composed himself with a cheerful laughter. “Hey, take it easy Hasna. I’ve got my lunchbox with me today.”
“Oh. Wait, maybe you and I can share your lunchbox in the office canteen.”
“That will be wonderful. The boys will surely love your company.”
“Oh no. I was thinking more of just you and me Raghav.” She said with roving eyes.
He leaned back and looked at her momentarily without taking his eyes off her.
“Hasna, I appreciate your company but you know I always eat with the boys.”
“Oh, never mind.”
She got up, smiled sweetly at him, and extended her hand. “See ya around.”
He took her hand in his and warmly shook it. For a fleeting moment, her eyes lingered on their clasped hands. His hand felt so warm and friendly. He seemed to sense some desolation in her and smiled encouragingly at her.
“Hey, all okay with you Hasna?”
“Couldn’t have been better Raghav, couldn’t have been better.” She smiled back. “But you never know…” she trailed off and walked back to her desk. “Seems everything’s okay with him,” she thought to herself but deep down in her heart, she felt something amiss. She could feel it.
She didn’t blame him for not having lunch with her alone. After all, her reputation preceded her. She was known to be a loud-mouthed bitch always trying to seek attention. But today, she knew Raghav needed attention. And then it hit her hard. Yes, there was something amiss in Raghav’s life.
That evening after office, she chased down Raghav as he walked out of the office building. He gave high fives to his male colleagues, politely smiled at the females, and walked over to his bike. She followed him.
“Hey buddy,” she called out casually. “Care to give me a lift home?”
He turned around with a surprise. “What’s with you today Hasna?”
“Nothing. Guess, I’m kinda feeling lonely today.” She replied with a straight face.
He laughed. “You of all the girls in the office should say that?”
She felt his words pierce her heart but she controlled herself. He sensed it too and quickly reached out to take her hand in his.
“Hey, I am sorry. I didn’t mean in that sense.”
She looked him in the eyes. “How can someone be so nice and caring? Is he for real?” She thought to herself.
Instead, she took both his hands in his and said, “You spent a lot of time saying goodbye to your colleagues today but not me. Why?” She let go of his hands and leaned back against a car parked adjacent.
“It’s nothing like that Hasna. I…”
“Shhh… how about we talk over a drink? I know a place nearby…”
“I don’t drink.” His face looked flushed as he said this.
“I know. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have given away those couple of expensive bottles of whiskey today. Boy, what a sad waste of good whiskey. The boss wouldn’t like it that you gave his gifts away to someone else.”
“Oh, you saw that?” Once again he appeared flustered.
“Of course. Giving away such expensive whiskey bottles to those who don’t appreciate good whiskey. I hate that.” She put an arm around him. “Trust me, I know good whiskey when I taste one.”
She had convinced him to join her at a lounge nearby. This was his second visit to a place where they served liquor. The first was in his college days. He was definitely far away from home.
She took a sip of her drink and let out a huge sigh. “Nothing beats like a sip of fine malt whiskey.”
He kept silent and just looked at her, twirling his glass of mocktail absently.
The place was getting packed and the din was unbearable with the loud chatter of the crowd and the music mixed. But for her, his silence mattered the most. There was no telltale sign that anything was wrong with him but yet she had seen it in the office as she shook hands with him. To say it was revealing was an understatement.
His shirt cuffs had got pulled up a bit and she had noticed what seemed to be scars as if he had tried to cut his wrists. She had been ignorant of him all these days and months preferring those guys who showered all their attention on her. He was different. Decent, sober, respectful, kind-hearted, and most of all a jovial person. And yet, he was not what he was portraying to be. He seemed to live a dual life – the other life in a pit of desolation and misery.
She set her glass aside and leaned over to take his hand in hers. He squirmed uncomfortably as she locked her eyes with his. She raised his left hand brought it closer to her face and gently kissed the back of his hand.
“Please Hasna, don’t do this.” He pleaded uneasily, trying to pull back his hand.
She held on to his hand firmly and then turned it around to plant a kiss on his palm. She then pushed his shirt cuffs up a little, her eyes still firmly on his, a smile on her face as she kissed the scars on his wrists. She let her lips linger for a long time on his scars.
And the tears trickled down. His eyes did the talking as he stared at her knowing that she sensed what others didn’t. She saw what others didn’t. For a moment, he felt betrayed. He felt ashamed of himself for having let go of his guards as he cried silently. She let him cry. He needed that space, he needed to do it.
That night, they spent together, sitting on the promenade watching the waves crashing against the walls, trying to break free. But its destiny lay in the mighty ocean.
She held on to his hands gently. No words were spoken but he realized she was there for him. She too felt like a different woman. For a change, she wasn’t the attention seeker. She was the one giving attention where it was needed the most.
She didn’t have to ask him about who, what, or why about his problems. She knew she may not be able to provide him with solutions to his problems. But she knew she had given him the courage and conviction to fight his problems by just giving him some of her attention and time.

p.s. One just needs to see the telltale signs and reach out before it’s too late.

Strawberry Villa – Opening Scene

Tags

Bollywood, drama, entertainment, fiction, Hindi Films, Romance, Short Fiction, Short Story, Stories, story, writing

This is the opening scene of my screenplay for a Hindi Feature Film… Dunno how it feels.

EXT. STRAWBERRY VILLA – NIGHT
A beautiful but old sprawling bungalow stands surrounded by a well maintained garden with wonderful strawberry plants all over with a cobbled path leading from the gate to the main door of the house.
A young girl’s voice is heard from within the house. It’s SIMRAN’s.

SIMRAN (OS)
Jagah dhoondne mein koii pareshani toh nahi hui?

GIRL (OS)
Bilkul nahi.

YOUNG MAN (OS)
Direction clear tha.

INT. STRAWBERRY VILLA – NIGHT
We see a young SIMRAN, a beautiful young girl in her mid 20s, wearing a pretty floral printed dress with her hair tied in a bun fill two glasses with sparkling red wine. She turns around and carries it to a sofa where a young girl her age is seated. Simran hands over one glass to her.

SIMRAN
Here. Yeh is ghar ki special Strawberry wine hai. Bahut kam logon ko naseeb hota hai taste karne ka.

GIRL
I am sure ki aapke café ke snacks ki tarah yeh bhi lajawab hi ho gaya…

SIMRAN
Woh tum decide karon…

GIRL
Bahut hi khoobsurat ghar hai. But this fascination for strawberry…

SIMRAN
Hum kuch obsessed se hai strawberry se. Shayad iski red color ke wajah se. Kuch baat hai is red color mein… you know like passion…

Simran walks over to another part of the room where a young man is looking at a beautiful painting of a garden with a young girl in the nude lying on the ground under a tree with her face obscured by her silky hair.

SIMRAN
Aha, lagta hai is painting se pyar hua hai tumhe.

MAN
It’s beautiful. Kisne banayi hai.

SIMRAN
Raj ne.

MAN
Hmmm a man of many talents I’d say. Yeh ladki kaun hai?

SIMRAN
Main hu.

The man turns around and looks at her with a surprise.

MAN
Well well well. Pata nahi tha tum itni khoobsurat ho.

SIMRAN (seductively)
Tarif kar rahe ho ya line marne ki koshish kar rahe ho?

MAN (uncomfortably)
Dono bhi nahi.

SIMRAN
Yaar toh fir kapde utarne ka kya faida.

MAN (laughing)
Ok okay main taarif kar raha tha. Yes you are beautiful…

SIMRAN (winking)
Sensuous and wild.

Simran turns around and walks to the sofa and sits down. The man comes and sits down next to the girl even as RAJ, a young handsome man with a chiseled body, walks out of the kitchen, removing an apron and placing it on a chair. He picks up two glasses of wine from the counter and walks to them. Hands one to Simran.

RAJ
Mohit, kaise ho dost?

MAN (shaking hands with Raj)
Good good.

GIRL
Hume dinner par bulane ka bahut bahut shukriya.

RAJ
It’s our pleasure. I am happy ki aap log yahaan apne honeymoon ke liye aaye.

MAN
Aate nahi toh aap logon se mulakat kaise hoti.

SIMRAN
Waise aap logo ki honeymoon kaise rahi.

GIRL (blushing)
Achchi thi.

SIMRAN
Bachchi kuchi kastrat aaj raat yahan poora kar lo.

RAJ
Guest bedroom tayar hai. Morning main khud tumhe station chhod aaonga.

MAN
That’s kind of you Raj.

RAJ
Well, hamare liye sabhi attithi devo bhavo.

GIRL
Hahaha lekin hum toh aapke cafe mein aaye the pehli baar.

SIMRAN (eyeing the man)
Cafe se hamara ghar aur ghar se hamare dilon ka faasla kuch jyaada nahin hai.

Simran empties the glass and walks to the counter and places it on it. There is a baseball bat leaning against it and she picks it and shadow practices a few shots as Raj looks on.

GIRL
Waise aap log kab se reh rahe ho yahan?

RAJ
Hamara bachpana yahinn beeta hai. College aur carer ki shuruat humne Bangalore mein saath mein ki. 6 mahine pehle hum yahan wapas aa gaye.

GIRL
How romantic. This is really a beautiful place.

RAJ
Tum log chaho to kuch din reh sakte ho yahan.

MAN
Nahin yaar, duty join karni hai.

Simran walks up near the man still clutching the bat.

SIMRAN
Ruk jaaon na. Honeymoon abhi baaki hai mere dost. (to the girl) Sahi kahan na maine?

The girl blushes. Simran runs a finger on the man’s face.

SIMRAN (seductively)
Agar main hoti toh tumhe pura kachcha khaati… Tum mein kuch baat hai.

MAN (laughing)
Sorry, I have been taken.

SIMRAN
Kitni baar? Mere saath aakhri baar hoga… a bigger and better climax. Pure yummy dessert…

Raj puts an arm around Simran.

RAJ
Dessert se yaad aaya, khana tayar hai. Chale?

Raj walks inside the kitchen. Simran follows still shadow practicing hitting a ball.

GIRL
Kitne odd couple hai, hain na?

MAN
Hmmm.

INT. STRAWBERRY HOUSE – KITCHEN – NIGHT
The couple enter the kitchen where Raj and Simran are arranging plates and food bowls. The baseball bat is kept leaning against a wall behind a chair. All four sit and eat with Raj next to the girl and Simran next to the man who has occupied the chair behind which the bat is. Simran serves.

SIMRAN
Yeh try karo. Raj ki favorite recipe se hai.

Girl takes a spoonful of what appears to be meatballs from her plate and hesitantly eats it. Slowly she starts to enjoy it.

GIRL
It’s yummy. What is it?

RAJ
Main is dish ko kidnomania kehta hu…

MAN
Kidomania, sounds like a preschool group. Kya hai isme?

SIMRAN
Kidney… 16 saal ki ladki ka…

The girl nearly chokes on her food, stunned, even as Simran gives a hearty laugh.

SIMRAN
Sorry, mazak kar rahi thi.

Time cut to Simran clearing away the dishes even as Raj pours more wine in the four glasses. Simran joins them as they each take a glass and raise a toast.

RAJ
To the beautiful couple…

SIMRAN
Aur unki aakhri raat…

RAJ
Princeton Hill Station par.

The couple sitting opposite each other, give each other a look with an awkward smile even as Simran takes a sip of wine and walks swaying a bit under the influence of alcohol, across to the man and nibbles on his earlobes.

SIMRAN (whispers)
Offer abhi bhi khula hai.

MAN (awkwardly)
Kaisa offer?

SIMRAN
Ki main tumhe kachcha chabana chahti hu…

MAN
Main kahan na…

SIMRAN
Shhhh….

SIMRAN leans over him from behind and moves her arms over his chest as she eyes the girl.

SIMRAN
Yeh samaj lo ki tumhari patni dinner aur main dessert.

GIRL (nervously)
Hume ab chalna chahiye.

RAJ
Relax, Simran majak kar rahi hai.

SIMRAN (to the girl)
Pata hai jabse meri nazar in par padi, main toh inki dewani ho gayi. Jaise ek sherni apne shikaar se…

MAN
Please…

SIMRAN
You are so hot…

GIRL (getting up)
I think we’ll leave now.

Raj gets up and puts both his palms on her shoulder gently and pushes her back in the seat. He softly starts to knead it.

RAJ
I said relax, main hu na.

GIRL
Please… aap Simran ko kuch kehte kyon nahi

RAJ
Simran badi dheet hai. Ek baar jo thaan leti hai to bus…

MAN
Main samjha nahi.

SIMRAN
Kabhi Tom & Jerry show dekha hai? Tom bechara hamesha koshish karta hai Jerry ko pakadne ka…

Simran starts pacing behind the man.

SIMRAN (contd.)
Par mein Tom nahi hu joh haarti hu. I have an appetite for handsome dudes aur tum toh bahut hi handsome ho.

MAN
Ab bahut ho chukka hai… Mujhe aise mazaak pasand nahi hai.

SIMRAN
Yaar yeh kaa baat hai, main tumhari tariff kar rahi hu aur tum ho ke…

MAN
I don’t like jokes…

SIMRAN (Smiling)
Too bad kyon ki mujhe serious log pasand nahi …

Next moment, as quick as a wink, Simran picks up the baseball bat and brings it hard on the skull of the man. The man collapses on the table. The girl faints seeing her husband motionless.

RAJ
Oops that must hurt.

SIMRAN (as she walk up to Raj)
Log itne serious ko hote hai life mein?

RAJ
Tumne Mohit se poochne ka mauka hi nahi diya mujhe?

Runs her palm over the man’s back.

SIMRAN (giggling)
Oops, yaar seriously, mujhe aur kuch der rookhna chahiye tha na…

The duo bursts into laughter.

A Fading Knight

Tags

Bollywood, drama, entertainment, Screenplay, Script, Short Fiction, Short Film Script, Short Story, Stories, story, writing

Short Film Script – Enjoy reading!

FADE IN

EXT. HIGHWAY – NIGHT
It’s past midnight. There’s a slight drizzle falling. Cars are zooming in both
directions. In the dark, a young man is seen walking hurriedly to reach home, a
bag slung over his shoulder.

A car looses control. Bang! It knocks the man down. A shrill scream fills the air.
The car pauses and then races away. Out of the blue a few people appear running
on the scene and look in the direction of the accident.

MAN #1
There’s been an accident.
MAN #2
Over there. Someone’s lying on the road.

The small crowd run towards a body now lying on the side of the road in a shaded
spot away from the glares of the street lamps.

The crowd look down at the ground.

MAN #1
Is he dead?
MAN #2
No, he’s still breathing.
MAN #1
Oh boy. He’s just a teenager.
MAN #3
I think we should inform the police.
BOY (OS)
Yes please call the police. He needs to be
rushed to the hospital…

Man #1 turns around to face us. A close up of his face.

MAN #1
Forget it. Why get involved with the cops?
Unnecessary, we’d loose our spot not to
mention the harassment we’ll face every time
something happens here.
MAN #2
You are right. Now these burgers don’t know
this is our hangout. Let’s go.

The 4-5 men all walk away in different directions leaving a young BOY in his early
20s, looking at their retreating back in surprise.

BOY
What kind of people are these? No feelings for
a fellow human? Hey, at least take him to the
hospital!

One of the men just turns around to look back as they continue walking. The Boy
looks at him and then looks down. He then looks up as the headlight of a car falls
on him. His POV:

A car is coming down the road at a speed.

The boy runs in its path, flailing his hands in the air to stop the car.

BOY
(loudly)
Help help! There’s been an accident.

The car zips past the boy. He looks at it and then turns around to see another car
coming in his direction. He waves out again.

BOY (CONT’D)
Please stop. Help this young boy or he’ll die.

The car doesn’t stop. The boy turns to look back at the victim which is more of a
silhouette lying on a road. Its body is twitching as if his breath is being sucked out.

BOY (CONT’D)
(whispers)
Please please don’t die. I’ll try and save you but
you please don’t die…

The boy sees another car and runs towards it waving out his hand. The car zooms
past. The boy looks at it in disgust. The car has passed the victim and then the
sounds of the screeching of the breaks as it comes to a stop. The car reverses. A
smile appears on the face of the boy as he walks and then runs towards the car.

DRIVER (O.S.)
Seems there’s been an accident.
WOMAN (O.S.)
Oh darling, please let’s go home. I can’t
stomach an accident scene.
DRIVER (O.S.)
There he is. Seems he’s still breathing…
WOMAN (O.S.)
You duffer. Don’t spoil my mood. Let’s go now.

A woman’s head peeps out from the window of the car and looks back at the Boy
running towards the car.

Her POV:

The Boy could be seen running towards their car. Behind him, a car is coming
down the road.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
I said let’s go or else we’ll be blamed for this
accident.

The boy is about to reach the car when it zooms away.

BOY
(shouts)
Sir… sir, please wait. I’ll help you to take him to
the hospital. Sir please…

The boy sits down dejectedly on the pavement under the street lamp.

BOY (CONT’D)
What a strange city this is. Nobody is bothered
about a fellow human being. And yet this city is
called the maximum city. People reach out to
help others only when there is a major calamity
but in such cases, nobody is concerned for the
victim. Why God why?

The Boy watches the cars zoom past. Nobody bothers to stop. One or two does
slow down and the Boy’s eyes shine with apprehension but soon fades as the cars
keep moving.

BOY (CONT’D)
Please God, don’t let him die. His family must
be waiting for him.

The cars are now less on the highway. The boy with a dejected look on his face
shudders a bit. He looks back where the body of the victim is lying. He painfully
gets up and walks towards it with heavy steps.

BOY (CONT’D)
(tearfully)
Please brother hang on for some time. Soon it
will be dawn and surely someone will help us.

The victim still shaded in darkness gives one big shudder and then twitches a bit.
The boy looks down at it tearfully and then around him with dying hope. He gives
a loud scream.

BOY (CONT’D)
Help! Somebody help!

The boy is now breathing heavily.

An approaching car’s headlight illuminates the area. We pan down to see the face
of the victim momentarily lit in the headlight. The victim looks identical to the boy
as we pan up to see his face. Even the clothes are identical. The boy with one long
breath slowly collapses next to the victim. We see the two bodies merge into one.
The victim gives one big shudder and then is still. We realize that the Boy was the
spirit of the dying victim.

EXT. HIGHWAY – DAY
CU of the first rays of the morning sun at it falls on the victim. A hand pulls on a
white sheet to cover his face. People’s feet are visible standing around the body.
We pan to see the wheels of a police vehicle parked nearby. A few pairs of
uniformed cops are seen walking around.

Fade out.

Interactive Story Game Sample Episode

Tags

Apps, Bollywood, entertainment, Episodes, fiction, Interactive, Interactive Game Story, Romance, Short Fiction, Short Story, story, Visual Novels, writing

Hello friends, these days, Visual Novels or Interactive Story Games have become a rage in the digitial world giving authors/writers more opportunities to spread their wings and creativity (not to forget make some extra money) by churning out interactive episodic story games for these Apps. There are hundreds of such Apps that entertain its users. Apps like Chapters, Episodes, KahaniBox are a few of them and which have good content on them. Do take time out to visit their websites and download it.

Below, I’ve given a sample episode of how these Apps prefer their writers to submit their stories episode wise. Mind you, different Apps may have different templates. But I guess, this is more or less common format. So happy learning and happy writing!

p.s. On the technical side, for the programmers, I guess these Interactive Story Apps use Unity Devloper platform. Do check out.

Episode 1

Background: PLAYER’S ROOM

Narration:
You are a young working woman living in the city of New York. A few years ago, you moved here to pursue your dream to make it big in the corporate world.

Narration:
For the last 3 years, you have been working as a personal assistant to Mr. Larkins, the owner of Enchanted Cosmetics, one of the biggest cosmetics companies in the world.

Narration:
You are getting ready to go to work. It’s a big day for you as there is a board of directors meeting and you are expecting your boss Mr. Larkins to make a big announcement in front of all the staff members as well as the press.

Narration:
You are in a dilemma about what to wear to the office.

Body Type Selection

Face Type Selection

Hairstyle Selection

Name Selection

Player in skirt and shirt.

Narration:
Once you’re ready, you turn to look at your mirror. A big smile appears on your face as you stare at your reflection. You are proud of yourself.

Narration:
In a short 3-years, since you joined Enchanted Cosmetics as an Office Assistant, you have risen to the level of being the big boss’s personal assistant, a role that a lot of women in your office were vying for.

YOU: Thinking
This attire should do fine. Proper prim and fine.

Narration:
You turn to look on your bed for your phone but it’s not there. You pick up your handbag and rummage through it without finding the phone. You search the entire room quickly.

YOU: Confused: thought
This is so ridiculous. Where did the goddamn phone disappear? This is such an awful way to start the day.

Narration:
You check every corner of your room without any luck. You then angrily empty your wardrobe on your bed and then rummage through the various clothing, scattering some of it everywhere search through it for your phone.

Narration:
Right then your friend Pearl steps into your room looking radiant in a lovely mini dress. She looks at you with big eyes and then at the piles of clothes on the bed.

PEARL:
Hey, what’s the big deal with this mess?

You: Ugh…
Choice 1: I can’t seem to find my phone.
Choice 2: It’s none of your business.
Choice 3: Go wait in the car for me.

YOU:
Have you by any chance seen it?

PEARL:
It must be here somewhere.

YOU:
Damn. I can’t seem to find it. I am sure I had it with me on the bed last night.

PEARL:
In that case, it should be around here somewhere. Did you check in the hall?

YOU:
Now pray tell me why would I keep something like a phone in the hall.

Choice 1 Ends.

PEARL:
Hey, calm down Pumpkin Pie. No need to get hyper.

YOU:
I am not being hyper. I am simply getting late and I can’t seem to find my goddamn phone.

PEARL:
It must be around here somewhere.

YOU:
You are such a visionary, my dear girl.

Choice 2 Ends.

PEARL:
As you say so.

YOU:
Cool. I’ll be out in a minute once I find my phone.

PEARL:
Oh not again.

YOU:
Yes, again.

Choice 3 Ends.

PEARL:
My dear girl, you have been absentminded these last few days. Not that I blame you with Brendon breathing down your neck on a loop. Wasn’t he here last evening with you?

YOU:
That nincompoop has no other work other than pull me into bed with him and I had to push him out of the house last night.

PEARL:
I feel bad for him. Poor guy has been chasing you endlessly.

Narration:
You stop what you are doing, and turn around to face Pearl, a glaring look on your face. Pearl quickly raises her hands in mock surrender.

PEARL:
I get it. He’s not your kind. Wait, I’ll check the hall for your phone.

Narration:
Saying this, Pearl quickly rushes out of the room. You smile and yell out after her.

YOU:
He’s just a friend darling. And yes, you’re right. He’s not my type.

Narration:
You can hear Pearl rummaging through the things in the hall, pulling draws, and then slamming them shut. She calls out to you.

PEARL:
So what’s your type? What kind of man you’re looking for?

YOU: Cheekily…
Choice 1: My type is, ‘tall, dark, and handsome’.
Choice 2: My type is someone brash and yet sensitive in bed.
Choice 3: I don’t need to tell you everything.

PEARL:
Well, that happens only in fairy tales.

YOU:
You never know. I may find one today. I can feel it’s my big day today.
PEARL:
Dream. It is always a good idea to dream.

YOU:
Well, I’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain by dreaming.

Choice 1 Ends.

PEARL:
Now that’s a revelation. I never knew you doted on such men.

YOU:
What gave you the idea?

PEARL:
Mr. Brendon. He is sensitive and can be brash where you’re concerned.

YOU:
But is he sensitive in bed? I don’t think so. His character doesn’t showcase that side of him.

Choice 2 Ends.

PEARL:
You can be a jerk sometimes. I am your best friend Pumpkin Pie. You can tell me.

YOU:
Maybe someday, I’ll tell you but for now, let’s say, I have an open mind of the kind of man I want in my life.

Choice 3 Ends.

PEARL:
Is that why you hang around at the RODEO RIDE CLUB whenever you get time?

Narration:
You pause and sit down and dreamily stare at the wall.

YOU:
I hope to find my kind of man there. Someone who gives in to my whims and fancies.

Narration:
Pearl walks back into the room with a grin and looks at you hard.

PEARL:
I sometimes fail to understand you.

YOU:
We all have our desires and our fantasies. Mine is being a dominant woman controlling over a dude who’ll be submissive to my demands.

PEARL:
In other words, you are into BDSM. My dear girl, may the force be with you. May you be gifted with the kind of man you want.

Narration:
Pearl then discloses her hand which she had hidden behind her. She’s holding your phone. You look at it with disdain.

YOU:
What the heck?

PEARL:
I told you… it had fallen in the cracks on the sofa.

YOU:
How did that phone get out of this room?

PEARL:
Maybe it walked on its feet.

YOU:
Cut the crap. Oh yes, when I was with Brendon in the hall last night, I had the phone with me.

PEARL:
So what’s the hurry all about?

YOU:
Choice 1: There is a big board meeting today.
Choice 2: I have no idea except I’ve been called early.

YOU:
Today is a big day. There’s an important board meeting followed by a staff meeting. And I need to prepare the groundwork.

PEARL:
What meeting?

YOU:
I have no clue. Except that something big is about to happen. And my boss is counting on me to be there.

PEARL:
You dote on your boss, isn’t it?

YOU:
He’s a gem of a man. Very protective and at the same time, demanding. And the thing is, I enjoy working with him.

PEARL:
So you should tell him all this when the time comes for your next raise.

YOU:
Shut up. It’s not every day, you get to work with such an influential man from whom you can learn a lot.

Choice 1 Ends.

PEARL:
What kind of office is it where employees are kept in the dark about the happenings?

YOU:
Excuse me. Every financial deal or trade secret can’t be shared with everyone including the office staff.

PEARL:
My bad.

Choice 2 Ends.

YOU:
Well, it’s time to hit the road. Where do I drop you?

PEARL:
The usual. Carl’s place. I’ll move on with him to the restaurant.

YOU:
How’s it going between you and Carl?

PEARL:
The man is a sugar daddy. Also swooning over me.

YOU:
Lucky you.

PEARL:
Drop by in the afternoon. The lunch’s on me.

YOU: Aha…
Choice 1: I like to pay for my food sweetheart
Choice 2: Sounds good to me.
Choice 3: I’d rather eat someplace else.

PEARL:
Come on Pumpkin Pie. You and I are friends.

YOU:
That restaurant is not owned by you. You’re just a hostess there.

PEARL:
You wait and see. One of these days, Carl’s gonna go on his knee and propose to me. And then that place’s gonna belong to me.

YOU:
You and your fancy dream.

Choice 1 Ends.

PEARL:
Cool. I’ll have your favorite dish ready for you when you get there.

YOU:
Cool.

PEARL:
That’s my dahling for me.

Choice 2 Ends.

PEARL:
You are being mean.

YOU:
It’s not that. I don’t Carl to think I am taking advantage of you.

PEARL:
You are not doing anything such. Now you better get your ass there during lunch hours.

Choice 3 Ends.

Background: ENCHANTED COSMETICS OFFICE

Narration:
After dropping your friend Pearl at Carl’s house, you reach your office. Most of the staff members are already in before the official opening hour and the place is abuzz with excitement.

Narration:
You hear bits and pieces of conversation as you walk toward your cabin.

YOU: Thinking
It seems almost everyone’s excited about today’s meeting. Guess, everyone knows that some major development is going to take place. I wonder what it is.

Narration:
An hour later, you are busy working at your desk. The board meeting is going on, in your boss Mr. Larkin’s large cabin.

Narration:
You try to strain your ears to see if you can hear any voices from inside knowing well it’s a futile exercise.

Narration:
Eager for a cup of coffee, you make your way to the coffee machine, carefully pouring a steaming brew into your cup. Balancing the warm liquid in your hands, you stride back to your desk.

Narration:
Suddenly, an unexpected collision disrupts your steps, causing the contents of your cup to spill onto the stranger who inadvertently bumped into you.

Narration:
With guilt, you look up into the sparkling blue eyes of a handsome stranger wearing a tight sweatshirt over jeans.

Narration:
His muscles seemed to be struggling to break free from the fitting sweatshirt.

Narration:
You are completely fazed and shaken to the core by his good and handsome look. And then your eyes fall on his sweatshirt stained with spilled coffee. This meant trouble.

You: Thinking
Choice 1: I should apologize.
Choice 2: I should yell at him.

YOU:
I am extremely sorry.

SCOTT:
It’s okay. My bad.

YOU:
I should have watched my steps. Hope you’re not hurt.

SCOTT:
Absolutely not.

Choice 1 Ends.

YOU:
Watch out mister where you’re going.

SCOTT:
Just chill miss. My apologies.

Narration:
Seeing him apologize, you calm down and look at him with respect.

Choice 2 Ends.

YOU:
The washroom’s over there in case…

SCOTT:
I’ll be fine Miss…

YOU:
{$player_name}. And you are…?

SCOTT:
Scott…

YOU:
I… I beg your pardon.

Narration:
Your face flushes with a mix of surprise and anticipation as Scott moves closer, emanating a captivating scent that entices your senses.

Narration:
Momentarily overwhelmed, you inhale deeply to collect yourself before meeting Scott’s gaze head-on.

SCOTT:
My name’s Scott.

YOU:
Can I help you?

SCOTT:
It’s okay. Can I get you another cup of coffee? Or maybe you can join me in the canteen for one?

YOU: Yep…
Choice 1: I would like to have coffee with you in the canteen. (High Cost Choice)
Choice 2: I’d like another cup of coffee. (Low Cost Choice)
Choice 3: No, thank you.

SCOTT:
Please allow me.

Narration:
Scott graciously takes the empty coffee mug from your hand and places it on an empty desk and beckons you towards the canteen. As you walk with him, you notice numerous colleagues eyeing you with envy.

YOU:
We haven’t met before, have we?

SCOTT:
No. But I do know a thing or two about you.

Background: ENCHANTED COSMETICS – CANTEEN

Narration:
You look at him in surprise as he pulls open the canteen door and holds it for you. You enter, your mind wandering at who exactly Scott is.

Narration:
You sit down at a table and shortly, Scott walks over with two mugs of steaming coffee and hands over one mug to you.

YOU:
How do you know about me?

SCOTT:
Mr. Larkins mentions you often. And I’d say, I am glad to meet you.

Narration:
Your heart swells up with pride hearing his words.

YOU:
Are you an employee here?

SCOTT:
Not per se.

Narration:
As you sip on your coffee quietly, your eyes wander on his face triggering a sense of familiarity but you can’t seem to pinpoint exactly who it reminds you of.

Narration:
You notice some of the women passing by your table, give Scott a lusty look.

YOU:
I need to get back to my desk.

Narration:
You get up and walk out of the canteen. Scott follows you silently. You wonder again what he is doing in this office.

Choice 1 Ends.

SCOTT:
Why don’t you point out your desk to me and I’ll be right back with your coffee?

Narration:
You point out your desk to Scott and then walk over and sit down. Shortly, Scott comes back with two mugs of coffee.

Narration:
You follow his catlike walk and your heart lurches. It’s one beautiful sight to see.

Narration:
Scott hands over a mug to her and sits down opposite her.

YOU:
You are not from this office, are you?

SCOTT:
You guessed right.

YOU:
You are here to meet someone?

SCOTT:
Yes, but he can wait for now.

Narration:
Your heart skips a beat with the kind of attention Scott is showering on you. You quickly turn to look at your computer to divert your mind.

Choice 2 Ends.

SCOTT:
Hey, you don’t have to be so courteous. Let me get you a cup.

Narration:
Scott moves to the coffee machine. You ignore him and walk over to your desk and sit down. Shortly, Scott joins you with two cups of coffee and hands over one to you.

SCOTT:
Here you go.

YOU:
That’s sweet of you. Thank you.

Choice 3 Ends.

YOU:
By the way, it’s not a good idea to keep someone waiting. Who are you here to meet?

SCOTT:
I am here to meet Mr. Larkins.

YOU:
Mr. Larkins? I’m sorry, he’s in a meeting.

SCOTT:
Why don’t you just pop into the room and announce that I am here?

YOU:
I’ll have to refuse your suggestion, Scott.

SCOTT:
Aha. I know why. You know that Mr. Larkins doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s busy. I don’t blame you. That man is a dictator and a taskmaster at that.

YOU:
Excuse me! Mr. Larkins is my boss.

SCOTT:
Hey, take it easy. I was just joking.

Narration:
Suddenly, your boss’s cabin door opens and Mr. Larkins walks out followed by 6-7 other people. Except for your boss, the others walk past their respective cabins.

Narration:
Mr. Larkins smiles at Scott and hugs him lightly. You look at them slightly confused.

MR. LARKINS:
You are here finally.

SCOTT:
Yes Dad, like you wanted. So what’s the scene?

MR. LARKINS:
{$player_name}, I want you to meet Scott, my son.

Narration:
Hearing your boss’s words, you look at Scott with surprise and force yourself to smile at him.

YOU:
Nice to meet you, Sir.

SCOTT:
Call me Scott. I hate the Sir part. It gets on my nerves.

YOU: Oh…
Choice 1: Even I hate calling someone as young as you Sir.
Choice 2: I can’t call you by your first name.

SCOTT:
Exactly. Calling someone like me Sir makes the conversation so impersonal.

YOU:
I understand your point of view.

SCOTT:
I was right in my opinion about you. You are more practical as and when the situation arises.

Choice 1 Ends.

YOU:
Since you’re the boss’s son, I’d have to call you Sir. I simply can’t address you as Scott.

SCOTT:
And why not?

YOU:
It doesn’t feel right to do so.

SCOTT:
I don’t care. Call me Scott. Gotcha?

Choice 2 Ends.

Narration:
You turn to your boss Mr. Larkins and look at him enquiringly. Mr. Larkins seems to understand your question and gently pats your back.

MR. LARKINS:
I understand what you’re thinking. Well, Scott is like a perennial black sheep of the family. So I don’t like talking much about him. But now that he’s back for good, I think he deserves another chance.

SCOTT:
I am deeply honored, Dad.

YOU:
And I assume he’s taking your place in this office.

SCOTT:
That is an absolutely good deduction.

MR. LARKINS:
The board has agreed to the proposal. Hereafter, Scott will preside over the company and take it forward from here.

YOU:
So this is the big announcement that everyone is so eager to hear?

MR. LARKINS:
Yes. And Scott, this lovely girl here has the potential to go miles but she needs constant pushing.

SCOTT:
Well, Dad, she’ll have to herself push hard if she wants to make it big.

MR. LARKINS:
I am sure she would. So young lady, like you have been a good assistant to me the last 3 years, do extend the same courtesy towards him as well.

YOU: Oh…
Choice 1: I’ll do my best Sir.
Choice 2: I’ll like to switch over to another department.
Choice 3: I can’t guarantee Sir.

MR. LARKINS:
You are a wonderful person {$player_name}. I am sure you’ll do fine.

YOU:
I’ll ensure I don’t let you down, Sir.

MR. LARKINS
I trust that you’ll be an asset to Scott. Just do your best.

Choice 1 Ends.

SCOTT:
Did I frighten you, lady?

YOU:
No, I didn’t mean that. It’s just that I need to explore other opportunities in this organization.

MR. LARKINS:
Don’t worry. Scott will ensure that it happens soon.

Choice 2 Ends.

MR. LARKINS
Come on girl. Scott is not exactly as I have described him. Once you get to know him, you’ll enjoy working with him.

YOU:
I believe you Sir but…

SCOTT:
Dad, we didn’t exactly start on the right footing this morning.

YOU:
That’s okay.

Choice 3 Ends.

SCOTT:
I’ll ensure that you do your best. I am a very mean taskmaster and a dictator where work is concerned.

YOU: Thinking
How cheeky can he be? Didn’t he say the same thing about his father a short while ago?

Narration:
Mr. Larkin leaves you two alone and walks back into his cabin.

SCOTT:
Well Miss, how about you briefing me about the work you do for my dad?

YOU:
I’d be more than happy to do that.

SCOTT:
Not here… Suggest some good place.

YOU: Yes…
Choice 1: A restaurant will be the best place. (High Cost Choice)
Choice 2: Let’s go to the conference room. (Low Cost Choice)
Choice 3: I can brief you here.

SCOTT:
That sounds good to me. You can brief me over lunch.

YOU: Thinking
This is indeed my lucky day. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to have lunch with.

Background: CARL’S RESTAURANT

Narration:
You and Scott visit Carl’s restaurant just around the corner where Pearl works as a hostess. Pearl guides you to a secluded corner and you and Scott sit down.

YOU: Thinking
This has to be a dream. To have one of the most handsome and rich guys for the company over lunch.

SCOTT:
A penny for your thoughts.

YOU:
That’s pretty cheap a price for what I am thinking.

SCOTT:
Well, I’d pay a fortune right now if it’s something positive you’re thinking. So what is it?

YOU:
Nothing much. I’m starving.

Narration:
Scott places an order for your favorite dish and as the delicious food arrives, you look at Scott. His unwavering eyes are trained on you.

YOU:
So let me tell you about the work…

SCOTT:
Shoo… Work stays in the office. I’m here to simply get to know you better.

Narration:
Your blood seems to rush through your body with excitement upon hearing his words.

YOU: Thinking
Hope he’s not just flirting with me.

Narration:
You and Scott have lunch discussing everything under the sun except your work. You seem to enjoy his company. You realize that working with him would be exciting and enjoyable.

Narration:
Once lunch is over, you and Scott decide to head back to the office. For you, this was one of the best lunches you’ve had in a long long time.

Choice 1 Ends.

Scott:
Why don’t we step into the conference room? Maybe order some pizza first and you can brief me over lunch?

YOU:
Seems a jolly good idea.

Narration:
You quickly dial a number and order pizza and then lead Scott to the conference room.

Background: ENCHANTED COSMETICS – CONFERENCE ROOM

Narration:
You and Scott sit down facing each other. Scott looks at you silently for a few minutes. You squirm uneasily in your chair wondering what he’s doing.

YOU:
Is everything okay?

SCOTT:
I am just trying to appraise you. I’ve heard a lot about you from my dad. And frankly, I was expecting someone nerdy-looking, wearing glasses, and too uptight.

YOU:
Well, sorry to disappoint you.

SCOTT:
I guess I’m going to enjoy working with you.

YOU:
Shouldn’t I be saying that?

SCOTT:
I don’t get it.

YOU:
I mean, I’m going to enjoy working with you.

Narration:
After the meeting, Scott leads you back to your desk. You feel elated at the attention he has been showering on you.

Choice 2 Ends.

YOU:
We can discuss whatever you want to know right here.

SCOTT:
I would have preferred someplace quiet you know.

YOU:
Well, this place is not exactly a soccer stadium.

SCOTT:
I see you do have a sense of humor.

Choice 3 Ends.

Background: ENCHANTED COSMETICS – SCOTT’S CABIN

Narration:
You are seated opposite Scott and calmly narrating to him your job role and all that you did for Mr. Larkins. Your conversation with Scott is interrupted by a phone call. You see it’s your friend Brendon. You pick up the call.

Narration:
Brendon is a tall gangly but handsome man who wears a sleek pair of eyeglasses and works for the New York Mirror, a major newspaper.

YOU:
Hello…

Narration:
As you turn to speak on the phone, Scott’s voice booms over loudly. You look across at him in surprise.

SCOTT:
Hello, we aren’t done yet.

YOU:
Scott, I’ll just be done in a minute…

SCOTT:
I don’t like it when my subordinates get distracted by unwanted diversions. Keep that in mind next time.

Narration:
You silently look back at him and then turn your attention back to your phone.

YOU:
Yes, Brendon.

BRENDON:
Hello {$player_name}, wakie wakie. Hope you’re not napping after lunch.

YOU:
As an investigative journalist, you are smart and intuitive about me.

BRENDON:
Say, I have an urgent work with you. Can you meet me?

YOU: Oh…
Choice 1: Yes, I can meet you.
Choice 2: Unfortunately, no.

BRENDON:
Great. Can you come to my office? Or if you prefer I’d come over.

YOU:
I thought you were already in my office building.

BRENDON:
No. I am at my office. Just come over if you can.

YOU:
I can’t come over to your office right now Brendon.

BRENDON:
Too bad. You would have been a big help to me.

Choice 1 Ends.

BRENDON
Come on. I just need a few minutes of your time.

YOU:
Brendon, I would have loved to meet you but I am extremely busy today.

BRENDON:
Okay, at least are you free enough to talk to me for a few minutes?

Choice 2 Ends.

YOU:
What is this all about?

BRENDON:
I just got the news that Enchanted Cosmetics has a new boss. Is that true?

YOU:
News does travel fast.

BRENDON:
I know. Can you give me an inside scoop? Who’s the man? Give me a name.

YOU:
And what made you think the new head is a man?

BRENDON:
Oh, come on. Since the company’s inception, Enchanted Cosmetics hasn’t been exactly known to be an inclusive company. So be a sport and throw me a name.

YOU: Ahem…
Choice 1: I can’t leak private information.
Choice 2: You’ll have to wait a few days.

BRENDON:
Come on. One of these days this news will be out in the open. So you might as well disclose it to me now. We are friends.

YOU:
I understand Brendon. But at this stage, I can’t divulge information that only I and a handful of others are privy to.

BRENDON:
You are too much stickler for allegiance to your employers.

YOU:
It’s what I am paid for. I owe my allegiance to my company.

BRENDON:
For once, if I get this name now, I’ll make it to the headlines beating other media houses.

YOU:
I am sure Enchanted Cosmetics will make an announcement soon. You will then get your name.

Choice 1 Ends.

BRENDON:
I know that. But this is a big scoop for me. My career will rocket sky-high if I break this news first.

YOU:
At what cost? By putting our friendship at stake? Helping you with my character assassination?

BRENDON:
You are simply exaggerating things.

YOU:
Then wait for a few days.

Choice 2 Ends.

BRENDON:
Okay okay. I understand your position. But please try to understand. This story can make me an instant hit with my boss.

YOU:
Please, Brendon, don’t ask me what I can’t deliver.

BRENDON:
{$player_name}, first time I’ve asked you to bail me out and you are…

YOU:
Brendon, listen…

BRENDON:
You know I am a damn good snoopy journalist. And I know about your little visits to a certain club. {$player_name}, don’t keep swatting me like a fly every time.

Narration:
Brendon’s words not only shock you but anger you as well as you disconnect the call.

End of Episode 1

Sholay’s real villain wasn’t Gabbar Singh

Tags

Bollywood, drama, entertainment, fiction, Gabbar Singh, Hindi Films, Jai & Viru, Romance, Sholay, Short Fiction, Short Story, spoof, Stories, story, writing

Yes, you read it right. Poor Gabbar Singh unnecessary got defamed for just wanting ‘Mutti bhar anaj’ from the villagers as protection money. But if Gabbar wasn’t the real villain, then who was the real villain? It was none other than Jaidev. Jaidev who? Oh damn, Jaidev aka Jai who so innocently asked Basanti, “tumhara naam kya hai Basanti?” Talk about being extra smart and vile.

Talking about Basanti, what right did Jai had to destroy her property? I mean look at him pulling out cotton from the seat of Basanti’s horse cart and stuffing it in his ears. I mean, that fellow had no respect for other’s property.

Jai even butts in regularly between the conversation she would have with Veeru time again and again. Even does a bit of show off to downgrade his friend Veeru by shooting at the raw mango despite Veeru trying to win Basanti over with his cheesy lines and teaching her to shoot. And when poor Veeru donning the role of a god and trying to impress on Basanti that Veeru is good for her, Jai had the gall to expose him in front of Basanti. Agar aise dost ho toh dushmano ki zarurat nahin.

To add to his pompous and lecherous ways, do you remember the first time Jai sets his eyes on poor Radha when he lands up at Thakur’s house? What do you call such a person if not cheap and sadak-chaap as he ogles at her?

So rightly, the real villain in the movie wasn’t Gabbar Singh but Jai. Foremost, for his own selfishness, he often used a double headed coin to cheat his best friend a number of times. The fact that Thakur brought him and Veeru to his village to avenge his family’s death didn’t matter to Jai as much as ogling at Thakur’s widowed daughter-in-law and playing his mouth organ time and again.

Jai was hell-bent on proving that the saying, ‘Jis thali mein khate hai us thali mein ched nahin karte’ was bullshit by eying the young widow whenever the situation permitted.

Coming back to his best friend Veeru, Jai almost ensured that Veeru and Basanti never get to marry each other by purposely speaking ill about his best friend to poor old Mausi, Basanti’s aunt.

Veeru had rightfully called out on Jai’s face about his vile ways and that Jai was not happy for him. And when Veeru had climbed the water tank to commit suicide because of his love life, Jai didn’t even bother to pacify or try and save Veeru even after being rebuked by Basanti.

After the song Mehbooba, he allowed Gabbar to escape. He no doubt had an inkling that if he killed Gabbar, then he and Veeru will have no option but to leave Ramgarh since their mission would be over. And that meant leaving his lady love Radha behind.

And when Jai goes to rescue Veeru and Basanti, why didn’t he kill Gabbar Singh in the first place when he had the opportunity rather than escaping from Gabbar’s den with Veeru and Basanti. Well, he ultimately paid a heavy price for it in the end but that’s another story altogether.

And the final cheating with the coin to dispatch Veeru and Basanti back home for reinforcement. But in reality, Jai may have wanted to finish off Gabbar on his own and claim the reward money all to himself so that he could settle down with his beloved Radha in the village. After all, that was his game plan in the long run.

Coming back to where the story began, if only Jai had NOTused the coin on the train to toss and decide whether to save Thakur or not, things would have been entirely different for him and Veeru. And Gabbar would have led a peaceful life with contributions of ‘mutti bhar anaj’ by the villagers.

And finally leaving Radha dreaming again for another knight-in-shining armour to come for her…

Noon

Tags

drama, entertainment, fiction, Horror, Short Fiction, Short Story, Stories, story, Supernatural, writing

It was one of the worst summers of her life as Kavya maneuvered her car down the hot, blazing street. The sun was just above her head and burning with full intensity forcing her to lower the temperature of the air-conditioning of her car as far as possible. She had a 12.30 appointment with her dietician and even though it was scorching outside, she had decided to keep the appointment.

There weren’t that many cars on the road that day as she pushed the accelerator down as far as the speed limit would permit when her eyes fell on the middle of the junction looming ahead. Her eyes couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her old classmate Agni stood there still as a mannequin, her eyes on her and the car. And then a faint smile lit her face.

“What the heck is she doing?” Kavya asked herself as she continued to drive at full speed right at her. “Get out of the way,” she yelled at Agni who completely ignored her warning and continued her silent protest, the smile still glued on her face.

Without a warning, Kavya’s car came to a complete standstill just inches away from Agni who stood rooted to the spot, with no fear on her face. “What the heck are you trying to do?” She demanded. “Trying to kill both of us, you bitch?”

She then tried to open the door but to her surprise, Kavya found the doors locked. She realized with alarm that the central locking system of the car had got jammed. She tried everything possible to get the door opened but it wouldn’t budge. To her horror, Kavya further realized that the car’s engine too had died down and the air-conditioning no longer functioned.

“What is happening? Somebody help me. Help me Agni.” Kavya screamed at the girl standing facing her car. But Agni stood her ground, simply smiling at her through the front windshield. It was a matter of minutes before the blazing sun took its toll on the car and its sole occupant and before long, Kavya let out a last gasp for air and collapsed. The led clock on the dashboard read 12:00. Agni had disappeared.

A year later, on the same day and at the same time, young Jigna hiked through the barren mountains far located far from civilization in the middle of a high desert. She had parked her car at the foothills of the mountain and had decided to do a solo hike up the lonely mountain wearing a black top and shorts, a thrill which she always enjoyed in the company of herself. But she wasn’t prepared as she had hoped to. As she climbed gingerly up the steep mountain, her eyes fell on her. She looked across at her unbelievingly.

“What are you doing here Agni?” She yelled out to her. But Agni who was perched on the side of the mountain delicately simply smiled back at her.

“Damn, this girl.” Jigna thought. “Of all the girls in the world, I should come across this sissy in the middle of nowhere.”

She ignored her and continued her climbing, her breath now coming in shorts gasps. “I need to rest,” she thought to herself, her body completely covered in sweats and wanting a sip of water. The sun was now directly overhead. She took a break to rest on the sides and pulled off the water bottle from her waist. As she did so, she once again looked across at Agni who was still smiling back at her. At that very moment, the bottle slipped from her hand and went crashing down the mountain.

“Oh god, now what did I do?” She moaned aloud. “I’ll have to go back down. All of a sudden, the sun has become terribly unbearable.”

She stood up and this time gingerly tried to make her way back to the base. She felt giddy and tired. Her body ached immensely and her breathing too was slow and unsteady. She felt dizzy. She looked across towards Agni for help but Agni had disappeared. Without any warning, her knees buckled beneath her and she went flying down the mountainside. Moments later, a few fellow hikers found her body lying in a heap at the base of the mountain. Time had stood still for Jigna at noon as the hikers confirmed later to the police.

There was still another girl awaiting a similar fate. Shaily was 1/3 part of the trio of Kavya, Jigna, and herself. They were an inseparable team who had been close friends with each other through their college life but foes to the others. They were known as the three racketeers who preyed on the weaklings of the college. Bullies, they wouldn’t even spare the boys at times. One of their victims was Agni. But Agni, a down-to-earth and ever-smiling girl was not someone to keep grudges and she had forgiven them for bullying her. Almost.

Shaily saw in the comforts of her room going through the college pictures on her laptop. Her eyes fell on the ever-smiling Agni in one of the images. She wondered where Agni was in the present. Soon after that fateful day, they had simply lost contact with her. They had no idea where she had disappeared.

As she reminisced over the good old days with her two pals, the power blacked out. Suddenly, there was a deafening silence in the empty house. Her parents were traveling leaving her all by herself. “Damn,” she exclaimed aloud. “This power outage had to happen today itself when the weather was all blazing outside.”
Shaily opened the windows of the house to let some air in. But unfortunately, even the breeze that blew in was scorching her skin. She had always been susceptible to summers and had taken care to stay away from the heat that the summer brought with it. But today was different. It was as if the weather was seeking revenge on her. Her eyes fell on Agni’s picture on the laptop screen. It was taken on their college terrace in the blazing hot sun.
The trio had dragged her on the terrace and had forced her to stand on one leg in the blazing hot sun. And as time dragged on, Agni stood patiently with the sun in full flow. She knew not when she got dizzy and her knees buckled under her. She fell unconscious on the terrace and her head busted open. The three racketeers had disappeared after seeing her fall. The college authorities rushed her to the hospital but she never came out of the coma.

Shaily wondered how Agni was doing today. But it was too late to think of the poor girl. She decided to go to the terrace of her house where some trees on the pheriphery of the house offered the house some bit of respite from the sun. Unfortunately, in a rush to rest under the shades of the trees, Shaily twisted her ankle and fell to the floor. She was in deep pain under the blazing sun, unable to move. She screamed for help but she knew the next house for hundreds of meters away and nobody would hear her.

Three days later, her parents on their return, found her partly sunburned body lying on the terrace, dead due to acute dehydration and heatwave.

Agni, on the other hand, was still lying in the hospital in a coma experiencing an out-of-body experience. Her spirit had left her body thrice to witness the three racketeers’ death. She felt sorry for them as she came out of the coma after 3 long years and remembered her out-of-body experiences…

Silent Words

Tags

fiction, Film Screenplaay, Film Script, Movie Screenplay, Movie Script, Screenplay, Script, Short Fiction, Short Film, Short Film Screenplay, Short Film Script, Short Movie Script, Short Screenplay, Short Story, Shorts

FADE IN:

EXT. CITY STREET – DAY

MARK, a young man with an unkempt look, is walking down the street. There’s a pained look on his face and tears linger in his eyes.

He is walking without hurry and unconscious about his surroundings. Occasionally he jabs his fist in the air unknowingly. His thoughts are elsewhere.

MARK (VO)
(stammering)
Why did she do this with me?
She shouldn’t have left me and that too just
because I have a speech defect.
She knew about his from day one.
But now she feels embarrassed to go out with me in public?
How can she do this?
Please god, I don’t want to live this life.
If she is not going to be a part of my life,
I might as well die and end it all.

MARK
Yes, I think I’ll do that.
As it is, there’s really no one who cares for me anymore.

Mark’s pace picks up as he now walks with determined steps, his roving eyes now taking in his surroundings.

EXT. A PROMINENT PROMENADE – DAY

Mark walks down the sea front desperately looking for an empty place from where he could climb over the low wall that separated the promenade from the rough sea beyond it.

Couples and other people are all occupying the wall and there is no empty spot. Finally, he heaves a sigh of relief when his eyes find one and he hastily climbs on top of it and stares down at the choppy waters.

He turns to look at the couple seated next to him. The girl gives him a mean look.

GIRL
Hey mister? Why are you staring at us like that?

Mark climbs down hastily again and walks away too embarrassed by the girl’s intervention.

He turns around and walks in the other direction, almost running.

Suddenly, a little girl comes running and bangs into him hard and he stumbles and nearly falls.

He steadies himself and turns around.

His feet crumples some flowers lying on the ground.

He looks at the person. Turns out to be a little girl not more than 9-10 years.

She looks at the crumpled flowers tearfully.

Mark roughly picks up the girl.                  

MARK
Watch where you’re going girl.

Frightened and tearful, she waves her arms to say no.

He curiously lets her go, the anger still on his face.

She looks at the flowers again as she walks and picks it up. She turns to Mark and again points to him and indicates with a sign, it wasn’t him. She points her finger at her chest and nods her head to indicate it was her mistake.

Mark softens at her sign language. He walks close to her and kneels in front of her.

MARK
What? Speak up, will you.

Once again, she shakes her head sideways.

MARK
You can’t speak? Oh…

She smiles and nods her head. Again she points her finger at him and indicates it wasn’t his mistake.

Mark looks at her innocent face. He then looks across the promenade.

His POV:

A florist.

The girl turns around and walks with the crumpled flowers towards an old blind lady seated under a tree on the promenade.

Mark goes through his pockets and counts the money. Whatever he has, he gives the florist who gives him a small bunch of bright, beautiful flowers. Mark smiles at the man and walks back.

Mark walks to the girl and gently pats her on the back. She turns around. He silently gives her the flowers.

She is jubilant and gives one of the brightest smiles. Mark is mesmerized looking at her smile and for a few moments is rooted to the spot.

He then waves bye and walks away. His steps are now full of confidence and there’s a smile on his face. He stops to turn around to look at the little girl who’s now hugging the old lady. She looks at him and smiling, waves out to him.

EXT. MUMBAI STREETS – DAY

Mark walks down the busy street, the smile still intact on his face. He stops at a gift shop to read a poster lined against the display window. It has a saying on it. The poster reads…”

MARK
I cried because I had no shoes
till I saw a man who had no feet…

Mark shakes his head and turns around and walks away, a smile on his face as he looks around at the world with understanding eyes.

FADE OUT:

Jammy, the Singing Frog

Tags

Children's Story, Children's Writing, drama, entertainment, fiction, Short Fiction, Short Story, Stories, story, writing

Jammy, the frog was just a little tadpole when he first heard a human being singing a song. From that day onwards, Jammy was hooked on. As he attained his adulthood, Jammy knew what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to be a singer.

Jammy like most of his family members lived in the marshy land of Dharavi forest in the heart of the city of Mumbai. He lived in a serene environment full of flora and fauna. As an adult, Jammy realised that the music he has been listen to since he was a tadpole, came from the cabin of Kaka, the old caretaker of the forest, a kind-hearted old man who would play his radio the whole night to keep himself awake, unmindful of the little animals, birds and other living beings who would line up outside his little cabin to listen to the music.

Jammy’s family including his countless siblings hated him because Jammy would spend all his time practising singing. They had tried multiple times to tell him that frogs can’t sing, that frogs are only good at croaking. But Jammy wouldn’t listen.

Kali Koel was his best friend who too would often poke fun at him. She too had said to him that singing is for birds like her and she would sing aloud to put forth her point. Kali had a beautiful voice and Jammy would enjoy listening to her but still he believed he too could be a singer. Sometimes, Jammy would envy Kali and her beautiful voice.

Since most of his friends would run away as soon as he would start practising, Jammy would go deep in the forest to practise his singing. He had little idea that his so called singing would make other insects and reptiles to run far away from him. Even his enemy – Slippy the Snake would quickly slither away in his hole to escape the awful sound of Jammy’s croaking.

Ullu, the wise Owl, who often had to bear the brunt of Jammy’s singing, decided to confront him one fine day. “Jammy, my boy. Sometimes when I hear you scream, I feel like eating you up.”

Hearing this, Jammy cowered in fear and took a step back.

Ullu looked at him with pity. “You know I like your spirit but Jammy, you should understand frogs can’t sing.”

“Why not Ullu Uncle?” Jammy asked with tears in his eyes.

“Because you are a frog.” Ullu said crossly. “And frogs croak. They don’t sing.”

“Well, in that case Uncle,” Jammy said with determination, “I’ll prove them wrong.”

It so happened that in a faraway forest on the other side of the city, the birds and the animals of the forest decided to have a singing contest. Participants from various other places, forests and marshes were planning to attend the same.

Kali, the Koel had enrolled her name for the contest. She was very excited as she had teamed up with her mate, Kayu. But just a few days before the contest, Kayu had developed a sour throat and Kali was left without a partner.

As the day of the contest approached near, Kali started to fill the jitters. She became irritated by everything and everyone around her. She knew she had practised hard for the contest and now she was without a partner.

On the other hand, Jammy too had heard about the contest. But he knew that he won’t be able to travel all the way to the other side of the city even if he was able to enrol his name for the contest. His friends and family laughed at his desire to take part in the contest.

“Jammy, you good-for-nothing,” his father had screamed at him. “For a change, why don’t you think of your family rather than wasting your time and energy croaking all day?”

“Well father,” Jammy had replied, his head held high. “I am going to make you proud one day by my singing talent and that day you’ll realise that frogs just don’t croak, they can sing too.”

And Jammy had intensified his practise.

That night, Ullu the Owl, heard a different side of Jammy as he practised hard by the flowing stream. He could feel pain in his voice but more than that he realised Jammy’s true potential. He quickly flew to Kali’s nest.

“Kali, Kali, wake up.” Ullu called out.

“What happened Ullu Uncle?” Kali asked anxiously as Kayu too put his head out of the nest.

“I have a great idea.” Ullu said excitedly.

The next day, it took both Ullu and Kayu to convince Kali about Ullu’s plan. “But Ullu Uncle, how can I partner Jammy. We are both so different. And look at him,” Kali continued eyeing Jammy, “he can’t even sing.”

Jammy hearing her comment, put his head down in shame and slowly leapt towards the stream to wash away his sorrows.

“Wait Jammy,” Kayu called out. “Ullu Uncle is right. You’ll make a good partner for Kali.”

The next few days, Kali and Jammy practised together in the deep forest with just Ullu and Kayu for company. Both of them guided Kali and Jammy when they went wrong. In the beginning, it was a joke for Kali to have Jammy as her partner but as they practised, she realised that Ullu Uncle was right. They had a chance of winning the contest. They complimented each other perfectly.

On the day of the contest, Ullu Uncle decided to ferry Jammy on his back. A crowd had gathered to witness them go. Even Jammy’s family and friends were there to cheer for him. They had realised that if Ullu the wise Owl believed in Jammy, then surely there was some potential in him.

The other forest was filled with contestants and spectators who had made it to the designated pond for a night of festivity. Ullu flew towards the pond and landed as Jammy jumped down. Kali and Kayu too perched themselves on the ground and looked around. The area around the pond was decorated with beautiful fireflies hovering in the air and colourful vines draped over trees. It was as if the whole forest had come alive to witness a grand spectacle. Enmity was forgotten. They were there to enjoy the night.

One by one, the contestants performed. In between, a snake did his acrobatic act to entertain the crowd. Monu Monkey did a stand-up comedy while a few deer did a flamboyant catwalk amidst loud cheers. Every performance from the contestants and the other artists received a wild standing ovation.

“And the next contestants are, Kali, the Koel and Jammy, the frog.” The announcer called out wistfully.

A loud sound of dismay filled the air. “A Frog and a Koel together?” Someone asked with a sneer.

As Kali and Jammy took the stage, a loud boo filled the air. Jammy was heard broken. He took a step towards the exit. He knew he won’t be able to bear the humiliation thrown at him. Kali ran up and put her wing around his shoulder. “Come on Jammy, let’s show them what we can do.”

Jammy looked at her with sorrow. There was a huge grin on her face. “Yes, Jammy, we can do it.” She said again.

A smile appeared on Jammy’s face and he hugged her. “Yes, let’s show ‘em.”

Amidst the loud boos and catcalls, Kali and Jami took the stage again. Kali started singing in her slow regaling voice. As Kali’s voice filtered across through the din, the sound of boos mellowed down slowly. A complete silence settled over the forest except for Kali’s musical voice that filled the air serenading the crowd. Kali looked up to face the crowd as they stared back at her and then at Jammy who stood silently. As Kali paused, the crowd waited in anticipation. Boom. Various different sounds of drumbeats and other musical instruments filled the air. The crowd looked on with curiosity trying to find out who was playing the music. And as the beats continued, Kali began singing a fast song, increasing her tempo and Jammy put his head up so that others could see that he was doing the musical beats with his mouth and his fists. The beats were in rhythm to Kali’s singing.

This was the first time, the animals, insects and reptiles were witnessing a combo of beautiful singing and beat boxing, something which they had never witnessed before. They were mesmerised by it as some of them took to the floors to shake their legs. Once Kali and Jammy had finished the song and had taken a bow, the crowd noisily demanded an encore.  Kali and Jammy then put up another mind blowing performance much to the crowd’s delight. Jammy now knew his true calling as a beat boxer. He was no longer a croaking frog but a beatboxing frog and the crowd was loving him.

Ullu, the Owl clapped his wings in glee as the judges pronounced Kali and Jammy as the winners of the contest.

Back home, words had already spread about Jammy’s and Kali’s exploit on the stage. A huge crowd had gathered to give them a rousing welcome.

Jammy’s father hopped over to face him. “Son, you have made me proud today.” And he hugged Jammy as the others cheered for him and Kali.

Meanwhile Kaka, the old caretaker too had heard the din in the heart of the forest as the inhabitants of the forest celebrated Kali and Jammy’s victory. He lowered the volume of his radio trying to understand what was going on. He had no idea his radio had given birth to a new artist. He shook his head with a smile and increased the volume of his radio again.