Thank U Bunty! (A short story)

Scene- 1
Richa's flat.
12 pm, Afternoon

Richa's boyfriend Arun is packing his suitcase with all his clothes & toiletries. Richa is sitting there onto the bed, looking very upset.
Richa: Arun, pls don't go. I am sorry na...!
Arun: No, it's all over Miss Richa. How can u do this to me?..mujhe bina bataye tumne mere a/c se paise nikale the.
Richa: Only 10 K Baby, Maa ko ghar bhejne the, u know na Chutki ki college ki fees due thi.
Arun: So what! That was my money. I am not supposed to sponsor ur whole family, right Madam!
Richa: Woh mere bhi paise hai Arun. Ye Show humne milke jeeta tha.
Arun: Oh Yah! Tumhare hisse ke paise tumne already daan kar diya hai apne family ko..ab aur kitne chahiye! Bahut ho gya...aise nahi chal sakta !
Richa: Arun, I m paying the EMI for that Home loan every month, u know that na!
Arun: Toh! ghar tumhara hai, payment toh tumko hi karna padhega na!
Richa: Ye tumhara ghar nahi hai!?
Arun: Mujhe ye sab emotional baatein bolke blackmail karne ki koshish mat karo. I know all ur tricks.
Richa: Blackmail! main tumhe blackmail karne ki koshish karti hun ! saaf saaf kyun nahi kahte, u don't love me anymore & wanna stay with that bi*** Bipasha.
Arun: Mind ur tongue Richa. Don't drag her into this.
Richa: Kyun sachh sunne mein problem ho rahi hai ! I know what is going on between u two,since last few months. Mujhse mann bhar gya hoga na tumhara! Iss liye ab uske piche...
Arun: Shut up u b*** .
He slaps her badly. Richa collapses down right onto the ground.
Arun: Bips ke bare mein main kuch nahi sunna chahta, she is far far better than u. Just look at urself! Who r u ! kitne shows offer hote hain aajkal tumhe! ...wo jo dance reality show mila tha na wo bhi maine hi dilwaya tha tumhe. U r nothing without me,...absolutely nothing.
Richa: Maine tumhare liye kya kuch nahi kia Arun, Baba se ladi, bade shows ka offer chod diya, just to settle down with u , to marry u.
Arun: What ! marry u ...! have u gone mad or what! Tumhe kisne bola I want to marry u!
Richa : U don't wanna get married!?
Arun: Of course I do, but not now, & not with u either.
Richa: I am 3 months pregnant Arun, it's ur child.
Arun: So, main kya karu, go & abort it. Mere gale mein mat dalo. I am done with u. New project mila hai mujhe. 2 months ka outdoor shoot at UK. Good bye.

Arun leaves with his big suitcase, while Richa is still sitting on her bed, looking dumbstruck.😲

Scene-2

Richa's flat.
12.30 pm, Afternoon

Richa's cell phone is constantly ringing. It's her friend Teesta. But Richa is not answering that call as she is now busy doing something dreadful. She is standing on a chair, which is placed right on her bed, tying a red Banarasi saree from the ceiling, pretty expensive one she has just ordered few days ago for her marriage. She is about to wear the knot, suddenly the calling bell rings on.
May be It's Arun, may be he is coming back, may be he realizes his mistakes'... A feeling of happiness flows through her veins ; coming down from the chair she immediately runs towards the main door & opens it without wasting a second.
- Hello Madam, aapke pass Supreme ka Water Filter hai ?
A middle aged Salesman, having a bag on his back, looking exhausted, standing outside the door, politely asks Richa.
Richa: Kya?
Salesman: Woh main puch raha tha aapke ghar mein Supreme company ka Water Filter laga huya hai kya?
Richa: Nahi... tumhe upar kisne aane diya, niche watchman ne roka nahi ?
She looks disgusted.
Salesman: Nahi toh! Niche toh kisine nahi roka...haan... shayed wo watchman khana khane gya hoga.
Richa: Mujhe koi Water-filter nahi chahiye..tum jayo yahan se.
Salesman: Lekin Madam...suniye to..
Richa bangs the door on his face. Feeling heart-broken as it wasn't Arun, she yet again reaches to that chair, about to stand on it, once again that calling bell is ringing. Once again Richa opens the door.
Richa: Kyun pareshan kar rahe ho..bola na nahi chahiye.
Salesman: Wo Madam, thodasa pani mil sakta hai kya! Badi pyaas lagi hai ! itni garmi , aur fir...
Richa: Achha achha, ruko, laati hun.
She goes to the kitchen & brings a glass of water. Returning back she found that Salesman already enters into the room, sitting on the couch comfortably.
Richa: Hey, tum andar kaise aaye?
Salesman: Kya Madam, bahar itni garmi hai, socha AC ki hawa hi thoda kha leta hun...
Richa: Dekho, bahut ho gya, pani peeyo aur niklo yahan se.
Salesman: Kya Madam, nikalneki taiyari toh aapne kar rakhi hai !
Richa: Bakwass bandh karo apna. Salesman ho Salesman ki tarha raho. Niklo, warna watchman ko bulati hun.
Salesman: Badi bholi ho aap Madam, abtak mujhe Salesman hi samajh rahi ho!
Richa: Tum Salesman nahi ho! Toh fir kaun ho tum?
Stranger: Chor hun Madam. Chillana mat!
Now he is taking out a sharp knife from his pocket. Richa looks awfully surprised.
Chor: Bas chota mota hath maar leta hun. Wo bhi abhich chalu kiyela hai...Ye jo aapka flat bana hai na, kuch saal pahle idharich ek mill huya karta hai, kapdo ka mill. Main yahin par kaam karta tha . Lekin Malik ne zyada munafe ke khatir mill bech dala, aur apun ki bhi naukri ki watt laga di. Kya hai na Madam, apun jaise gareeb o ko yeh log keede makodo ki tarha istemaal karte hain, hum jeeye ya mare , kisiko kuch lena dena nahi hota..ab kaam chala gya, toh pet palne ke liye ab yehich dhanda chalu kia...ghar mein biwi hai, ek beta bhi hai... Rahne do, aap nahi samjhogi. Aap to khudh hi ...waise yeh kar kyun rahi ho ?
Richa: Tumse matlab?
Chor: Matlab to koi nahi Madam...aap bade logon ki life mein bhi sala solid problem hota hai. Apun toh sochta tha bade log bahut khush rahte honge, bada ghar, badi badi gadi, wo kya kahte hain.. Import gadi...
Richa: Imported.
Chor: Haan wahich. Apan ke liye to sab ekhich hai na Madam..kya import kya export. Chabi do almaari ki ?
Richa: Chabi nahi hai mere pass.
Chor: Kya , chabi nahi hai?
Richa: Nahi, Arun ke pass rahta hai. Wo ghar mein nahi hain.
Chor: Kya mazak kar rahi ho Madam. Aapke ghar ki almaari, aur chabi kisi aur ke pass!
Richa: Hmm...meri toh life ki chabi kisi aur ke pass choot gyi hai. (Speaking mildly to herself)
Chor: Kya bola? ...waise hai kaun ye Arun?
Richa: Mera Boyfriend hai, tumse matlab?
Chor: Bar bar matlab puchti ho...badi matlabi ho aap Madam! Hahahaha!...mazak kar raha hun. Koi hair pin milegi?
Richa: Kyun?
Chor: Arre Madam, almaari ko kholna padhega na? Paise to isimein rakhe honge.
Richa: Usmein kuch nahi hai. Arun sab lekar chala gya.
Chor: Kya, ek bhi paise nahi hai ! Lekin aapne to kuch mahine pahle hi 50 lakh ka inaam jeeta tha na! wo TV show pe.. kya naam tha uska...haan Zara Nachle' ; waise kya solid naachti ho aap...Mera beta toh fan hai ji aapka.
Richa: Arun ne wo sare paise le liye.
Chor: Lekin wo toh aapke mehnat ka paisa tha! Aapne aise kaise le jane diya?...Kahin jhoot toh nahi bol rahi ho na aap. Ab toh almaari kholke dekhna hi padhega. Thik hai, Hair pin main hi dhund leta hun. Waise bhi aap to nikal hi rahi ho, in paiso se ab aapka kya kaam..hai na! ( He said this like a taunt )
That guy finds a hair pin nearby the dressing table. A photo album is also being kept there. Richa with his parents.
Chor: Iss photo mein kaun hain aapke sath?
Richa: Kaunsi photo?
The thief shows her that photo album. Richa takes it from his hand.
Richa: Maa- Baba.
Chor: Par ismein to aap kitni khush lag rahi ho!
Richa: Ye photo purani hai.
Chor: Toh kya huya, Maa Baap toh abhi bhi sath hain na! Apun ne toh last time kab apne Baap ko dekha tha yaadich nahi. Log kahte hain train ke niche aake kut gya tha. Par Maa boli thi usne suisise kiyela tha.
Richa: Suicide.
Chor: Haan, wahich, jo aap karnewali ho. Suna tha mere Baap ko juye ki lat lagi thi, juye ne le duba usko, wo toh mar gya , par apun ki Maa ke sar par sara bojh daal gya. Maa ghar ghar bartan maanjti thi, main aur mera chota bhai, dono ka pet pala hai usne. Fir ekdin wo bhi guzar gyi. Hospital ke doctor o ne bola koi lambi chaoudi beemari hui thi, ab to sala wo beemari ka naam yaadich nahi. Par Maa ki bahut yaad aati hai. Tumhari to puri family hi sath hai na, fir bhi aise pankhe se latakne jaa rahi ho !
Richa: Main kis haal se guzar rahi hun, yeh koi nahi samajh sakta!
Chor: Yeh baat toh Sala sola aane sach hai, aurat ko koi nahi samajh sakta. Pinky, meri girl firend, mere hi moholle mein rahti thi...bahut chahta tha use...aare Maa ke gale ki chain bech ke uske liye anguthi khareedne wala tha. Par Saali ne dhokha de diya...bhaag gyi kisi aur ke sath.
Richa: Pyaar mein sirf dhokha hi milta hai!
Chor: Pata hai Madam, apun ka bhi usdin solid mann kiya tha, aise hi suii, suii...suicide kar daalu. Sala khatamich kar dalu is life ko.
Richa: Fir?
Chor: Fir kya Madam...marna cancel kar diya! Sala aise dhokhebaaz logon ke liye bhi koi jaan deta hai kya! Itna faltu bhi nahi hai apun. Fir mereko Shilpa mili...meri biwi...bahut hi beau...wo kya bolte ho aap..beau..
Richa: Beautiful.
Chor: Haan, wahich...mast hai ekdum. Ab toh Pinky ki yaadich nahi aati apunko.
Richa: Aise hi kisiko bhula dena aasan hai kya!
Chor: Bole to aasan to nahi hota Madam, par uske liye aise apni jaan de dena, ye to bewkufi hai.
Meanwhile he is trying to break that closet-lock with that hair pin. Finally he opens it up.
Chor: Wo kya hai na Madam, apun ka iss dhande mein zyada din nahi hua, toh ye sare chabi-wabi , bole toh Master-key abtak banwaye nahi...(smiling)
But he can't find any cash there.
Chor: OO teri! Yahan toh koi maal nahi . Bekar mein time kharab kia!
Richa: Maine toh pahle hi kaha tha.
Chor: Koi gahne- jewar wagera...
Richa: Kuch nahi hai, sare bech diye Arun ne.
Chor: Kya solid boyfriend hai tumhara Madam. Tumhare paise, tumhare gahne - sab leke bhag gya, aur tumne abtak police ko bataich bhi nahi!
Richa: Police!
Chor: Kya madam, chor naam se badnaam sirf apun log hi hain, baki maal toh sab sala usich ne saaf kiyela hai na ! Asal chor toh wahich hua fir! Aur aap ek chor ke liye mar rahi ho!...kya baat hai!...bade logon ki badi badi baatein..apun ki samajh se bahar. Achha madam ghar mein kuch khane ko hai...? Khasi mehnat kar dali , aur mila thenga, kuch khana hai to de do...
Richa: Fridge mein hai.
The guy found a cake inside the fridge.
Chor: Aare cake hai toh! Kisika happy birthday hai kya?
Richa: Haan, mera birthday tha , kal.
Chor: OO teri! solid party hui hogi na kal! tum bade log to badi badi hotel o par mast party karte hoge!
Richa: Haan...1 lakh ka bill aaya hai , jiska payment bhi mujhe hi karna hai! Lekin mere A/c mein koi paisa nahi ...sare Arun ne nikal liye...
Chor: Awww! Toh iss liye jaan de rahi ho apni...karz ka bhoot bada kharab hota hai Madam, sar pe chad jaye to insaan ko le dubta hai..apun ka baap bhi toh karz se hi mara...aur wo karz aajtak apun chuka raha hai...tum toh kat logi, par tumhara karz tumhara baap ya maa zindegi bhar chukate rahenge!
Richa: Baat sirf yehi nahi hai...
Chor: Toh fir?...ohh...mereko maloom hai, tum yehich puchogi , isse mereko kya matlab...hai na!
Richa: I am pregnant.
Chor: Pregnant bole toh...?
Richa: Main Arun ke bachhe ki ...
Chor: Ohhh..samajh gya..matlab tum sirf jaan de nahi rahi, jaan le bhi rahi ho!
Richa: Matlab?
Chor: Arre Matlabi aurat, wo bachha, uska kya kasoor, usne to koi lafda na kia, to uske naam ka bill kyun phaad rahi ho tum! Use kyun maar rahi ho! Padhe-likhe samajhdaar log ho, TVich par itna achha kaam karti ho, 2 rotiyan kamakar khila nahi paogi kya apne bachhe ko! Apunka baap jab mara apun ka bhai Maa ke pet mein tha,..Maa chahti toh mere bhai ko wahinch maar sakti thi, par usne mehnat ki, imaandari se apna aur hamara pet pala...aise tumhari tarha haar ke bhag nahi gyi wo..
Meanwhile he finishes eating.
Chor: Khair, mere ko isse kya...cake bahut achha tha waise. Wo kya kahte hain...Happywala Birthday aapko.
Suddenly he found that Banarasi saree, tying on the ceiling.
Chor: OO teri! Ye saree toh solid lag rahi hai...kafi mehengi hogi na!
Richa: Designer saree hai, maine special order deke banwaya tha , meri shaadi ke liye...
Chor: Meri biwi bhi bolti rahti hai aisaich ek saree lake do...laal rang bahut pasand hai usko...paagal!
Richa is pondering something deeply.
Chor: Chalo fir, thik hai madam. Chalta hun..ab toh upar hi milenge.

He is about to leave from there, reaches nearby the main door, suddenly being stopped by Richa's call.

Richa: Hey suno...tumhara naam kya hai?
Chor: Bunty. (smiling)
Richa: Ye leke jao.
She is offering him that red beautiful Banarasi saree. The Guy looks surprised.
Chor : Ye aap mereko de rahi hain!...kyun?
Richa: Aisehi, Tumhari biwi khush ho jayegi.
Chor: Par ye saree agar mereko de dogi toh aap kis mein se latkogi...? Aur bhi saree hain na aapke paas?
Richa: Nahi hai...
She is smiling now.
Chor: Matlab marna Cancel !
He said it innocently. Richa bursts out laughing for the very 1st time.
Richa: Thank u Bunty.
Chor: Kya Madam, life mein pahelich baar koi kisi chor ko "Thank u" bola hoga.
(He smiles.)
Chor: Chalta hai apan.
Richa: Bye.
She smiles back. Suddenly heard her cell phone is ringing. She takes the call; it's her dad, sounds really worried.
Richa's dad: Beta, tum phone kyun nahi utha rahi thi...Teesta ka bhi call aya mujhe...tum thik toh ho na beta...? Tumhari Maa bhi pareshan hain..
Richa: Don't worry Baba, main ab thik hun...
Richa continues with this conversation. She is smiling now, it's like she is getting her life back all over again.