Trials of Life : AnuPre FF

Trials of Life : AnuPre Fanfiction

by : Angela_Grokes

[ talk show set. hubbub all around. stage entry right, exit left. the audience notices the host run around, the clock on the set tings. the lights go off once, then come up again. the host is standing in the center of the stage, talking into the camera. ]

Host : Namaskar, salam, adaab.

[ he looks at the teleprompter carefully, maintaining his smile. ]

Host : Today, after much consoling and convincing, we have the guests of the decade. Their love story has inspired two beautiful shows and a movie….. all stemming from the book about their love story written by their son, Prem. Yes ladies and gentlemen, today, I have for you the two guests you have requested time and again. I present to you Anurag and Prerna Basu…..

[ the camera pans out. the stage goes dark and lights come up again. Anurag and Prerna are standing in the center of the stage. he stands behind her, his arms softly wrapped around her. they are surrounded by back dancers. the music begins and they start dancing. ]

Chahat ke safar mein

dilon ke kaafilein dekho

ye aksar doob jaate hain

kabhi phir roo bhi jaate hain

kabhi chalti hai bakwaas

phir dimaag khaate hain

[ there is a confused hush on stage for the first few seconds of the music. Anu-Pre look at the dancers astonished. but then they continue dancing normally. ]

siskiyaan har gadhi kiiii…

kasauti zindgi ki….

kasauti zindgi ki….

[ the music stops. Anu-Pre stop in an extremely steamy moment. both look into each others eyes. the dancers go away only Anu-Pre remain. ]

Host : ( shouting enthusiastically ) LADIES AND GENTLEMEN . . . I PRESENT TO YOU . . . ANURAG AND PRERNA BASU . . .

[ thunderous applause from the audience. Anu-Pre bow before the audience. the host leads them to the couches on the stage. the host sits on a couch close to theirs. ]

Host : That was a minor mess up of music. ( uncomfortable laugh ) But I guess we cannot deny the undeniable chemistry.

[ Anu-Pre look at each other lovingly. ]

Host : So, here is my first question for you. How does it feel to be the most loved love-birds of the country?

Anurag : ( while holding hands with Prerna ) It feels overwhelming. We never knew our story could impact so many people. We are very grateful.

Prerna : ( nodding ) It feels so good to think that we could inspire so many to love. After all, good stories are always meant to be cherished for their greatness. We are grateful to have one such story.

Host: That’s so sweet and Prerna, what do you think is a good story?

Prerna: A good story is something good, you know, a story just like ours.

Host : (looks confused at the statement) Certainly. But, tell us more, Prerna your strength and beauty is admired by all. Tell us how you feel about the way women have related to your story in the book and the show.

[ the camera pans to a close-up view of Prerna. she has only a singular streak of gray hair, looks perfectly 25 year old otherwise. she is wearing a gorgeous red saree. ]

Prerna : I just believe women should have the freedom to be who they are. And that includes the freedom to marry who they want to. ( she looks at Anurag. ) I am grateful to have him by my side. It always makes a woman’s life easier to have a man by her side.

[ the light on the stage flickers. ]

[ Anu-Pre and the host look confused. ]

[ music begins. ]

tum tum tum tummm…

tum na na tum…

tum tum tum tummm…

tum na na tum…

likaaaa…. likaaaa….

dheen tanana dheen

dheen tanana dheen

likaaa... likaaaa….

[sounds of heels are heard on the stage, as anklets of a woman are heard as she walks into the frame. the camera catches her. ]

[ she is revealed to be Komolika. ]

[ absolute silence. ]

Komolika : ( playing with her hair ) Oh really Prerna. Is that why you never exercised any form authority in who you were married to? ( she raises an eyebrow )

[ Anu-Pre look at the host. he sits uncomfortably stern. ]

Komolika : Don’t look at him. I have indeed hijacked your show. But it's not his fault. I did it myself. ( she goes and sits next to Anurag. ) How are you doing Anurag? I am sure you are doing well.. ( she looks at Prerna with a sarcastic smirk. )

Anurag : Get away from me.

Komolika : I have always wondered why you push away any woman who wants to be close to you. Prerna, are you sure you are a woman? Why does he not push you away?

[ Prerna looks at her in anger ]

Prerna : How dare you? Why are you always so intent on destroying our lives? Why do you hate our story?

Komolika : Destroying? Hating your story? Why? Because my story is never heard ( innocently ) You destroy my story with your presence.

Prerna : Your story? Which story do you even have to tell? ( looks at Komolika’s attire. laughs. ) Its funny how you say you have a story to tell . . . in those clothes.

Komolika : ( looks at her colourful ghagra-choli. softly touches her nose-ring. ) Only a spineless woman will attack someone’s clothing.

Prerna : OH GOD! ( she stands up and claps.) You think you have any right to call me spineless. I don’t play with people’s lives Komolika.

Komolika : ( laughs. playing with her hair. ) Oh Prerna! I always thought you were a weak character. Almost a useless discard for the Basus if you ask me. But you almost seem to be a non-existent voice in your own story. Maybe that is why they love your character so much. You never talk about how you are. Do you? It is always about how sad Anurag is? ( she laughs in Anurag’s direction ) Or how tormented the Basus are? (laughs again)

Prerna : Why should I care for myself? A true woman always cares for others.

[ Anurag looks at her proudly. ]

Komolika : ( rolls her eyes ) God Prerna why do you have to be so 19th century? You do realize that you can care about yourself and still have a story.

Prerna : ( looks at her with disgust ) How selfish of you! Oh god.. I cannot imagine being that self-centered. ( laughs ) You asked me why I interfere in your story Komolika? Well.. here it is… you story is not worth listening to. It is a useless story.

Komolika : ( looks at her in shock ) My story is not worth listening to?

Anurag : Yes.. All you have is anger and that is useless. Your story is not even serious enough. All you have done is interfere in our story. All the time.

[ Prerna nods. ]

Komolika : ( looks at them in disbelief ) Oh god. You people are pathetic.

Anurag : It is the truth Komolika.

Prerna : There is nothing great about your story. All it shows is how horrible you are. Our story, on the other hand, connects. It is about the trials of life all of us go through, about love and its victory.

Komolika : What?

Anurag : I always wonder what you even have to tell?

Komolika : God . . . for people who keep talking about love and acceptance. You both are horrendously self-obsessed.

[ Prerna and Anurag look at her in horrified silence ]

Komolika : What even makes you think your story is better than mine? Or for that sake, that any story is better than the other? What is so great about your story? Or any ‘great’ story?

Prerna : They have a depth and seriousness to them. Unlike yours.

Komolika : ( arching her eyebrows ) You really think that? You think your story has any depth? Come on.. You are just two sappy people crying over ten years. I have a far greater story to tell.

Anurag : That of a wh*re?

[ the crowd ‘oooooooooh’-s ]

Komolika : God. You are horrible. That fact that you think you are special and that one person’s tale is greater than any others is messed up.

Prerna : Oh god look who’s talking. A home-wrecker.

Komolika : ( a look of seething anger ) You are surprisingly vocal today. Funny how you found a voice when you have had none in your own love-story?! If you think about it, your story is nothing without mine.

[Anurag rises]

[ the Host tries to intervene ]

Host : (talking into the camera) I am sorry but due to some difficulties the telecast must stop immediately.

[ camera pans away and sounds drain as one witnesses the two women shouting at each other on stage. ]