Chand Ki Roshni (The Moonlight’s Glow)

Episode 9

Scene 1 (Sara getting ready for dinner)

(Shaam ka waqt hai, Sara apne kamre mein tiyar ho rahi hoti hai. Aaj uski khubsurati kuch alag hi lag rahi hoti hai. Uske chehre par ek halka sa blush aur thodi nervousness hoti hai. Itni der mein Zoya haste haste kamre mein aati hai.)
(It’s evening, and Sara is getting ready in her room. Today, her beauty looks extra special. A light blush and some nervousness show on her face. At that moment, Zoya enters the room, laughing.)

Zoya (teasingly):
“Ohooo! Aj toh lagta hai Ali bhai qazi ko abhi bula kar nikkah parhwa lenge!”
*(Oh wow! It looks like Ali bhai will call the Qazi today and have the nikkah right away!)
(She laughs playfully.)

Sara (blushing and playfully punching Zoya):
“Bas kar do, Zoya! Dopahar se tang kar rahi ho.”
(Stop it, Zoya! You’ve been teasing me since the afternoon.)

Zoya (smiling warmly):
“Sachi, aaj tum bohat achi lag rahi ho, Aapa. Jaise koi shehzadi .”
*(Honestly, you look so beautiful today, Aapa. Like a real princess.)
(She looks at Sara admiringly.)

Sara (softly smiling, feeling a little shy):
“Acha chhodo, itni tareef mat karo. Tum mujhe zyada conscious kar rahi ho.”
(Okay, stop it now. Don’t praise me so much. You’re making me more self-conscious.)

Zoya (with affection):
“Nahi yaar, jo sach hai woh sach hai. Aaj toh lagta hai Ali bhai ki saansein ruk jaayengi tumhe dekh kar!”
*(No, seriously, the truth is the truth. It seems like Ali bhai will stop breathing when he sees you today!)

Sara (smiling, shaking her head):
“Pagal ho tum, Zoya!”
*(You’re crazy, Zoya!)

Zoya (gently squeezing Sara’s hand):
“Main toh bas yeh keh rahi hoon ki tum bohat special ho, aur Ali bhai bohat lucky hain.”
*(I’m just saying that you’re really special, and Ali bhai is very lucky.)

(Sara looks at her sister with gratitude, touched by her words, as they share a warm, sisterly moment.)

Sara (softly):
“Shukriya, Zoya. Tum ho na mere saath, toh sab kuch theek lagta hai.”
*(Thank you, Zoya. When you’re with me, everything feels just right.)

Zoya (with a playful smile):
“Hamesha hoon! Aur jab Ali bhai tumhe zyada tang karenge na, toh mujhe bula lena!”
*(I’m always here! And when Ali bhai bothers you too much, just call me!)

(They both laugh as Zoya gives Sara a quick hug, the bond of sisterhood shining through in their playful yet loving exchange.)

Scene 2 (Dinner time)

(Dinner ka waqt hai aur Ali ke parents Sara ke ghar aate hain. Dono families mazeed khana enjoy kar rahi hoti hain. Conversation chal rahi hoti hai, aur Zoya apni usual teasing mode mein hoti hai.)
(It’s dinner time, and Ali’s parents come to Sara’s home. Both families are enjoying the meal, and the conversation flows as Zoya is in her usual teasing mode.)

Ali ki Ammi (Zubeda) khana tareef karte hue):
“Bhai, khana toh bohat hi zabardast banaya hai. Is mein se hamari Sara ne kya banaya hai?”
(The food is absolutely wonderful. Which of these dishes did our Sara make?)

(Is se pehle ke Sara ki Ammi (Razia) kuch keh paatein, Zoya baat kaat deti hai.)
(Before Sara’s mother (Razia) can say anything, Zoya cuts in.)

Zoya (teasingly):
“Humari apa toh bas padhayi karti rehti hain! Kitchen mein apni marzi se hi jati hain.”
(Our sister only focuses on her studies! She goes into the kitchen when she feels like it.)

(Sara ki Ammi Zoya ko ghoor kar dekhti hain aur phir hans kar baat samhalti hain.)
(Sara’s mother looks at Zoya with a warning glance and then laughs, trying to smooth things over.)

Sara ki Ammi (Razia):
“Aray, woh parhai ko zyada ahmiyat deti hai. Har saal top karti hai aur abhi engineering ke last year mein hai. Is liye mein ne kaha ke pehle padhayi karlo, khana wana toh sari zindagi banana hai. Per jab bhi banati hai, bohat acha banati hai. Sab kuch aata hai usko, haath mein bohat zaiqa hai.”
(Oh, she gives a lot of importance to her studies. She tops every year and is in her final year of engineering now. That’s why I told her to focus on studies first; cooking can be done for a lifetime. But whenever she cooks, she does it really well. She knows everything, and her food is very tasty.)

(Ali ki Ammi ke chehre par thodi disappointment aati hai, lekin woh chupati hain.)
(Ali’s mother shows a slight hint of disappointment, but she hides it.)

Ali ki Ammi (Zubeda, thoda typical andaz mein):
“Bhai, padhayi toh theek hai, lekin shaadi ke baad toh yeh sab karna hota hai. Toh abhi se aadat daalni shuru karein toh behtar hota hai.”
(Studies are fine, but after marriage, it’s these things that matter. It’s better if she starts getting used to it now.)

(Razia ko samajh aa jaata hai ke Zubeda kaafi typical soch rakhte hain aur shayad Sara ko padhai jaari rakhne nahi deingi. Lekin woh chup rehti hain.)
(Razia realizes that Zubeda has quite a traditional mindset and may not want Sara to continue her studies. But she stays quiet.)

Ali ki Ammi (Zubeda, apni baat ko aur barhawa deti hain):
“Waise humare ghar mein bohat servants hain, lekin apne husband ke liye main khud hi khana banati hoon. Unko mere haath ka khana bohat pasand hai.”
(By the way, we have a lot of servants in our house, but I always cook for my husband myself. He really loves the food I make.)

(Sara ki Ammi ko Zubeda ka typical andaz pasand nahi aata, lekin unka lehja bohat tehzeeb se rehta hai.)
(Sara’s mother doesn’t like Zubeda’s typical attitude, but she maintains her politeness.)

Sara ki Ammi (Razia, thoda smile karte hue):
“Ji, har kisi ka apna tareeqa hota hai. Sara ko parhai ka bohat shauq hai, toh hum uska support kar rahe hain. Lekin shaadi ke baad jo sab ka saath hoga, woh bhi zaroor karegi.”
(Yes, everyone has their own way. Sara is very passionate about her studies, so we are supporting her. But after marriage, she’ll definitely do whatever is needed.)

(Zubeda ke chehre par ek forced smile aati hai, lekin woh clear karne ki koshish karti hain.)
(Zubeda gives a forced smile but tries to clarify.)

Ali ki Ammi (Zubeda):
“Ji ji, woh toh hai. Waise bhi shaadi ke baad sab kuch adjust ho hi jaata hai.”
*(Yes, of course. After marriage, everything falls into place anyway.)

(Sara yeh sab sunti hai, lekin chup rehti hai, thoda uncomfortable feel karte hue. Zoya kaafi chup hai, lekin uske chehre par ek teasing smile hai.)
(Sara listens quietly, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Zoya is unusually quiet but has a teasing smile on her face.)

Scene 3: Zoya’s Outburst After Dinner

(Dinner ke baad, jab Ali ke family chali jaati hai, Zoya phone uthati hai aur Danish ko call karti hai. Us waqt Danish aur Ali office mein hotay hain. Jaise hi Danish phone uthata hai, Zoya ghusse mein bolna shuru karti hai.)
(After dinner, once Ali’s family leaves, Zoya picks up the phone and calls Danish. At that time, Danish and Ali are together in the office. As soon as Danish picks up the call, Zoya starts speaking angrily.)

Zoya (angry tone mein):
“Kahan hai tumhara dost Danish?! Library mein toh bare wade kar raha tha! ‘I will stand with you this, I will stand with you that,’ lekin uski ammi toh kuch aur hi nikli!”
(Where is your friend, Danish?! In the library, he was making all these promises! ‘I will stand with you this, I will stand with you that,’ but his mom turned out to be something else entirely!)

(Sara Zoya ko dathti hai lekin Zoya chup nahi hoti.)
(Sara scolds Zoya, but Zoya doesn’t stop.)

Sara (whispering sternly):
“Zoya, chup ho ja! Tum zarurat se zyada bol rahi ho.”
(Zoya, stop it! You’re saying too much.)

Zoya (ignoring Sara):
“Nahi, Sara! Tumhe sunna chahiye yeh sab! Danish, tumne speaker pe lagaya hai kya? Sunao Ali ko bhi, kya uske sab wade sirf dikhawa thay?”
(No, Sara! You need to hear this! Danish, have you put the phone on speaker? Let Ali hear too, were all his promises just for show?)

(Danish ne phone speaker pe lagaya hota hai, aur Ali sab sun raha hota hai. Ali finally intervene karta hai.)
(Danish has indeed put the phone on speaker, and Ali is listening to everything. Ali finally intervenes.)

Ali (serious tone mein):
“Zoya! Meine us waqt jo kaha tha, us pe ab bhi qaim hoon. Jo maine library mein kaha, woh mere dil ki baat thi. Ab Sara ko phone do, mujhe us se baat karni hai.”
(Zoya! What I said back then, I still stand by it. What I said in the library was from my heart. Now give the phone to Sara, I want to talk to her.)

(Zoya thodi hesitantly phone Sara ko deti hai.)
(Zoya hesitantly gives the phone to Sara.)

Ali (softly, but firmly):
“Sara, I love you. Tumhe mujh pe bharosa hai na? Main apni baat par qaim hoon, aur main apni mom se baat karunga. Tum tension mat lo.”
(Sara, I love you. You trust me, right? I stand by what I said, and I will talk to my mom. Don’t worry.)

Sara (softly, but with trust):
“Ali, mujhe tum par poora bharosa hai. Main jaanti hoon tum apni baat par qaim rahoge.”
(Ali, I completely trust you. I know you will stand by your word.)

(Zoya still tries to jump in, worried.)
(Zoya, still worried, tries to jump in.)

Zoya (interrupting):
“Par Sara! Tum yeh sab kaise ignore kar sakti ho? Shaadi ke baad agar sab kuch usi tarah chala toh?”
(But Sara! How can you ignore all this? What if things stay the same after marriage?)

(Sara gently stops Zoya from saying more.)
(Sara gently stops Zoya from continuing.)

Sara (calmly):
“Zoya, bas karo. Mujhe Ali par bharosa hai.”
(Zoya, stop. I trust Ali. )

(Ali thoda relax hota hai, aur phir gently Zoya ko address karta hai.)
(Ali relaxes a little and then gently addresses Zoya.)

Ali (with a smile in his voice):
“Thanks, Sara, for trusting me. Aur Zoya, tum bhi tension mat lo. Main tumhari behan ko hamesha khush rakhunga. Ye mera wada hai.”
(Thanks, Sara, for trusting me. And Zoya, don’t worry either. I’ll always keep your sister happy. That’s my promise.)

(Zoya ko ab bhi thoda shak hota hai, lekin Ali ki baat sun ke woh thoda relax karti hai.)
(Zoya still has some doubts, but hearing Ali, she relaxes a little.)

Zoya (slightly teasing but still worried):
“Ali bhai, agar meri behan ko zara sa bhi pareshaan kiya na, toh samajh lo, mujhe samjhana mushkil hoga!”
(Ali bhai, if you even make my sister a little upset, just know, dealing with me won’t be easy!)

Ali (laughing slightly):
“Zoya, mujhe tumse darte darte shaadi karni padegi lagta hai. Par theek hai, tumhari behan ko hamesha muskurata dekhna meri responsibility hai.”
(Zoya, it seems like I’ll have to marry Sara while being scared of you. But okay, keeping your sister smiling will always be my responsibility.)

(Sara smile karti hai aur phone rakhti hai, as she feels reassured. Zoya ab bhi thodi skeptical hai, lekin deep down usko bhi Ali par bharosa hone lagta hai.)
(Sara smiles and puts the phone down, feeling reassured. Zoya is still a bit skeptical, but deep down, she starts to trust Ali too.)

Scene 4: Sara’s Parents in Their Bedroom

(Same raat, Sara ke parents apne bedroom mein hotay hain. Sara ke father chhup chap ghabrahat mein chal rahe hote hain, aur unke chehre pe fikr saaf nazar aati hai. Finally, wo apni wife se baat shuru karte hain.)
(That same night, Sara’s parents are in their bedroom. Her father is pacing with worry, his concern clearly visible. He finally speaks to his wife.)

Sara’s Father (worried):
“Bhai, Ali ki maa toh bohat typical lagti hain. Tumne dekha na kaise har baat mein old-fashioned ideas the unke?”
(Ali’s mother seems very typical. Did you see how she had such old-fashioned ideas about everything?)

Sara’s Mother (nodding slightly):
“Haan, mujhe bhi mehsoos howa tha. Unke expressions se lag raha tha ke woh Sara ke study ke bare mein khush nahi thi.”
(Yes, I felt it too. From her expressions, it seemed like she wasn’t happy about Sara’s study plans.)

Sara’s Father (stopping, looking deeply concerned):
“Mujhe aise ghar mein shaadi nahi karni jahan meri beti ko ghotan mehsoos ho.
(I don’t want to marry my daughter into a family where she feels suffocated.

Sara’s Mother (trying to calm him):
“Aray, ap kaisi baatein kar rahe hain? Ghotan kaisi? Har ghar ka apna tareeqa hota hai. Adjust karna parta hai.”
(What are you saying? Suffocated? Every family has their way of doing things. Adjustments are part of marriage.)

Sara’s Father (frustrated):
“Adjust karna alag baat hai, lekin yeh… tumne suna nahi unhone kya kaha? Woh Ali ke liye ek typical biwi chahti hain! Job toh door ki baat, Sara ko parhne bhi nahi denge woh.”
(Adjusting is different, but this… didn’t you hear what she said? She wants a typical wife for Ali! Forget a job, they won’t even let Sara study further.)

(Sara ki mother thodi uneasy hoti hain, kyun ke usay bhi yeh baat samajh mein aa rahi hoti hai.)
(Sara’s mother becomes uneasy as she understands the gravity of the situation.)

Sara’s Mother (softly):
“Haan, baat toh apki theek hai. Sara ke liye uski parhai aur career kitna important hai, ye hum dono jaante hain.”
(Yes, you’re right. We both know how important her education and career are to her.)

Sara’s Father (passionately):
“Bilkul! Aur tum dekhna, uski maa usse aage parhne nahi deengi! Mujhe apni beti ko kisi aise ghar mein nahi bhejna jahan uski khushiyan chhin li jaayein. Tum samajh rahi ho na meri baat?”
(Exactly! And you’ll see, Ali’s mother won’t let her study further! I don’t want to send my daughter to a house where her happiness will be taken away. Do you understand what I’m saying?)

Sara’s Mother (sighing, trying to find middle ground):
“Haan, lekin ab rishta aise toor bhi nahi sakte. Shaadi ke baad baatein badal bhi sakti hain. Agar Sara ko humari zarurat hui, toh hum hain na uske saath.”
(Yes, but let’s not end things so hastily. Things can change after marriage. If Sara ever needs us, we’ll be there for her.)

Sara’s Father (firmly):
“Nahi! Main yeh risk nahi le sakta. Mera dil nahi maan raha. Sara ki khushi aur uske sapne humare liye sab kuch hain. Main apni beti ko aise takleef mein nahi dekh sakta.”
(No! I can’t take that risk. My heart isn’t at ease. Sara’s happiness and dreams mean everything to us. I can’t bear to see my daughter troubled like this.)

(Sara ki maa thodi aur serious hoti hain, ab unhein bhi yeh baat samajh aane lagti hai ke unke husband ki fikr genuine hai.)
(Sara’s mother becomes more serious, realizing that her husband’s worry is genuine.)

Sara’s Mother (softly, yet worried):
“Par, phir hum yeh rishta kaise torenge? Baat pehle hi aage badh chuki hai.”
(But then how do we break off this proposal? Things have already progressed so much.)

Sara’s Father (determined):
“Kuch bhi ho, tum unhein mana kar do. Main apni beti ko us ghar mein nahi bhej sakta jahan wo apne sapne choorday. Main nahi chahta ke uski muskurahat chhup jaaye kisi ke expectations ke neeche.”
(No matter what, just tell them we can’t go ahead with this. I won’t send my daughter to a house where she has to give up on her dreams. I don’t want her smile to be buried under anyone’s expectations.)

(Sara ki maa kuch nahi kehti, lekin unke chehre pe bhi fikr aur pareshani ka saya hota hai.)
(Sara’s mother doesn’t say anything, but her face reflects the same worry and concern as her husband.)