BISMIL

CHAPTER 1

KASHMIR

The land which is known as the  beauty and blood-stained paradise on Earth has the pages of love, emotion and war torn out of its history. The history of Sakeeb -Al Hassan, Shafeek Rahman and Missiaha.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan, the leader of an extremist group working in the outskirts of Kashmir, operating as a link that connects the terrorists from Pakistan with Indian, has the fame and power to control the happenings in Kashmir. People follow him for his religious views. The common men of Kashmir think of him as a revolutionary fighter fighting for the rights of Muslims. With his extremist approach towards the problems of Muslims in India, Sakeeb -Al Hassan has generated a cult following.

The 60 year old Sakeeb -Al Hassan is now trying to pass on his leadership to his son Shafeek Rahman, named after his grandfather.

Shafeek was good at studies so, Sakeeb helped him pursue Electrical engineering with a view that he could use his skills in their groups future missions. But, Shafeek was soft as a flower. He was not a war boy. He was a poet. His hands never touched a gun with a view of hurting anyone.  He was an artist and was working to be one. A famous poet/song writer from Kashmir. He had his mother's support. But, for the society where Shafeek was born, the voice of the women are seldom heard.

Shafeek is now working with his father. Trying his best to impress him while his father is trying hard to mould Shafeek like himself. He wants Shafeek to be a brave soldier who protects the values of Islam as well as protect his land and his brothers and sisters from being exploited by people of other religions.

THE TOWN HALL - NOON

The practice session of 'Satranj' a drama written and directed by Oasi Khan (Master ji) is being held in the open stage of the town hall. Missiaha is playing the lead role of Chidiya, the girl who has to break the cage she is in, for her to see the sky.

Seven men wearing black shawls and Missiaha wearing a white shawl are practicing their play. Master Ji is sitting at the stairs and directing them. Few villagers are watching their session.

Whistle blows.

Missiaha and others stop their play. Master Ji and the crowd watching the play turn around.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan, Shafeek and seven bodyguards of Sakeeb -Al Hassan walk towards the center of the town hall. They are dragging a woman whose face is covered with a black plastic bag. Sakeeb -Al Hassan is wearing a long white kurta with a black shawl covering the top half of his body. Shafeek is wearing an orange kurta with a brown nehru jacket over it. The bodyguards are wearing grey kurtas with black pyjamas.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan gets onto the stage.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"Move."

Missiaha and others vacate the stage.

Shafeek gets onto the stage. The head of Sakeeb -Al Hassan's security, Ajmal Yaqub Shaikh gets onto the stage and he pulls the woman up onto the stage. The screams of the woman echoes around the town hall. She is trying to free herself but, the strong hold of two men standing on both sides of her with their arms wrapped around her wrist makes all her attempts fail.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"Attention!!"

Missiaha and others stand behind Master ji. Master Ji and others stare at the stage.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"It's a sin to walk through the path of selfishness. We are working here selflessly.... following the words of the Quran to make this place our heaven. And then, there are people like this lady who want to live a life of their own."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan cont'd
"Allah has given us life to make this world believe in him. And in this world created by him, there is no place for traitors like her."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan looks at Shafeek. He knew the meaning of this look. Shafeek quickly grabs the gun and hands it to his father.

Two men pull the woman towards the stone pillar. They pull her hands and tie them behind the pillar.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan walks closer to the woman.

Master Ji (to his students)
"You'll shouldn't see watch it. Go...all  go back to their houses."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan see Master Ji and his students leaving the town hall.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"No...no.no. No one can leave this town hall until I'm done."

Shafeek goes running towards the Master ji.

Shafeek
"Please be seated Master ji."

Shafeek looks at Missiaha.

Shafeek
"Missa... please."

Master Ji looks at his students and signs them to sit.

Shafeek turns around and looks at his father with a smile. His smile seeking acknowledgement, appreciation and worthiness from his father.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan gives a single nod. He turns to the woman again.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"Remove her mask. Let the city see the face of this traitor."

The men holding the woman's arm removes the black plastic bag from her face.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"She let the blood of Hindu grow in her."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan cont'd
"And he who loves the almighty would never let a woman live who has a devil growing in her womb."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan takes out his pistol. He tosses it to Ajmal.

As a proud man to have recieved his first gift from his father, Ajmal walk towards the center of the chest. He takes a deep breath to let himself in the moment and shoots the woman right in her stomach. The white kurta of the woman turns red and she falls off the stage as the men loosen their girp.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan quickly turns to look at the face of Shafeek, who has tightly closed his eyes, unable to witness the evil that was happening on the stage.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan (announces)
"For him I'll do sins coz, I'm the son he has chosen to cleanse this world for his return."

There was no reaction from the crowd as it's was something usual that was happening in their townhall.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan (to his men)
"Bury her."

Shafeek runs towards the stage. He stand below the stage, near the woman's dead body.

Shafeek
"I'll bury her."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan nods.

INT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT

Shafeek is standing alone in the graveyard. There is black cat wandering around the graveyard to give his company.

Shafeek has dug a 6 feet deep hole in the snow to bury the dead body of the woman.

Shafeek the pulls the woman into the hole. The black cat (Muniya) jumps infront of Shafeek.

Shafeek (smiles)
"What happened, Muniya ?"

Shafeek cont'd
"Want to hear a poetry?"

Muniya meows and sit in front of Shafeek.

While shoving snow into the hole, Shafeek sings...

"Jinn sa andhera hai
Logo mein iss mulk ke
Haath mein bandook lekar
Lambi neend inhe Sona hai

Che foot ke zameen par hi toh wapas lautna hai
Zindagi to yu hi kal bhi aise hi jeena hai
Bandook aur barood ko lekar gaa rahi hai Lorhi kahi dur,
Mujhe bhi toh har  raat ussi maa ke paas firse jaana hai."

After filling the hole with soil and mud, Shafeek keeps a small stone over it. He plays with muniya and walks out of the graveyard.