The Proposal: Dil-e-Nadaan

Episode 3

Scene 1: Zayaan aur Saad ki Hilarious Call
(Setting: Zayaan apne room mein ghoom raha hai, phone haath mein le kar. Woh Saad ko call lagata hai apni tension share karne ke liye, lekin baat kuch aur hi mod le leti hai.)

Zayaan (frustrated):
“Saad, mujhe tujhe ek zaruri baat batani hai.”
(Saad, I need to tell you something important.)

Saad (curiously):
“Kya hua, bhai? Teri itni serious tone sun ke lag raha hai jaise duniya ka akhir hone wala hai!”
(What happened, bro? Hearing your serious tone, it feels like the world is ending!)

Zayaan (annoyed):
“Dadi ne meri shaadi fix kar di hai.”
(Dadi has fixed my marriage.)

Saad (excited):
“Shaadi? Wah! Kis se? Batao, batao!”
(Marriage? Wow! With whom? Tell me, tell me!)

Zayaan (dryly):
“Anaya se.”
(With Anaya.)

Saad (shocked but amused):
“Anaya? Woh tumhari cousin?”
(Anaya? Your cousin?)

Zayaan (irritated):
“Haan, wohi.”
(Yes, her.)

Saad (teasing):
“Arre wah, kamal ho gaya! Tumhari life set ho gayi. Par tum itne dukhi kyun ho? Oh wait, kahin is liye toh nahi ke uske lambe lambe daanth aur nakhun hain?”
(Wow, amazing! Your life’s sorted. But why are you so upset? Oh wait, is it because she has long teeth and nails?)

Zayaan (angrily):
“Bakwas mat karo, Saad!”
(Don’t talk nonsense, Saad!)

Saad (laughing):
“Arre, toh bata phir problem kya hai?”
(Alright, then tell me what the problem is.)

Zayaan (seriously):
“Yaar, wo meri type ki nahi hai. Ek dum gharelu larki hai. Har waqt khana banana, ghar ki safai karna, bas yehi sab aata hai usko.”
(Bro, she’s not my type. She’s a completely homely girl. Always cooking, cleaning the house, that’s all she knows.)

Saad (pauses for a moment, then thoughtfully):
“Bhai, ek baat bolun? Aisi larkiyan apne shoharon ka bohat khayal rakhti hain. Mujhe toh lagta hai ke tumhe apni dadi ke faisle par sir jhuka lena chahiye.”
(Bro, can I say something? Girls like that take great care of their husbands. I think you should go along with your Dadi’s decision.)

Zayaan (in disbelief):
“Saad, maine tujhe apne liye call kiya tha aur tu unhi ki side le raha hai? Bade hi fazool insaan ho!”
(Saad, I called you for support, and you’re taking their side? You’re so useless!)

Saad (chuckling):
“Arre yaar, joke kar raha hoon. Achha, ye bata, Anaya ka kya reaction tha?”
(Relax, man, I’m joking. Okay, tell me, what was Anaya’s reaction?)

Zayaan (rolling his eyes):
“Maine usse poocha tha, toh usne seedha bol diya ke usse mujhse shaadi nahi karni. Bara hi dry reaction tha uska.”
(I asked her, and she straight-up said she doesn’t want to marry me. Her reaction was super dry.)

Saad (grinning):
“Waah! Dono hi ek dusre se bhaag rahe hain! Par mujhe lagta hai tum dono ki chemistry perfect hai.
(Wow! Both of you are running away from each other! But I think your chemistry is perfect.

Zayaan (ignoring the joke):
“Achhi baat ye hai ke wo bhi ye rishta nahi chahti.”
(The good thing is she doesn’t want this match either.)

Saad (seriously but with a playful tone):
“Phir toh seedha dadi se baat kar le. Lekin meri maan, dadi tujhe bol degi ke ‘Beta, tumhare baap ne toh kabhi mere faisle nahi tode, tum kaun hote ho!’”
(Then just talk directly to Dadi. But trust me, she’ll say, ‘Son, even your father never disobeyed me, who are you to do so?’)

Zayaan (furious):
“Tu bas mazaak udate reh. Main tujhe apni problem bata raha hoon aur tu mujhe tension dene laga hai!”
(You just keep joking. I’m telling you my problem, and you’re stressing me out even more!)

Saad (laughing):
“Arre bhai, chill! Acha, sun, agar kuch help chahiye ho toh mujhe call karna. Bolo toh Main dadi se baat kalon tumhare liye.”
(Relax, bro! Okay, listen, if you need help, call me. I’ll even talk to Dadi for you.)

Zayaan (sarcastic):
“Haan, tu baat kar le! Tujhe hi per toh sab se zyada yaqeen hai!”
(Yeah, you talk to her! You seem to trust everyone more than me!)

Saad (teasing):
“Of course! Chal, ab meri taraf se Anaya ko mubarak baad dena. Bye!”
(Of course! Alright, give Anaya my congratulations. Bye!)

Zayaan (angrily):
“Tum bohot hi fazool insaan ho!”
(You’re absolutely useless!)

Zayaan angrily cuts the call, while Saad’s laughter echoes in the background.

Scene 2: Anaya and Her Memories

(Setting: Anaya is sitting on her bed, lost in her thoughts, holding an old diary in her hands. The room is quiet, the only sound being the faint rustling of the pages as she flips through it. Her face softens as she reads the memories from her childhood. On one page, she pauses and stares at what she has written. It’s a memory from the past, a time when things felt simpler.)

Anaya’s Diary (writing in the past):
“Zayaan, today you said I’m your best friend forever. You promised that no matter what happens, we’ll always be there for each other. I never want to forget this moment, because it means the world to me.”

(As she reads those words, a tear falls from her eye. The memories come rushing back, the laughter, the friendship, and the bond they once shared. She sighs deeply, lost in thought.)

Anaya (thinking to herself):
“Pehele kitna acha tha… Tum mujhe apni sab se achi dost samajhte the, aur ab… kya ho gaya hai?”
(“It was so good back then… You used to consider me your best friend, and now… what’s changed?”)

(She wipes away the tear, taking a deep breath, trying to shake off the wave of emotions. Just as she does, her phone buzzes. It’s a message from her best friend, Saira.)

Saira’s Message:
“Kaisi hai yaar? Kahaan ghom hai?”
(“How are you, girl? Where are you?”)

Anaya (smiling faintly, types a reply):
“Kahi nahi yaar, dadi ne ghar mein maha bharat cheer di hai.”
(“Nowhere, girl. Dadi has started a whole drama at home.”)

(Before Anaya can put her phone down, it rings. It’s Saira calling. She picks up.)

Anaya (smiling weakly):
“Hello?”

Saira (immediately):
“Ki hua, bata! Kya ho gaya? Tum itni serious kyun ho rahi ho?”
(“What happened, tell me! Why are you so serious?”)

Anaya (laughs softly, shaking her head):
“Tumhe kya ho gaya, itna excited kyun ho? Jab se college khatam hua hai, Kiya koi gossip nahi mili?”
(“What’s up with you? Why are you so excited? Haven’t had any gossip since college finished?”)

Saira (laughing):
“Jab se maine suna ‘maha bharat’, mujhse ruka na gaya aur phone kar liya. Bata, kya baat hai? Fotage kyu kha rahi ho?”
(“As soon as I heard ‘maha bharat’, I couldn’t stop myself from calling you. Tell me, what’s going on? What’s the drama?”)

Anaya (sighing):
“Pagal ho tum… Dadi ne mera rishta teh kar diya hai Zayaan se.”
(“You’re crazy… Dadi has fixed my marriage with Zayaan.”)

Saira (jumping in excitement):
“Arre wah! Tum toh bohot lucky nikli! Jaise chaaha, waise ho gaya. Zayaan tumhara hone wala hai?”
(“Wow, you’re so lucky! Just how you wanted, it’s happening. Zayaan is going to be yours?”)

(Anaya pauses, her smile fading as Saira’s words hit her. The happiness in her voice suddenly fades, and a deep sadness fills her heart.)

Anaya (softly):
“Nahi yaar, Zayaan mujhe pasand nahi karta. Kehta hai mein uski type ki nahi hoon.”
(“No, girl. Zayaan doesn’t like me. He says I’m not his type.”)

(Saira’s excitement drops, and a concerned silence fills the air. After a moment, Saira speaks, her voice filled with love and care.)

Saira (in disbelief):
“Wo pagal hai jo ek heere jaisi larki ko mana kar raha hai. Tum uske liye dukhi nah ho! Wo tumhare layak nahi hai, Anaya!”
(“He’s crazy if he’s turning down a girl like you! Don’t be sad for him, Anaya. He doesn’t deserve you!”)

(Anaya’s heart aches as she hears her best friend’s words. Saira’s tone is filled with warmth, her voice full of love for Anaya.)

Saira (gently):
“Anaya, tu kisi bhi larki se zyada khaas hai. Zayaan ko yeh samajhna hoga. Agar wo tumhari value nahi samajhta, toh wo tumhe deserve nahi karta.”
(“Anaya, you are more special than any girl. Zayaan has to understand that. If he doesn’t value you, then he’s dosent deserve you.”)

(Anaya’s eyes well up again, but she smiles at the kindness in her friend’s words.)

Anaya (whispering):
“Shukriya, Saira… Mere sath hamesha rehne ka.”
(“Thank you, Saira… You’re always there for me.”)

(Saira’s voice softens with affection.)

Saira (sweetly):
“Always, Anaya. Tum jo chaaho, tumhara hamesha saath dene wali hoon mein.”
(“Always, Anaya. Whatever you want, I’ll always be there for you.”)

(Anaya smiles, feeling a sense of warmth in her heart as she listens to her friend’s loving words.)

Scene 3: Zayaan and Dadi’s Stubborn Conflict

Zayaan walks into the living room where Dadi is sitting, looking serious as ever. He takes a deep breath, preparing himself for the conversation that he knows is going to be anything but easy. Dadi is sitting comfortably in her chair, knitting something. As Zayaan enters, she looks up with a smile, clearly knowing what’s coming.)

Zayaan (nervously, trying to sound calm):
“Dadi, mujhe aap se baat karni hai… wo jo shaadi ka rishta aapne decide kiya hai, main usay nahi maan sakta.”
(“Dadi, I need to talk to you… the marriage proposal you’ve decided for me, I can’t accept it.”)

Dadi (without missing a beat, as she continues knitting):
“Acha? Tumhare liye sab kuch toh ready hai. Rishta, ghar, shaadi ki date… Tumhe kis baat ki dikkat hai?”
(“Oh? Everything is ready for you. The proposal, the house, the wedding date… what’s the problem?”)

Zayaan (getting a little frustrated, trying to stay polite):
“Dadi, yeh nahi ho sakta. Aapko pata hai, wo larki meri type ki nahi hai. Main usse shaadi nahi kar sakta.”
(“Dadi, this can’t happen. You know, she’s not my type. I can’t marry her.”)

Dadi (pausing for a moment, then looking up with a stern face):
“Tumhein apni type ki larki chahiye? Tumhara matlab kya hai? Tumhe kya chahiye?”
(“You want a girl of your type? What does that even mean? What do you want?”)

Zayaan (getting more nervous but trying to make his point):
“Dadi, main apni zindagi apne tareeqe se jeena chahta hoon. Mujhe apne passion ke liye waqt chahiye. Us larki ko dekh kar mujhe lagta hai, wo sirf ghar ke kaam mein busy rahegi. Main aise kisi se shaadi nahi kar sakta.”
(“Dadi, I want to live my life my way. I need time for my passion. Looking at her, I feel like she’ll just be busy with housework. I can’t marry someone like that.”)

Dadi (looking at him with a disapproving look, her voice growing sharper):
“Acha? Tum jo keh rahe ho, usse tumhare liye shaadi mein ‘passion’ nahi hai? Tumhe pata hai, yeh jo larki hai, woh ghar ke kaam karte hue bhi apne sapne pura kar sakti hai.”
(“Oh? What you’re saying is that there’s no ‘passion’ in marriage? You know, this girl, even while doing housework, can fulfill her dreams.”)

Zayaan (sighs, getting frustrated):
“Dadi, Aap samajh nahi rahi ho. Main uske saath apni zindagi nahi dekh sakta. Meri soch alag hai.”
(“Dadi, you’re not understanding. I can’t see my life with her. My thinking is different.”)

Dadi (voice raising slightly):
“Zayaan, tum bahut ziddi ho gaye ho! Tumhein lagta hai shaadi sirf romance aur excitement ka naam hai? Tumhe samajhna hoga, yeh jo larki hai, wo tumhara saath har haal mein de gi, har mushkil mein tumhare saath rahe gi.”
(“Zayaan, you’ve become so stubborn! Do you think marriage is only about romance and excitement? You need to understand, this girl will always stand by you, through every difficulty.”)

Zayaan (with frustration, trying to calm down):
“Dadi, mujhe samajh aa raha hai lekin yeh sab mere liye nahi hai. Aapko samajhna hoga, mein kisi aur tareeqe se apni zindagi jeena chahta hoon.”
(“Dadi, I understand, but this isn’t for me. You need to understand, I want to live my life in my own way.”)

Dadi (standing up abruptly, voice raising slightly):
“Bas bohat hogaya, Zayaan! Tumhari baat sune ka matlab yeh nahi ke tumhare jo mooh mein aaye, woh bole chale jao. Aaj tak tumhare baap ne meri baat nahi tali, tum kiya ho? Bas, mera faisla akhri hai. Tumhari shaadi Anaya se hogi, aur agle mahine tumhara nikah hai.”
(“Enough, Zayaan! Just because I’m listening to you doesn’t mean you can say whatever comes to your mind. Your father never rejected my decisions, and now you think you can? My decision is final. You will marry Anaya, and your wedding will be next month.”)

Zayaan (angrily, almost whispering to himself):
“Dadi, main ghar se bhaag jaunga, lekin yeh shaadi nahi karunga.”
(“Dadi, I’ll run away from home, but I won’t marry her.”)

Dadi (sternly, without hesitation):
“Toh bhaag jao. Lekin jab wapis aoge, tab bhi tumhari shaadi Anaya se hi hogi, bas.”
(“Then run away. But when you come back, your marriage will still be with Anaya, that’s it.”)

Zayaan (in silence, without saying anything further, storms off to his room).