SCREENPLAY: Raincoat

Scene 1: Sheena and Ankit were eventually going to shift to Indore after their wedding. How the couple would live, where, and when—this was being decided by the ‘fortune tellers’ from Ankit’s family. His family, along with Sheena was searching for good flats near Ankit’s office. Furnished, or semi-furnished flats. Sheena had a look at the office-bus route and desired a flat which is near to the bus-stop—which would not only save her time but would also be safe while walking during winters, summers or even rains. Her current home—where she was living with her parents—was also around 20 kilometres away from her workplace. She was hoping that the new flat after marriage can be somewhere mid-way between her and Ankit’s office. The area they were looking at didn’t have street lights. During monsoons and winters, the roads were empty and scary without electricity. It was hard to find any auto-rickshaw; and if at all found—it was hard to find one with a sober and decent driver who isn’t smoking or doesn’t look drunk. Eventually they liked a flat—and by ‘they’, I mean Ankit’s family—a flat in the outskirts, close to Ankit’s office, semi furnished and in a newly constructed society. Sheena’s bus stop was however 4 kilometres away—and office 24.

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‘So what, Sheena? Anyway, you will be commuting via office bus. It is important to have the flat near Ankit’s office—not yours. Imagine how much our poor baby Ankit would have to struggle to go to office? You just have to walk 4km and sit in the bus comfortably and reach the office, while our Ankit will be struggling during monsoon, summer and winters. After all, how much protection can an umbrella or a raincoat provide?’

‘But… the flat is around 3-4 km from my bus stop. If at all I get late and miss the bus or I fail to find an auto-rickshaw, what would I do? Also, the society isn’t populated. Majority of the flats are empty. What if Ankit is late from work…? I will be alone in the society.’

‘Hahaha! Are you kidding? If you miss the bus—consider it as your off day from work! What’s the big deal with this job anyway? Ankit’s job is important. And by the way, no one is going to harm you in this society. No one cares basically if you’re alone. You must learn to be alone, Sheena.’

‘Of course, Sheena. Anyway I am paying the rent so I should be deciding which flat to take, right? If you’re so concerned about missing the bus, I will drop you every morning to the bus stop.’

‘Hey, no, Ankit. Why do you have to drop Sheena? She should anyway be awake early morning to cook breakfast and prepare your lunchbox. Sheena, I hope you go by your own—else Ankit might get late for his office. Also, at least you will walk a bit and lose some weight.’

‘Yeah, Sheena. Why do you even need an auto-rickshaw? An umbrella or a raincoat would be sufficient for you, I guess.’

 

SCREENPLAY: The Reformatory

‘Ana, isn’t it nice when there’s someone to help you in the daily chores—and you get some spare time to finish the pending chores? Do you also feel that a woman’s first priority should be the kitchen?, asked Ana’s friend, Naina.

‘Of course not, Naina! It is good to have someone who can help us in chores. We save time! Why?’

 

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‘My sister-in-law, Gauri has come for a vacation to stay with us. She’s such an amazing cook. She has been cooking since two days while I go to work—after lending her hand in the basic chores, of course. I come back, we have dinner and we then keep gossiping all night. Yesterday, since it was a weekend, Gauri planned to cook a fancy dish and asked my husband to get the ingredients and stuff. We were in the kitchen when Gauri told me to go and take care of rest of the pending chores while she managed the lunch. I then planned to do the dusting, mop, sweep, do the laundry, and clean the washroom while she cooks. I also planned to do the dishes after we all have lunch. Husband came and asked Gauri where I was. I could hear them talking from the washroom though. Here’s what they said:

He asked, ‘Where is Naina?’

She said, ‘She is cleaning the washroom, brother.’

‘Why the hell is she cleaning washrooms? Why doesn’t she like to stay in the kitchen? Gauri, just ask her to get back in the kitchen and teach her some cooking and stuff. Why can’t she behave like a good woman? Why does she always have to avoid kitchen chores all the time?’

‘What’re you saying, bro? I only asked her to finish rest of the home chores. She anyway has been cooking every day. What’s wrong if I cook while she does other chores? She has been cleaning all day. You’re not helping her either. How much will she manage?’

‘Don’t disobey, Gauri. She should be doing all the cooking AND the home chores as well. She has to. And she should. Enough of her disobedience and misbehavior. I will have to take lessons and make her improve herself.’

‘What!? Improve? What problem does he have even though two women in the house are managing the home chores? And improve? What’s your place? A reformatory, Naina?’

‘That’s the problem, Ana. Doesn’t matter who the woman is—daughter or daughter-in-law—the men of this reformatory get to decide who will take care of which home chore and who won’t and how. Ironically, these are then same men who get their little egos hurt if they have to get a glass of water for themselves.’