[Scene: Evening. Ahana ghar lautti hai. She looks tired, holding her bag. Monika drawing room mein baithi hai, coffee table par magazines scattered hain. TV chal raha hai.]

Monika (loudly, jaise command deti ho):

Arre, finally madam ghar aa gayi. Sun, seedha kitchen mein ja. Floor kitna ganda ho rakha hai, saaf kar de.

Ahana (thoda hesitant, halki muskaan ke saath):

Ji mom… abhi karti hoon.

[Ahana apna bag side table par rakh kar silently mop nikalti hai. Jaise hi woh floor saaf kar rahi hoti hai, Monika uski taraf nazar daal kar sarcastic tone mein bolti hai.]

Monika:

Hadd hai… ek simple kaam bhi theek se nahi hota tujhse. Dekh zara, corner mein ganda reh gaya. Tumse kuch umeed hi nahi rakh sakti.

Ahana (softly, apni awaaz daba kar):

Mom, main dobara kar deti hoon…

[Monika irritate hoke uthti hai. Ahana ke paas aakar uska mop kheench leti hai aur gusse mein uska wrist tightly pakad leti hai.]

Monika (cruel tone):

Tujhe sikhana padta hai har cheez… tu kabhi perfect ho hi nahi sakti. Har din mujhe sirf disappointment milta hai tujhse.

[Monika uska wrist itna zor se pakadti hai ki Ahana ke chehre par dard clearly dikhta hai. Ahana chup rehti hai, aansoon aankhon mein bhar aate hain.]

[Doorbell bajta hai. Monika turant uska haath chhod deti hai aur ek cold look deti hai.]

Monika (halki awaz mein, threatening tone):

Lagta hai tera baap aa gaya. Ek shabd bhi mooh se nikala na toh yaad rakhna, isse bhi zyada dard doongi. Ab chup-chaap apne kamre mein chali ja.

Ahana (tears wipe karte hue):

Ji…

[Ahana silently apne room ki taraf chali jaati hai, haath rub karte hue.]

Harsh (smiling, jaise hamesha):

Darling, itni der kyun lagayi door kholne mein?

Monika (fake sweet smile ke saath):

Arre, bas kitchen mein thodi safai kar rahi thi. Aur Ahana… wo apne room mein padh rahi hai.

Harsh:

Theek hai. Main jaata hoon usse milne.

[Monika andar hi andar panic karti hai, lekin face par smile bana leti hai.]

Monika (in mind):

Bas Bhagwan kare yeh ladki kuch na bole… warna mera game khatam.

[Harsh Ahana ke kamre ke darwaze par knock karta hai. Ahana quickly aansoon wipe karti hai aur door kholti hai.]

Ahana (fake smile ke saath):

Dad, aap aa gaye. Come inside…

[Harsh uska haath dekhta hai, thoda swelling noticeable hoti hai.]

Harsh (concerned):

Yeh kya hua beta tumhare haath ko?

Ahana (quickly lie karte hue):

Wo… kal jab main apna gala theek karne ke liye garam paani bana rahi thi, thoda spill ho gaya tha. Kuch serious nahi hai.

Harsh:

Beta, mujhe bol deti… tumhari mom kar deti tumhare liye.

Ahana (softly):

Mom busy thi, isiliye main khud kar rahi thi.

[Monika door ke paas khadi unki baatein sun rahi hoti hai, thoda relief ke saath apne room chali jaati hai.]

Monika (in mind):

Thank God… ladki ne kuch nahi bola. Nahi toh aaj mera bura haal hota.

[Scene shifts — Harsh apne room mein jaata hai. Monika smile ke saath dinner ready karne ka drama karti hai.]

Monika:

Harsh, jao aap change kar lo. Main khana lagati hoon. Aaj hum teeno saath dinner karenge.

Harsh (happy):

Haan, theek hai. Bahut din ho gaye family dinner ko.

[Camera pans to Ahana’s room — she sits quietly on her bed, apne wrist par ointment lagati hai, aankhon mein aansoon aur dimaag mein ek hi thought — kab tak sehna padega ye sab?]