episode : " who is dev "
2082 Words
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The drums beat dramatically. Villagers shower flowers and sing songs to welcome the Bose family. A large car stops. Out steps a dignified elderly man — Thakurda’s old friend, Mr. Brajen Bose. With him are his wife, children, and grandchildren.
---
Deb stands at the front door, humble-faced, and greets them with folded hands.
Deb (smiling):
“Welcome, Bose Kaku. Thakurda has been talking about you for so long…”
Brajen Bose (smiling):
“I too remember the old days. This courtyard, the mango tree… everything feels just the same.”
Thakurda arrives — the two embrace, their voices trembling with emotion. Everyone claps.
---
Cut to: The courtyard — the youngsters are chatting.
Karish is searching for her phone. Suddenly, Ahana, the smart granddaughter of the Bose family who speaks English-mixed Bengali, bumps into her and walks past. Karish spins around.
Karish:
“Can’t you watch where you’re walking?”
Ahana (laughing):
“Oh, nobody told me you’re so sensitive!”
Karish:
“And you don’t understand that this is my house. You’re a guest here, so learn some manners!”
Ahana:
“Manners I only keep for well-mannered people.”
Karish gets angry. Their eyes lock — everyone stops to watch. Rupsa and Tithi rush over to hold Karish back. Piyasa whispers:
“A new drama begins!”
---
Cut to: Thakurda laughing as he tells Brajen:
“This new generation always starts conversations with a quarrel!”
Brajen:
“If there’s no quarrel, the story never gets interesting! The old fragrance of this house is coming back again!”
---
Scene: Morning puja begins — in the palace courtyard, incense, conch shells, and drums fill the air.
The courtyard is decorated in red-and-white. The priest chants mantras.
---
Hriday and Rupsa
Hriday stands with flowers in hand. Rupsa looks beautiful in a sari. The priest says, “Offer the flowers together.” Rupsa shyly folds her hands.
Hriday (whispering in her ear):
“Why so quiet? You’re not acting now.”
Rupsa (smiling):
“On puja day, at least try to be good.”
They offer flowers together. Piyasa smiles in the background.
---
Kartik and his wife
His wife stands quietly.
Kartik:
“What are you thinking?”
Wife (soft voice):
“May God protect this family…”
They offer flowers in silence, their hands brushing lightly.
---
Kabir and Shilpi
Shilpi, face sulking with anger.
Kabir (from the side):
“Smile a little, everyone’s watching.”
Shilpi (turning away):
“You can hide everything. I can at least act a little.”
Still, they offer flowers together, though Shilpi looks elsewhere.
---
Shiv and Piyasa
Piyasa looks beautiful in a sari.
Shiv (smiling at her):
“I didn’t feel like offering flowers without you.”
Piyasa (smiling):
“May God make you a little better.”
The priest says, “Throw the flowers.” They exchange sweet smiles.
---
Deb, alone
While everyone is busy as couples, Deb stands alone in a corner, staring at the deity. Thakurda watches from afar.
An elderly servant whispers:
“Deb Babu does everything alone… today too, he has no one.”
---
Karish and Ahana quarrel again at the corner of the pandal
Ahana:
“This pandal isn’t as beautiful as ours.”
Karish:
“Then why are you here?”
Tithi pulls them both away.
---
The air is filled with drums and conch shells. Villagers sing:
“Let evil leave, let good enter…”
Camera slowly focuses on the deity’s face…
---
Scene: Evening — preparations for the Sandhya Arti.
Tithi and Deb
Deb is outside the pandal, giving instructions to a worker. Tithi suddenly arrives.
Tithi (in a hurt voice):
“Since morning I’ve been sitting in your room, and you never came. I thought at least once you’d get angry.”
Deb (calmly):
“What’s the use of anger? You’re doing as you wish. But after evening, I want my room back.”
Tithi (smiling):
“Let’s see who gets there first!”
Deb looks at her for a moment, then smiles faintly.
---
Thakurda’s room — Thakurda and his friend chatting
Friend:
“Your house feels like a movie set now. Which room will you even call yours!”
Thakurda (laughing):
“I just watch… to see who is genuine and who is only a shell. When I see Deb, I feel peace.”
Friend:
“And Kabir?”
Thakurda:
“He still thinks he’s my heir. But inheritance is not just by blood — it must be proved by deeds.”
---
Rupsa and Hriday, near the kitchen
Rupsa is helping with cooking. Hriday comes in smiling.
Hriday:
“My wife in the kitchen! Did you think I’d help?”
Rupsa:
“I never expected that from you.”
Hriday (winking):
“Good you didn’t. I’ve come to eat.”
They share a sweet quarrel.
---
Kabir and Shilpi, in a private room
Shilpi:
“When this puja drama is over, I’ll get the truth out of Thakurda.”
Kabir:
“Your curiosity worries me. Calm down.”
Shilpi:
“If I calm down, you’ll lose the inheritance.”
Kabir grows serious.
---
Karish and Ahana — quarrelling again during the Arti
Ahana:
“Even during Arti you won’t let me stand?”
Karish:
“Stand a little back, I can’t see the deity.”
Tithi enters:
“Both of you stand away from the deity — then you’ll quarrel less.”
All three laugh.
---
Evening Arti — Deb waves the incense. Thakurda prays with closed eyes, blessing him.
Camera pans to Rupsa-Hriday, Kabir-Shilpi, Shiv-Piyasa, Kartik and his wife, Tithi, Karish — everyone’s faces lit by the Arti’s glow.
Thakurda’s mood turns solemn — as if he’s thinking deeply. He looks at Deb… as though deciding something.
---
Lunch — everyone eating together.
Thakurda’s old friend Madhusudan Babu joins. Stories are shared.
Madhusudan Babu (smiling):
“I’ve known your grandson Hriday since childhood. The way he manages the business now — it’s clear how mature he’s become. Handling city branches and the house so well!”
(The room falls quiet, everyone listening.)
Madhusudan Babu continues:
“And Deb — he’s like the shadow of this family. From outside, anyone would think he’s Thakurda’s own son!”
Suddenly Kabir’s father interrupts mockingly:
“What does Deb really do! He only takes care of Thakurda — that’s all!”
(Silence. Thakurda slowly sets down his spoon.)
Thakurda (narrow-eyed, in a stern voice):
“Deb only takes care of me? He finished his studies, did management at a big city institute. He runs his own business, manages our lands, mills, shops. These havelis — which you don’t even visit once a year — Deb looks after them all!”
(The room is silent.)
Thakurda turns to Kabir:
“And your son? Went abroad, dropped out of studies, suddenly married, and returned! Still does nothing, just waits to inherit!”
(Kabir turns away uncomfortably. Shilpi looks grim. Hriday lowers his head, Rupsa squeezes his hand.)
Madhusudan Babu (laughing):
“The real gems of your family are hidden, I doubt you even know!”
(Thakurda now looks at Deb with a faint smile.)
“Deb, come bring me some food. The others just listen, you do.”
---
Evening — Deb sits alone in the back veranda of the haveli, gazing into the distance, silent pain in his eyes.
The air smells of soil. Hriday slowly comes and sits beside him.
Hriday (quietly):
“I knew I’d find you here… so I came.”
Deb (forcing a small smile):
“When I sit silently, no one notices. And I’m like that… invisible.”
Hriday (serious):
“Don’t belittle yourself, Deb. I know who you are… what you do for this family.”
Deb (eyes lowered, voice trembling):
“You know, but others don’t. I’ve given my life for every corner of this house, for every person. I stood by Thakurda when my parents died… but still no one truly accepts me.”
Hriday (softly):
“Who doesn’t?”
Deb (eyes moist):
“Some think I serve Thakurda just to grab the property. They believe I plan everything so one day it all becomes mine.”
Hriday (firmly):
“Let them think. I know, Thakurda knows, Ma knows… who you are. You’ve carried this family like a shadow. I’m ashamed I haven’t said this enough.”
(Silence. Deb nods faintly.)
Deb (quietly):
“Those words… were all I needed.”
Hriday (smiling softly):
“Come on, get up. There’s still work to do. Thakurda can’t be without you for an hour. And now… I’ll be by your side too.”
(Deb looks at Hriday, saying nothing, only gratitude shining in his eyes.)
---
Scene: Afternoon, after lunch — in the haveli veranda.
Tithi, Piyasa, Rupsa, and Karish sit together, chatting in the breeze.
Tithi (annoyed):
“I can’t stay another night in that room. No proper window, and the ceiling fan sounds like a plane taking off!”
Rupsa (laughing):
“So what will you do now? Dada clearly said no room changes.”
Tithi (pouting):
“You’re all against me!”
Piyasa (winking):
“I have an idea…”
Tithi (excited):
“What? Tell me!”
Piyasa (dramatically):
“If you just marry Deb, then his room will be your room. And Deb too will be—” (winks) “yours!”
Rupsa and Karish (bursting into laughter):
“Piyasa’s right!”
Tithi (face red, eyes wide):
“You… you’re all crazy! I won’t say anything!” (She turns away, but hides a small smile.)
Piyasa (teasing):
“Oh, those red cheeks say everything!”
Rupsa (laughing):
“Deb doesn’t even know people are fighting over his room!”
Tithi (softly, to herself):
“Does he really… I mean… never mind.”
Piyasa (to Rupsa, laughing):
“You’ve become such a calm housewife! Weren’t you the one who used to get angry at the office?”
Rupsa (smiling):
“What can I do? I’m a wife now.”
Tithi (winking):
“You don’t get scared in front of Hriday da?”
Rupsa (smiling shyly):
“Not scared… I mean… he’s always so serious. But even he has changed a lot.”
(Everyone laughs. A quiet, peaceful smile rests on Rupsa’s face. She looks around. Suddenly she falls silent, a crease on her forehead.)
Rupsa (to herself, silently):
“Six months… only six months… then this contract marriage ends. After that… I’ll have to leave these people, this family, Hriday… everything?”
(A strange fear, an unknown sorrow fills her eyes. The laughter around her fades. She forces a smile.)
Rupsa (to herself, with a painful smile):
“This laughter, this happiness… only for a few months. After that? Maybe no one will even remember me.”
(Piyasa holds her hand.)
Piyasa:
“Rupsa? You okay? Why so quiet suddenly?”
Rupsa (shaking her head, smiling):
“No, I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
---
Scene: Night — the moon shines. In the back garden, Hriday and Shiv sit with glasses, silent and heavy-hearted.
Hriday (seriously, in a low voice):
“You know, Shiv… I married Rupsa in a contract marriage… because I wanted property. I thought if I married, Thakurda would give me more.”
Hriday (looking down):
“I admit, in the beginning, I wanted to use Rupsa. But now… I don’t know why, when she laughs, when she mixes with the family… I feel I’m wrong.”
Shiv (gently):
“Realizing your mistake is the biggest step, brother.”
Hriday (choked voice):
“But you know, Shiv… I’ve done nothing for this family. Deb has done everything. Thakurda’s business, the villagers, the house — all managed by him. Yet he gets nothing but suspicion.”
Shiv (thoughtful):
“Deb never asks for anything. He’s giving himself away for this family. And we… we just take. We never thought to give back.”
Hriday (head lowered):
“I hate myself, Shiv. Rupsa never says it, but I know… in her eyes, there’s still no real feeling for me. I know this marriage, this bond… will end one day.”
Shiv:
“If you really want to change something… now is the time. Stand by Deb, and stand by Rupsa.”
Hriday (eyes teary):
“Will I be able to, Shiv?”
Shiv (placing a hand on his shoulder):
“You’re Hriday… you will. And if you can’t, I’ll be here to push you forward.”
- Writer
