BISMIL

Chapter 3

KATHUA - MORNING

A Military Jeep with five soldiers in it is returning from their usual night patrol to their base. As the truck crossed the first checkpoint and entered the village, a 16 year old boy carrying hay for the cows stopped the jeep by standing in the middle of the street.

A solider gets out from the jeep and asks the boy to move aside. The boy drops the hay and comes running towards the solider. The boy hugs the solider and pushes him towards the jeep. As they reached closer to the boy, the boy pushes the button on the trigger he was hiding inside his palm. The boy, the solider and the jeep blew into pieces, painting the street red in blood.

INT.  AT AL-AMANIYAT BASE - MORNING

Sakeeb -Al Hassan is sitting in front of the television and watching news of the death of 5 soldiers in a suicide bomb attack at Kathua.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan applauds with huge laughs. Shafeek, who was standing behind him comes closer to the television. He reads the news headline that was scrolling in the bottom of the screen.

Shafeek (shocked)
"You used a 16 year old kid ?"

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"Yes. You think they would let any grown-up come closer to them ?"

Sakeeb -Al Hassan (uncontrollable laughs)
"Bloody Indian soldiers....dead."

Shafeek
"But father...he was just a boy."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"He is a warrior. He gave his life for our religion."

Ajmal, who was waiting in the other room comes to the room.

Ajmal
"Shafeek. Don't question your father ?"

Shafeek
"Then you tell me brother. Why are we killing our men ?"

Ajmal
"It's a sacrifice the people from our race has to face."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"Shafeek. Enough."

Shafeek remains silent.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan
"Every kid, men , women... everyone of them is a warrior who will protect this land and their rights."

Sakeeb -Al Hassan cont'd
"The kid that sacrificed his life will have a place in heaven."

Shafeek nods.

Ajmal takes Shafeek with him.

TOWNHALL - NOON

Master Ji, Missiaha and five other men are standing at the atge. Master Ji is directing his new play - The devil's spit. Shafeek is sitting in front of the stage, eating roasted nuts in a paper cone.

Missiaha, overing his face with a white cloth leans towards the actor who has covered his face with black cloth.

Missiaha
"Tumne jo hawao ko kaha tha pyaar ....Aaj toofan ne bhi khud ko pyaar samjh baita hai."

Master Ji (interrupts)
"Missah... bring more feel to the lines."

Missiaha nods. She tries again and again and again and on her third attempt she could reach at par with what Master Ji wanted. Master Ji appreciates Missiaha.

Master Ji turns towards the sound of whistle that interrupted their play. The actors and Shafeek turned to the direction of the sound and saw police officers coming towards them.

Police officer
"Come on...go to your houses."

Shafeek stands up. Police officer and Shafeek comes face to face of eachother.

Police officer
"Don't act smart. Go to your house."

Shafeek looks at the badge. The badge said 'Dibakar Biswa'.

Master Ji gets down from the stage. He comes to Shafeek and pulls him away from Dibakar.

Master Ji
"What happened sir ?"

Dibakar
"You people kill our soldiers and act like you don't know anything."

Master Ji
"Sir, we are artists. We don't know anything about it."

Dibakar (pushes Master ji to a side)
"Enough uncle. Now go to your home."

Dibakar uses his lathi and hits on the poles and benches while walking around the town hall and asking people to stay in their house.

Missiaha and Shafeek walks towards their home.

ROAD

Missiaha and Shafeek and walking towards their home.

Missiaha
"It's all because of your father. We couldn't even practice it enough."

Shafeek
"He is doing it for us."

Shafeek cont'd
"He wants us to prosper."

Missiaha
"Prosper...my foot."

Shafeek
"You won't understand."

Shafeek and Missiaha continues walking.

EXT. SAKEEB -AL HASSAN'S HOUSE

As Missiaha and Shafeek reached their home, Shafeek see few cars packed outside his house.

Missiaha
"You have guests I guess ?"

Shafeek
"Hmm.."

Shafeek walks into his house.

INT. SAKEEB -AL HASSAN'S HOUSE

Shafeek enters the house to see his father being appreciated by some members of the ruling political party of Kashmir. Mustaq Rahim Abbasi, the MP from Kashmir see Shafeek standing at the door. He walk towards the door.

He puts his hand over Shafeek's shoulder.

Mustaq
"Your father is a warrior."

Mustaq cont'd
"Warriors like him are born only once in a million years."

Shafeek smiles.

Mustaq
"He said, you would lead Al-Amaniyat after him."

Shafeek (smiles)
"I don't know."

Mustaq
"We want Sakib to be in politics. He can make our Kashmir great again."

Mustaq cont'd
"And, if Allah be so grateful on us....the flag of Al-Amaniyat will rise with ours on this land."

Shafeek nods.

Shafeek gently moves Mustaq's arm from his shoulder. He stand next to his father.

Sakeeb -Al Hassan (whispers)
"Didn't you wanted to know why I killed those soliders ? This is the answer."

Mustaq see Sakeeb whispering.

Mustaq
"C'mon Sakeeb....what's it. What are you whispering in Shafeek's ears ?"

Sakeeb -Al Hassan (smirks)
"Nothing..."

Rumaniya comes out from the kitchen.

Rumaniya
"Lunch is ready. Mustaq sir, why don't you eat with us."

Mustaq
"Sure ...sure."

Mustaq, Shafeek, Sakeeb -Al Hassan and other members of Mustaq's party go to the kitchen.

INT. GRAVEYARD -NIGHT

Shafeek and Muniya are sitting next to eachother, facing the tomb of Shaikh Saira Bano.

Shafeek recites a poem.

Dil ka andhera...
Hai raat se bhi gehra...
Baato ke sur mein phase to Lage...
Har chehra sunnhaira...

Jo chal rahi
Hai guzar gayi
Jo khabr mein lejaaye..
Bas woh hi kamaye

Muniya meows.

Shafeek (looking at the cat)
"I know it's not good."

Shafeek rubs Muniya's head.

Shafeek
"How long are you gonna guard this souls which died with unfulfilled desire?"

'Kya mein bhi unhi sa hu...
Jo marr gaya sapne adhoore chod kar ?
Kya mein bhi unhi sa hu ..
Jo marr gaya Zinda ho kar?
Kya mein bhi unhi sa hu ..
Jisse tu rakhegi iss chaar diwaar ke andar rikh kar?'

Shafeek smiles looking at Muniya and gets up. He dusts off his pants and walks out of the graveyard.