Echoes of MaAn: Love beyond Separation

||96|| The Great Kapadia Script-Off

The sun shone brightly the next morning as Anupama gathered Aadhymaan's things, preparing to take him to the nearby park. "Aadhymaan, are you ready to go play with your friends?" she cooed, playfully tickling her baby boy's tiny feet. He gurgled in response, wiggling with excitement.

Anuj watched from the doorway, his heart swelling at the sight of his wife and son. Today was the perfect day to continue planning the surprise play for Anupama's birthday. Once she left with Aadhymaan, he would gather everyone and finally hear their weird and wonderful ideas for the script.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind Anupama, Anuj sprang into action. "Alright, team!" he called out, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "Let's get started before she gets back. Bring your scripts and ideas to the living room—this is going to be epic!"

One by one, the family members shuffled into the room, each holding a piece of paper or a notebook filled with their ideas. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air as they took their seats, eagerly waiting for their turn to present.

Anuj sat at the head of the room, like a director about to audition a cast of eccentric actors. "Okay, who's going first?"

1. Ankush's Bizarre Alternate History: Shah Jahan's South Indian Restaurant

(I took this Shah Jahan building a South Indian restaurant instead of Taj Mahal idea From Mr Roshesh Sarabhai not indravadan..)

Ankush shot up from the couch, holding his script like it was a priceless manuscript. "I'll go first! Brace yourselves for greatness," he announced dramatically, pacing back and forth.

"So, picture this," he began, with the enthusiasm of a director pitching a blockbuster. "Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, is all set to build the Taj Mahal. But! Instead of building the Taj, he gets this brilliant idea to open a South Indian restaurant!"

The room erupted in laughter before Ankush could even continue.

"Wait, it gets better!" he said, holding up his hand. "The name of the restaurant? 'Dosa Mahal.' Shah Jahan is obsessed with creating the world's best masala dosa. He's talking to his architects, telling them, 'Forget marble! We need a massive tawa!'"

By now, Barkha and Saara were wiping tears of laughter from their eyes.

"And instead of having artisans and masons working on the monument, he hires chefs and servers. They're all competing to make the fluffiest idlis and the most delicious sambhar. The dramatic climax? Shah Jahan trying to convince Mumtaz that dosa-making is a more lasting legacy than a mausoleum."

Anuj clutched his stomach, laughing. "I don't know if Mumtaz would be impressed, but this is genius!"

Ankush grinned, satisfied with the response. "I think it's got potential."

2. Barkha's Rom-Com Gone Wrong: Dilwale Dulhania Lekar Nahin Gaye

Next, Barkha jumped up, waving her script like a flag. "Okay, okay, it's my turn. I've got a spin on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, but this one is called Dilwale Dulhania Lekar Nahin Gaye!" she said with a flourish.

Everyone leaned in, curious.

"So, in my version, Raj and Simran keep missing each other because—get this—Raj can't get out of traffic!" Barkha explained. "It's like every time he tries to meet Simran, he's stuck in traffic jams, train delays, road closures, you name it."

"Oh no," Saara giggled, shaking her head. "Poor Raj!"

"Exactly!" Barkha continued. "The entire play is just Raj's failed attempts to get to Simran while she waits for him in various scenic locations—fields, mountains, airports—but he's always stuck in a traffic jam, honking at autorickshaws and shouting at cows on the road. And the whole time, there's dramatic Bollywood music playing in the background."