Prayshchit

A film on alcoholism

Duration 30 minutes

Format 16 mm

 

Scene 1. Night. Ext.

 

Film opens on a drunken man walking on a pavement. It’s a scene of a small town in the cow belt. The man is so drunk that he is not able maintain his body balance. After every few wobbly steps, he halts and leans on to a lamppost or a wall. This time when he leaves a lamppost and heads towards the next one, he tumbles and falls down in a mud pit. A passing by car screech halts and reverses back. The car stops next to the man. A young man, whose name is Mohan, comes out of the car and helps the drunkard in getting up.

 

Mohan: kahan jana hai app ko?

Drunkard  jahannum mein.

Mohan chaliye mein aap ko chhod deta hoon.

Drunkard: kahan? Jahanum mein?

Mohan: nahi. Aapke ghar.

Drunkard:mera koi ghar nahin hai.

Mohan: kahin to rahte honge aap?

Drunkard: tumhen kiya. Kon ho tum mere? Chacha, mama, baap, bhai, kon ho tum?

Mohan: apna chhota bhai samajh leejiye.

Drunkard: bhai bante ho? Achha to ek adhdha le ke doge?

Mohan: nahi. Aaapne pahele hi bahut pee huyi hai.

Drunkard: bhut kahan pee hai? Daruwala ab udhaar bhi nahin deta. Meri naukari chali gayi hai na. Tu bhai banta hai; ek adhdha nahi dila sakta?

Mohan: nahin. Aapne pahele hi bahut pee huyi hai.

Drunkard: bhai banta hai.(starts walking away) arre jao. Bahut dekhen hein aise bhai.

 

Mohan: (thinks for a while) achha suno. Chalo dilvata hoon.

 

Drunkard:(turns back) dilvate ho?

Mohan: haan.

Drunkard:(spreads his hands to hug Mohan) tum mere bhai ho…..tum mere bhai ho.

Mohan: (holds his hand and walks towards the car) chalo.

 

Scene 2. Night. Int. car.

 

Mohan helps the Drunkard sit on the front seat and he himself takes the driver’s seat. The car starts moving.

 

Drunkard: bhut ache aadmi ho bhai. Meri bivi bahut buri aurat hai. Jeena haram kar diya hai mera. Usi ki vajay se peeta hoon. Tum peete ho?

 

Mohan: nahin.

Drunkard: kamal hai ! khud nahin peete, phir bhi mujhe pila rahe ho. Bhut ache aadmi ho.

 

The car halts in front of wine shop. The Mohan gets down form the car and helps the Drunkard to come out of the car. Mohan buys a bottle of whisky and pays for it. A glint appears in the Drunkard’s eyes. He tries snatching the bottle from Mohan’s hand. But Mohan doesn’t let the bottle go out of his hand. He holds the bottle in one hand and with his other hand he holds the Drunkard’s hand.

 

Mohan: chalo. Whan pichhe bait ker peene ki jagah hai.(he pulls the Drunkard along)

Drunkard: tumhen ye sub kaise pata?

MOHAN: chalo batata hoon.

 

Scene 3. Night. Backyard of the wine shop.

 

There are few temporary sitting arrangements in the backyard. Some people are seen sitting on benches and stools. Mohan takes the drunkard to a corner table. They sit facing each other. A boy comes and places two glasses and some water on the table.

Mohan shakes the bottle and opens the lid.

 

Drunkard: bottle kholni bhi aati hai. Pete ho, to sharmate kiyun ho? Piyo khatam hogi to aur mangwa lengen.

 

Mohan:(pours whisky in a glass and gives it to the Drunkard) nahin. mein nahin peeta. Aap piyo.

Drunkard:(takes the glass and gulps down the whisky in one go and returns the glass to the Mohan) Bottle bhi kholni aati hai. Peg bhi banana aata hai. To peete bhi hoge.

Mohan: nahin. Mera ek dost bhut peeta tha aap hi ki tarhan. Usko dekh ker seekha.

Drunkard: kabhi milvao aapne dost se. khoob jamegi jab mil baithenge do deewane yaar.

Mohan: wo ab is duniyan mein nahin hai.

Drunkard: ch ch ch.. kiyun, kiya hua that use?

Mohan: meine maar diya use?

Drunkard: apne dost ko maar diya(picks up the bottle and pours a stiff one with his shaky hand) kaise aadmy ho tum? (takes a big gulp)

Mohan: uski maut ka bahut dukh hai mujhe. Mein use bacha sakta tha.

Drunkard: wo beemar tha kiya?

Mohan: haan wo beemar tha.

Drankard: kiya beemari thi use?

Mohan: sharaab peene ki beemari.

Drunkard: sharab koi beemar nahin hai bahi. Ye to dawa hai, gum galat kerne ki.

Mohan: wo bhi yahi kahta tha.

Drunkard: aur tumne use maar diya. Mujhe bhi maroge kiya?

Mohan: nahin. Mein aapko uski kahani sunana chahta hoon.

Drunkard: haan…haan sunao. Mein bhi ye kahani sunna chahta hoon. Sunao.

Mohan: uska naam tha Vijay. College mein mere shaath padta tha.

 

Flash back. Shots of Mohan and Vijay in the collage. Vijay is seen laughing, playing cricket, talking to his girl friend. Over the montage of shot we hear VO of  Mohan.

VO: Wo college mein mere saath padta tha. Hamensha wo class mein top kerta. Cricket team ka captain tha. Sub kahte the wo kuchh bun ke dekhayega.

 

Cut back to Drunkard and Mohan.

 

Drunkard: aur tune use maar diya? Kaisa dost hai tu?

Mohan: use Meeta naam ki ek ladki se piyaar ho gaya tha.

 

Flash back.

 

Vijay and the girl are seen together. They are walking together in a garden. Vijay plucks a flower and tucks it in to the girl’s hair lock. The girl looks at him coyly and grins.

 

Over this scene we hear the Mohan’s voice.

 

VO:(Mohan) wo us ladki per puri tarhan fida ho gaya tha. Humensha uski baatein kerta tha.

 

Cut back to Drunkard and Mohan.

 

Drunkard: per wo to sharabi tha. Use koyi ladki kaise piyaar kerti?

 

Mohan: tab wo jayada nahin peeta tha. Kabhi kabhar yaaron doston ke saath thodi bahut pee leta tha.

 

Drunkard: to wo piyakkad kaise bun gaya?

 

Mohan: us ladki ki shaadi kahin aur ho gayi. Tabse bahut peene laga.

 

Drunkard: ch…ch…ch…bechara. Aisa hi hota hai. Koyi bada gum hota hai to hi koyi peeta hai. Ye baat her koyi nahi samajhta. Tum samajhte ho. Tum ache admi ho.

 

Mohan: mujhe bhi lagta tha mein use samjhta hoon. Mujhe lagta tha wo Devdas hai jo apni paro ke gum mein peeta hai.

 

Drunkard: wah! Apni Paro ke gum mein peeta tha. Wah! Kiya aaddmi tha.

 

Mohan: usne naukri per jana bhi chhod diya tha.. Bus din raat sharaab pita raheta.

 

Drunkard: wo naukari bhi kerta tha?

 

Mohan: Haan. Bank mein.

 

Drunkard: mein bhi naukari kerta tha mill mein. Mujhe naukari se nikaal diya salon ne.

 

Mohan: use bhi suspend ker diya tha. Uske baad Vijay ke gharwalon ko laga ki uski shadi kerwa deni chahiye. shaadi ho jayegi to wo  sudher jayega.

 

Flash back.

 

Vijay’s wife is trying to snatch whisky bottle from him. Vijay pushes her away. She falls down on the floor. Vijay walks out of the room leaving behind his newly married bride sobbing, lying on the floor.

 

Over the scene we hear Mohan’s voice.

VO: per shaadi ke baad bhi Vijay ne peena nahin chhoda. Waise hi din raat sharab peeta tha. Kuchh dino ke baad uski bivi apne mayke gayi aur phir kabhi lot ker vapas nahin aayi.

 

Cut back to Drunkard and the Mohan.

 

Drunkard: achha hua lot ker nahi aayi. Nahin to uska jeena haram ker deti. Jaise meri bivi ne mera jeena haram kiya hua hai.

 

Mohan: uske gharwalon ne bhi usse nata tod liya.

 

Drunkard:use ghar se nikaal diya tha?

 

Mohan: nahin ghar se to nahin nikala per usse baat cheet kerna bilkul band ker diya. Use jeb kharch bhi dena bund ker diya.

 

Drunkard: saari duniya ek jaisi hai. Koi kisi ka gum nahin samjhta. Bivi bhi nahin. Maan baap bhi nahin.

 

Mohan: Vijay bhi yahi kaheta tha. Aur mujhe bhi aisa hi lagta tha. Isiliye wo jab bhi sharaab ke liye paise mangta, mein use paise de deta tha.

 

Drunkard (touches Mohan’s chin) kitna achha aadmi hai tu. Ye khatam ho jayegi to aur dilwa dega?

 

Mohan: haan.

 

Drunkard: to sunao aage kiya hua?

 

Mohan: ek din Vijay sharaab ke nashe mein dhut us ladki ke shasuraal ja pahuncha.

 

Flash back

 

In a heavily drunken state, Vijay is seen yelling outside the girl’s house.

 

Vijay: meri zindagi berbaad kerke chain se sone wali. Ek baar apni surat to dikha mujhe. Baher aa  dekh..

 

Cut to interior of the house. The girl’s husband looks furious. The girl is trying to stop him, but he pushes her away and rushes out of the room.

 

Husband:(while running out) es baar ye zinda bach ke nahin jayega.

 

As the husband comes out of his room, some of his family members too join him. All of them come out in the street and bash Vijay with sticks and iron rods.

Vijay’s whole body starts bleeding profusely. An elderly man comes to Vijay’s rescue. He stops the enraged family members from hitting Vijay further.

 

Old man:bus bus. Mur mura gaya to jhamela ho jayega.

 

Cut back to Mohan and the Drunkard.

 

Mohan: bahut chotein lagi thi use. Share badan pe. Doctor ne kaha…

 

Flash back

 

Vijay is lying on the hospital bed. He is bandaged from head to toe. His parents and Mohan are listening to the doctor.

Doctor: eski chotein to theek ho jayengi. Lekin jyaada sharaab peene se eske liver itna kharab ho chukka hai ki agar esne zara bhi aur sharab peeyi to eska bachna mushkil hai. Eski sharab chhudwane ke liye ese nasha bandi kendre mein bharti kerana hoga aur saath mein eski beemarion ka ilaaj shuru kerna hoga.

 

Cut back to Drunkard and Mohan.

 

Mohan: Vijay ko nasha bandi kendre mein bharti kervaya gaya. Saath mein uske liver ka bhi ilaaj shuru ho gaya. Shaayad wo theek ho jata. Per meri nasamjhi ki vajah se wo mara gaya.

 

Drunkard: kiya kiya tumne?

Mohan: sharab na milne ki vajah se Vijay ki haalat itni kharab ho jati thi ki mujhse dekhi nahi jati thi. Uska paseena chhutne lagta, sara badan kampne lagta. Wo jab bhi mujhe akela dekhta, sharab ke liye gidgidane lagta. Mujhe uspe daya aa jati. Aur mein use chhupa ke sharab la deta. Per ek din doctor ne meri chori pakad li.

 

 

Flash back

 

Vijay is lying on the bed with his face covered. But under the cover, something is going on which appears abnormal. The cover over Mohan’s head goes up and down after brief intervals. Mohan is sitting on a chair next to Vijay’s bed. Doctor enters the room with a nurse. He comes to Vijay.

 

Doc: kaise ho Vijay?

 

Vijay remains static. Mohan turns pale. The nurse gently pulls the sheet from Vijay’s face. A strong whiff of whisky spreads in the atmosphere. Doctor gets suspicious. He comes close to Vijay and sniffs his mouth. Then lifts Vijay’s pillow and pulls out the whisky bottle. 

Doc: tum sharab pee rahe ho? Tum yahan merna chahte ho?

 

The doctor turns t Mohan.

 

Doc: aur tum yahan baithe ese sharab peete dekh rahe ho? Kaun laya ye sharab? Tum?

 

 Mohan looks highly embarrassed.

 

Mohan: do..do.. doctor saab…baat ye hai….

 

Doc: mujhe tumhari koyi baat nahin sunni. Tum mere kamre mein aao. Mujhe tumse kuchh kahna hai. Aao mere saath.

 

The doctor walks out of the room. Mohan follows him. The nurse gives Vijay some medicine and a look of annoyance and leaves the room.

 

Doctor’s room. Int. Day.

 

Doctor and Mohan enter the room. The doctor asks the Mohan to sit on a chair and he himself takes a seat across the table.

 

Doc: tum Vijay ke dost ho?

Mohan: jee haan.

Doc:sharm nahin aati tumhen ye kahte huye ki tum uske dost ho?

Mohan: doctor saab wo bahut zid kerta hai. Uski halat mujhse dekhi nahi jati.

Doc: uski halat tum jante ho kaisi hai. Tum jante ho sharab uske liye zaher hai. Sharab ki ek boond bhi uske liye zaher hai. Phir bhi tum use sharab laker dete ho? Aur kahete ho ki tum uske dost ho? Agar wo mer gaya to uski maut ke zimmewar tum howoge.

 

Mohan: uski beemari sharab nahin kuchh aur hai doctor saab. Agar aaj use Meeta mil jaye to wo aaj se hi sharab chhod sakta hai. Per Meeta use mil nahin sakti aur wo sharab chhod nahin sakta.

 

Doc: kiya bacwas ker rahe ho. Hum Vijay ka case jante hein. Hum sirf dawaon se hi uska ilaaj nahin ker rahe, hum counseling bhi ker rahe hein. Yani ki use summati bhi dene ki koshish ker rahe hein. Hum jante hein ki wo Meeta se milne se pahele bhi sharab peeta tha. Aur aaj uski es halat ke liye Meeta nahin sharb zimmewar hai. Aaj use Meeta mil bhi jaye to bhi wo sharab nahin chhod sakta. Jaise hum pani ke bina nahin reh sakte, waise hi wo sharab ke bina nahin reh sakta. Aaj sharab peena uski sharirik zarurat ban gayi hai. Wo aaj Meeta ke beena reh sakta hai, per sharab ke bina nahin. Wo beemar hai. Use es beemari ke liye ilaaj chahiye. Ghar walon aur doston ki sahanubhuti chahiye. Jaise ki ek beemar admi ko chahiye hoti hai. Aur tum uski dost bunte ho, phir bhi use sharab la ker de rahe ho. Sharam aani chahiye tumeh.

 

Mohan: aage se aisi galti nahi hogi doctor saab.

Doc: uske dost ho to dost ka faraz nibhao. Es beemari ke ilaaj mein uski madad karo. Beemari ko badane mein nahin.

Mohan: jee samajh gaya. Ab aisi galti nahi hogi.

 

Vijay’s room in the de-adiction center. Day.

 

Vijay is having withdrawal symptoms. He is shaking and sweating badly. One nurse is holding him another nurse is giving him an injection. The Mohan enters the room. The nurses finish their work and leave the room. Vijay looks sheepishly at the Mohan.

 

Vijay: Mohan mere ko yahaan se le chul. Mere ko yahaan nahi rahena.

 

Mohan: tujhe ilaaz pura hone tak yahin rahena hai. Tu yahan se teek hoke hi jayega.

 

Vijay: tu janta hai meri asli beemari kiya hai.

Mohan: haan ab mein janta hoon tumhari asli beemari kiya hai. Aur ye bhi janta hoon ki es beemari ka ilaaj hai. Tu theek ho jayega Vijay. Bus tujhe thodi himmat kerni hogi.

Vijay: himmat? Kaisi himmat?

Mohan: college mein jaise tum wicket pe jame rahete the chahe kitni bhi khaternak balling kiyun na ho. Her difficult se difficult sawal ka jawab nikaal lete the. Vaise hi tujhe yahan jame rahena hoga, chahe kitni bhi takleef kiyun na ho. Zindgi ke es mushkil sawaal ka bhi javab nikaal ke dikha do VIjay. Sharaab ki es beemari ko yahin chhod ke hi yahaana se baher nikalna.

 

Vijay: theek hai yahin rahunga jab tak sharaab peena puri tarhan nahi chhod deta. Per ye aadat chhutne mein thoda time lagega. Dhire dhire hi chhutegi. Tu mere ko puri bottle nahi addha lake diya ker.

 

Mohan: doctor kahete hein tere liye addha to kiya ek boond bhi zaher hai.

 

Vijay: kuchh bhi bukte hein ye doctor log. Tu mera dost hai. Tu meri pareshani ko samajta hai. Mein dheere dheere chhod dunga. Addha..bus ek adhdha.

 

Mohan: nahin Vijay ab se mein tumhare liye sharab bilkul nahi launga. Kabhi nahi.

 

Vijay: Mohan meri halat pe dya ker. In doctors ki baton mein mat aa. Mujhe sharab nahi mili to mein mer jaunga.

 

Mohan: tu piyega to mer jayega.

Vijay: nahin piyunga to bhi mur jaunga.Ek adhdha hi to maag raha hoon mohan.

Mohan: achha theek hai mein tujhe laker doonga. Per ek shart per. Tujhe Meeta ko hamesha ke liye bhulna hoga.

 

Vijay: bhool jaunga. Kasam khata hoon mein khabhi use yaad nahin keroonga. Uska naam bhi nahin loonga. Theek hai? Ab to laker doge?

 

Mohan: doctor ne theek hi kaha. Tumhari beemari Meeta nahin, sharab hai.

 

Cut back to Drunkard and the Mohan.

 

Mohan: us din mere ko samajh aa gaya ki mera hero Devdas, Paro ki vajah se nahin, sarab ki vajah se mara tha. Mera dost Vijay aur mera hero Devdas dono hi beemar the. Unhen sharab ki nahin, ilaaj ki zaroorat thi. Us din meine Vijay ko sharab la ker nahin di. Aur usi din Vijay shaam ko wahan se chhup ke bhaag gaya. Meine aur Vijay ke baba ne use bahut doonda. Per wo nahin mila. Doosre din ek gadde mein uski laash mili aur saath mein padi ek khali bottle.

 

Drunkard (pushes the bottle away) to tumne mujhe kiyun sharab leke di?

 

Mohan: mein tumhein Vijay ki kahani sunana chahta tha.

 

Drunkard: tumhen lagata hai Vijay theek ho sakta tha.

Mohan: 100%. Es beemari ka ilaaj hai. Bus ilaaj pura hone tak nasha bundi kendre mein rukna zaroori hai.

 

For some time both of them remain silent.

 

Mohan: bolo chaloge mere saath ilaaj kerwane?

 

Drunkard: tumhein kiya milega mujhe bacha ke.

 

Mohan: Prayschit. Vijay ko na bacha pane ka prayschit.

 

Scene. Morning. Int/ext. de-addiction center.

 

Mohan and the Drunkard enter the de-addiction center.

Cut to the doctor’s room. The doctor is flipping through a file. Mohan and the Drunkard enter his room.

 

Mohan: namaskar doctor saheb.

Doc: namaskar.

Mohan: doctor saab ye Ramesh hai. Esco bhi Vijay wali beemari hai. Elaaj kervana chahta hai.

Doc: tumne enhein yahan laker bahut hi achha kaam kiya hai. Mager yaad rahe enhein ‘wo’ laker mat dena.

 

Dissolve to Mohan jogging on a road early in the morning. A small schoolgirl is seen coming towards him holding a rose in her hand. She stops near him and offers him the rose. Mohan looks pleasantly surprised. While talking the flower from the girl he asks..

Mohan: Mujhe kiyun?

Girl: maa kaheti hai aap bhawan hein. Apne baba ko bacha liya. Ab wo roz kaam pe jaate hein. Aur mein bhi ab school jati hoon.

 

Mohan: tum Ramesh ki beti ho?

 

Girl: haan. Mein rose aapke liye phool laya keroongi.

 

Mohan looks touched as he looks at the flower.

 

Freeze frame. Titles roll.