The Proposal: Dil-e-Nadaan

Episode 4

Scene 1 – Zayaan’s Escape Plan

(Setting: Zayaan is sitting in his room, staring at his packed bag lying on the bed. His frustration and helplessness are visible as he thinks about Dadi’s stubborn decision. He picks up his phone and dials Saad’s number.)

Zayaan (angrily):
“Saad, bas bohot ho gaya! Main yahan aur nahi reh sakta. Ghar chhod ke jaa raha hoon.”
(Saad, I’ve had enough! I can’t stay here anymore. I’m leaving home.)

Saad (shocked):
“Kya? Tu sach mein bhaag raha hai? Yeh koi Bollywood movie nahi hai, bhai! Kya plan hai tera?”
(What? You’re really running away? This isn’t a Bollywood movie, bro! What’s your plan?)

Zayaan (irritated):
“Plan? Bas yahan se nikalna hai. Kisi aur sheher chala jaunga. Dadi ko meri shaadi karwani hai, toh karne do apne sapne mein!”
(Plan? I just need to get out of here. I’ll go to another city. If Dadi wants me to marry, let her do it in her dreams!)

Saad (half-serious, half-teasing):
“Yeh toh bada dramatic ho gaya. Lekin ek baat bata, agar bhaag gaya toh wapas kaise aayega? Tujhe pata hai, Dadi ke words literal hote hain.”
(This is getting super dramatic. But tell me, if you run away, how will you come back? You know Dadi’s words are always literal.)

Zayaan (sighing, leaning against the wall):
“Yaar, bas ek waqt ke liye mujhe unse door rehna hai. Main nahi samajh paa raha, Anaya aur meri shaadi kaise kaam karegi?”
(Bro, I just need to stay away from her for a while. I don’t understand how this marriage with Anaya will work.)

Saad (sincerely):
“Tu bhaag ke apna problem solve nahi karega, Zayaan. Yeh rishta to ab tera bhi problem hai. Tujhe Anaya se baat karni chahiye pehle.”
(Running away won’t solve your problem, Zayaan. This match is your problem now, too. You should talk to Anaya first.)

Zayaan (hesitant):
“Anaya? Usse baat karne ka kya fayda? Woh pehle hi keh chuki hai ke woh mujhe pasand nahi karti.”
(Anaya? What’s the point of talking to her? She’s already said she doesn’t like me.)

Saad (laughing softly):
“Phir toh aur asaan hai. Tum dono ek team bana lo aur Dadi ko convince kar lo. Bhaagoge toh Dadi tumhe superglue se sofa se chipka degi agle mahine.”
(Then it’s even easier. You two should team up and convince Dadi. If you run, she’ll superglue you to the sofa next month.)

Zayaan (pausing, considering the idea):
“Team up? Matlab? Tu keh raha hai ke main aur Anaya mil ke Dadi ko manaayein?”
(Team up? You mean Anaya and I should convince Dadi together?)

Saad (confidently):
“Haan, do no-shaadi-wale log milke Dadi ke mission ko fail kar sakte hain. Ek baar baat toh kar ke dekh!”
(Yes, two no-marriage people can sabotage Dadi’s mission together. Just try talking to her!)

(Zayaan ends the call without responding, his mind racing. He paces the room, the idea slowly making sense to him).

Scene 2 : Anaya and Zayaan’s Awkward Encounter

(Setting: The family has gathered for dinner at Dadi’s insistence. Anaya’s family has been invited over. Zayaan and Anaya are both dreading the meeting, but they don’t have much of a choice. The dining room is lively with chatter, but the two of them remain unusually quiet.)

Dadi (cheerfully, addressing everyone):
“Bas kuch din ki baat hai, phir yeh dono ek saath baith kar dinner kiya karenge!”
(“It’s just a matter of a few days, and soon these two will be dining together every day!”)

(Zayaan and Anaya exchange uncomfortable glances but avoid eye contact.)

Anaya’s Mom (Shahana) (with a polite smile):
“Dadi, dono ke chehre dekh kar lagta hai ke inhe yeh baat pasand nahi aayi.”
(“Dadi, looking at their faces, it seems they’re not happy with this arrangement.”)

Dadi (laughing it off):
“Sharmaa rahe hain dono. Shaadi ke pehle sab aise hi behave karte hain!”
(“They’re just shy. Everyone behaves this way before marriage!”)

(Zayaan coughs awkwardly, while Anaya looks down at her plate, trying to suppress her irritation.)

Zayaan (muttering under his breath):
“Sharmaa nahi rahe, pareshaan ho rahe hain.”
(“We’re not shy, we’re stressed.”)

(Anaya overhears him and smirks slightly but doesn’t say anything. Dadi notices the tension and decides to intervene.)

Dadi (smiling mischievously):
“Zayaan, Anaya, tum dono thoda time saath bitao. Chalo, lawn mein jao aur baat karo.”
(“Zayaan, Anaya, spend some time together. Go to the lawn and talk.”)

(Zayaan and Anaya exchange horrified looks but stand up reluctantly, knowing they can’t argue with Dadi.)

Scene 3: The Lawn Confrontation

(Setting: The Lawn is quiet, with the evening breeze blowing softly. Zayaan and Anaya stand at a distance, both unsure how to start the conversation.)

Zayaan (breaking the silence):
“Dadi kehte hain baat karo… Toh baat karte hain. Tum mujhe pasand nahi karti, aur main tumhe. Khatam?”
(“Dadi says we should talk… So, let’s talk. You don’t like me, and I don’t like you. Done?”)

Anaya (crossing her arms, sarcastically):
“Wah, kya baat hai. Tumhare saath baat karna waise bhi mujhe pasand nahi hai.”
(“Wow, what a conversation. I don’t like talking to you anyway.”)

Zayaan (raising an eyebrow):
“Acha? Toh yeh rishta cancel karne ki zimmedari tum le logi?”
(“Oh? So will you take responsibility for canceling this match?”)

Anaya (calmly, but with a hint of defiance):
“Nahi, tumhe bolne ka bohot shauk hai, toh tum bolo. Waise bhi, tumhari baatein mujhe sunni padti hain.”
(“No, you love talking so much, so you should speak. Anyway, I’m the one who has to listen to your nonsense.”)

Zayaan (sarcastically):
“Wow, tumhare tevar toh kaafi modern lagte hain, phir bhi tum Dadi ke faisle ke saamne kuch nahi bol rahi?”
(“Wow, your attitude seems modern, yet you’re not saying anything against Dadi’s decision?”)

Anaya (firmly):
“Zayaan, tum mujhe judge karna band karo. Main apni family ki izzat ki wajah se chup hoon, tumhari tarah childish nahi.”
(“Zayaan, stop judging me. I’m quiet out of respect for my family, not because I’m childish like you.”)

Zayaan (taken aback, then smirking):
“Childish? Main childish hoon? At least main apne dil ki baat bolta hoon.”
(“Childish? I’m childish? At least I speak my mind.”)

Anaya (stepping closer, staring him down):
“Jo tumhare dil mein hai, woh sirf tumhara ego hai, Zayaan. Apne ilawa tum kisi aur ke baare mein soch nahi sakte.”
(“What’s in your heart is just your ego, Zayaan. You can’t think about anyone but yourself.”)

(A brief silence follows as Zayaan processes her words. For the first time, he looks slightly guilty, but his pride stops him from apologizing.)

Zayaan (sighing, softer now):
“Toh phir kya karein? Tum bhi ye rishta nahi chahti, main bhi nahi.”
(“So, what should we do? You don’t want this match, and neither do I.”)

Anaya (leaning slightly forward, her voice calm yet cutting):
“Tumne koi plan banaya? Kyunki bina plan ke toh Dadi humari shaadi karwa hi dengi.”
(“Have you made a plan? Because without one, Dadi will definitely get us married.”)

(Zayaan stares at her, caught off guard by her sudden seriousness.)

Anaya (continuing, her tone sharper now):
“Phir tumhe ek trophy wife mil jayegi, aur mujhe ek irrelevant husband.”
(“Then you’ll get a trophy wife, and I’ll get an irrelevant husband.”)

Zayaan (taken aback, blinking in shock):
“Trophy wife? Irrelevant husband? Tumhe lagta hai main tumhare liye irrelevant hoon?”
(“Trophy wife? Irrelevant husband? You think I’m irrelevant to you?”)

Anaya (shrugging nonchalantly):
“Abhi tak toh ho. Tumhare actions bas tumhare ego ke aas paas ghoomte hain. Mere liye toh relevance ka sawaal hi nahi uthta.”
(“So far, you are. Your actions revolve only around your ego. For me, relevance doesn’t even come into question.”)

Zayaan (recovering, narrowing his eyes):
“Tumhara sense of humor kaafi dark hai.”
(“Your sense of humor is quite dark.”)

Scene 4: Zayaan and Anaya brainstorming how to cancel their marriage

Zayaan (raising his hands in surrender):
“Acha, mujhe tumse behas nahi karni. Baat suno, mere paas ek plan hai.”
(“Alright, I don’t want to argue with you. Just listen, I have a plan.”)

Anaya (folding her arms, raising an eyebrow):
“Kya? Batao. Sunte hain tumhari dimaag ki nayi karamat.”
(“What? Let’s hear the latest masterpiece from your brain.”)

Zayaan (leaning forward, conspiratorially):
“Hum dono ek doosre ki buraiyan karte hain. Differences ginaate hain. Sab logon ko lagega ke hum ek doosre se bilkul alag hain. Phir woh khud hi decide karenge ke humari shaadi nahi honi chahiye.”
(“We badmouth each other and highlight our differences. Everyone will think we’re totally incompatible. Then they’ll decide on their own that we shouldn’t get married.”)

Anaya (clapping sarcastically):
“Wah! Itni dino mein tumne yeh tohfa diya? Dhat deni padegi tumhare dimaag ko.”
(“Wow! This is the gift your brain came up with after all this time? Impressive.”)

Zayaan (confused):
“Kya matlab? Plan bura hai kya?”
(“What do you mean? Is the plan bad?”)

Anaya (mocking):
“Stupid! Hum dono bachpan se saath pale-bade hain. Har aadmi jaanta hai ke hum ek doosre ko kitna ache se jaante hain. Kya bolenge apne baron ko? ‘Zayaan bed par socks chhod deta hai’? Ya ‘Anaya toothpaste beech se dabaati hai’?”
(“Stupid! We’ve grown up together since childhood. Everyone knows how well we know each other. What will we say to the elders? ‘Zayaan leaves his socks on the bed’? Or ‘Anaya squeezes the toothpaste from the middle’?”)

Zayaan (slapping his forehead):
“Haan yaar, sahi keh rahi ho. Yeh toh plan shuru hone se pehle hi khatam ho gaya.”
(“Yeah, you’re right. This plan ended before it even started.”)

(A brief pause. Zayaan looks thoughtful, then smirks.)

Zayaan:
“Acha, ek aur plan hai.”
(“Alright, I have another plan.”)

Anaya (rolling her eyes):
“Bolo, ab kya bakwaas hai?”
(“Tell me, what nonsense is it now?”)

Zayaan (grinning):
“Hum tumhare ghar ek rishta bhejte hain. Ek perfect rishta. Jo well-settled ho, dekhne mein acha ho, ekdum husband material. Tumhare parents zaroor confuse ho jayenge, aur hum isi confusion ka faida uthaenge.”
(“We’ll send a proposal to your house. A perfect one. Someone well-settled, good-looking, and complete husband material. Your parents will definitely get confused, and we’ll take advantage of that.”)

Anaya (bursting into laughter):
“Kahan se laate ho itne bakwaas ideas?”
(“Where do you come up with such ridiculous ideas?”)

Zayaan (pointing to his head):
“Yaar, yeh jo upar wali manzil hai na, wahi se aate hain. Kabhi garoor nahi kiya.”
(“You see, this top floor here—my brain—that’s where they come from. Never been too proud of it, though.”)

Anaya (teasing):
“Stupid! Aisa husband milega kahan?”
(“Stupid! Where will you even find such a husband?”)

Zayaan (snapping his fingers):
“Saad ka dost hai, ekdum husband material. Woh ban jayega rishta.”
(“Saad’s friend, total husband material. He’ll play the role.”)

Anaya (sarcastically):
“Haan, haan. Tum kahoge aur woh maan jayega.”
(“Oh yeah, you’ll say it, and he’ll just agree.”)

Zayaan (grinning confidently):
“Arey, cousin! Tum abhi tak humein jaanti nahi ho.”
(“Oh, cousin! You still don’t know me.”)

Anaya (thinking to herself):
“Jaanti bhi hoon, maanti bhi hoon. Par tum hi nahi jaante.”
(“I do know you, and I do believe in you. But you just don’t realize it.”)

(Anaya hides her smile as Zayaan proudly elaborates on his bizarre plan, clueless about the growing fondness in her heart.)