THE BANGLE MANSION

Meera was a girl aged ten who lived in a thatched hut with her parents and her brother who was just three months old. Her father was the earning member of the family who was a fisherman who fished the whole week and sold them in the market during weekends for their livelihood while mother took cooked delicious food the whole day long for the family and took care of her infant brother. she went to a local school and was the most brilliant and enthusiastic student not to deny the fact that she was the teachers' pet too. During weekends she used to help her mother in her household chores and even played with her younger brother who loved her a lot.
Meera's passion towards bangles and collecting them was a known fact to her family. Every week end she used to wait at the door step for her father to return with her colorful set of bangles, though at times her mother used to complain about the wastage of money because of her passion. But her father always encouraged her and got them every time he went to the market. She loved the sound the bangles made, the colors gave pleasure to her eyes.In fact Meera always used to have a dream of a big mansion filled with bangles of different colors and the dream always stopped at her standing at the door step. waking up in the morning she used to wonder what was inside that big mansion. But she loved her dream and wished it had tuned into reality
One unfortunate day tragedy struck their house and the house was washed away by floods. The father solely couldn't take care of the house, mother on the other hand couldn't leave the house as she had to take of the infant. The house was left with only one option of sending Meera to work. Unfortunately she had to quit school.
one fine day she was taken to this huge mansion. Few days passed by in the mansion. From the very first day Meera felt it was the same mansion that kept coming in her dreams. But not any more she loved her dream turned reality nor did she love to wake up in the morning to go there. Her passion turned into hatred. The colors hurt her eyes severely no more did they pleasure her eyes, the sound of bangles sounded like the call of death to her ears. Unfortunately the only thing she loved the most and craved for decided her fate as a bonded child labor in a bangle factory.

my 1st ever drama script..........

The Mystery Revealed
Characters
Laila
Meesha
Malathi the maid
Man
Pretty lady
Scene 1
(Laila is cleaning the room, Meesha is lying on the bed staring at the ceiling and humming an old song) (The clock shows 23:15)
Laila: Meesha, stop humming and please help me clean the room
(Meesha continues humming)
Laila: (with a sharp voice) Meesha
Meesha: (looks lethargically at Laila) ya will do it
Laila: hmmmm, I don’t see that happening any time soon
Meesha: Laila, I want to tell you something
Laila: (with a slightly surprised tone) what is it? You finally like somebody else? Did you break up with that jerk? Wow. I’ll be the happiest if it is so.
Meesha: (sharply) Laila!! Stop calling him a jerk.
Laila: (with a slight smirk) that’s what he is baby
Meesha: come on Laila, he is a nice guy and he loves me
Laila: (sarcastically) ya right
Meesha: whatever (rolls her eye balls), anyway that’s not what I wanted to discuss with.
Laila: then what is it?
Meesha: It’s about this house...
(Suddenly they hear the plates fall in the kitchen)
Laila: Malathi, is everything fine???
Malathi: (from the kitchen) nothing madam, the same cat.
Laila: (with a loud voice) oh ok, just give her some milk, poor thing must be hungry. (Turning to Meesha) you were telling me something
Meesha: Laila don’t you think there is something weird about this house
(Laila ignores and continues cleaning)
(Enters Malathi with a milk tray)
Malathi: bedtime milk madams
Meesha: Malathi, don’t you think there is something very spooky about this house???
Malathi: (sits next to Meesha’s cot) yes madam, this house has some activity going on. There is a long story...
Laila: (to Meesha and Malathi) can you guys please stop talking about this. Let’s ignore the fact.
Meesha: Malathi, what is it that you know??
Malathi: (slightly frightened) Madam, you know I have been in the city all my life this house has been giving a lot of stories to the village people. Even the other day when Ramu kaka wanted to tell me about this broker Natwarlal stopped him from doing so. (Whispering) there is a rumour that people who reveal the story die. And Ramu kaka is missing since from the day he told me the story.
Meesha: (inquisitively) Oh really. I would want to know the story.
Malathi: (fearfully) madam, you want me to get killed.
Meesha: come on Malathi, do u believe in that, you know Ramu kaka was unwell for quite some time. so must be at home.
Laila: Meesha I don’t think you should force her.
Meesha: oh come people Malathi now tell us what is it?
Malathi: ok madam if you insist.
(Laila and Meesha sit closer to Malathi with a curious look on their face)
Malathi: It is about Mr Sharma son and his lady love. And how she was burnt alive in this in this house, they say this house is haunted by her ghost.
Laila: (surprised) the owner of this house???
Malathi: Yes madam the same Mr Sharma
Laila: ok, isn’t he in London now?
Malathi: Yes he is.
Meesha: (irritated) could you guys stop your question and answering session now and Malathi could you please tell us the story.
Laila: Malathi, before she does something to us.
(Meesha just angrily stares at Laila)
Malathi: Mr Sangeeth Sharma was the most handsome guy in the whole of this village. He was the heartthrob of most of the village girls. His parents were really very sweet; he being the only son was pampered a lot by his family. His mother was very proud of her son reason being he was very handsome and yes was very smart. He studied in London, and then came down to India for good but he went back to london
Meesha: But why?
Laila: Meesha, there might be a reason for that let Malathi tell us the story only then we’ll know the truth behind his return to London
Malathi: yes madam there is a reason for him to return back to London.
Meesha: what is it?
Laila: do not spoil the suspense, Meesha.
Malathi: Ok now will you girls stop fighting and let me continue the story.
Laila and Meesha at the same time: sorry
Malathi: where was I?
Laila: he came down to India
Malathi: oh yes. Then he met this beautiful girl. Madam trust me when I say this I have not seen a prettier girl than her. Tamanna was her name like the name suggests she was absolutely desirous.
Meesha: oh you have seen her?
Malathi: yes madam she was from the neighbouring village and she used to come down to our village to meet her friends. One of her friend was Sangeeth sir’s best friend’s sister. And Tamanna madam used to visit her house. And Sangeeth sir also used to visit his friend’s house. And that is where they first met. And sir was mesmerised by her beauty.
Laila: sounds like one of those old Hindi movie where the actor and the actress meet.
Malathi: It was no less than that madam. Eventually they fell in love. Sangeeth sir was crazy about her. It was so beautiful to see them so much in love that the whole village used to admire the beauty.
Meesha: (curiously) Then what happened?
Laila: let her tell the story what is the hurry?
Malathi: Every girl envied her and every boy envied him, they were the talk of the town. Mr and Mrs Sharma also adored her. But Sangeeth sir’s cousin Sneh always had an eye on Tamanna madam. He was a year younger than Sangeeth sir. Sneh Sir was always jealous of Sangeeth sir as he used to get all the attention of the family as well as the village people to add it all Sangeeth sir and Tamanna madam were in love with each other. Sneh Sir always wanted Tamanna madam. In fact they studied in the same college and there were rumours that Sneh sir used to trouble Tamanna madam a lot. He even proposed to madam and she did not accept his proposal.
Meesha: ah there enters the villain of the movie.
Laila: Hmmm. So much like it.
Malathi: after few months Sangeeth sir and Tamanna Madam got engaged. (Dreamily) she looked like an angel that day. Sneh sir couldn’t accept the fact that they both got engaged. Few people in the village spoke that he tried to break the engagement a lot of times.
Laila: I can’t believe he actually tried to do that. I mean he was Sangeeth’s Cousin and (not knowing what to say further, Exclaims in shock) my goodness.
Malathi: Finally the marriage date was fixed. It was exactly a month after the engagement. Everybody in the family was very happy. Except for Sneh sir. Then on the marriage night Tamanna madam room was on fire. Nobody knew what happened and how the room set on fire but then sadly they could do anything the room was completely burnt. I hearad people say that they did not even find Tamanna madam’s body. It went missing
Meesha: How is it possible?
Malathi: Ramu kaka told me the rest the other Day. He says it was Sneh sir who set the room on fire. Actually Sneh sir tried to misbehave with Tamanna Madam and she slapped him. He could not take the humiliation so he set the room on fire.
Laila: (disgusted) what a jerk? How could he even think of doing something like that?
Meesha: exactly. How could he even think of killing somebody who is so beautiful?
Malathi: Sangeeth sir almost went into depression. Before anything more could happen, Mr and Mrs Sharma shifted to London.
Laila: oh ok. They have somebody in London
Malathi: Sharma sir’s younger brother lives there.
Meesha: What Happened to Tamanna?
Malathi: (in a spooky tone) they say she still lives in this house.
Meesha :( with the squeaky voice) really, lately I have been hearing a lot of weird noise
Laila: (Shocked) oh my god. Even I have been hearing some kind of weird noise.
(The clock strikes 00:00)
Laila: Ok people it’s high time we all crash.
Meesha: oh ya. I have to be out of bed by 7:30
(Malathi Pulls her mattress down from the top of the wardrobe and lays it down)
Laila: Gets into bed. Good night everybody (switches the light off)
Meesha: good night lai
(Malathi snoring away to glory)
Scene 2
(Laila wakes up to go to the washroom)(Clock shows 1:15)
Malathi: (In her sleep) I’ll kill you, leave me. I’ll kill you. Don’t kill me.
Meesha: oh gods (half sleepy) stop it. Malathi when did you start speaking in your sleep?
(Laila gets back from the wash room, notices Malathi sleeping in a weird manner. Ignores it and goes back to bed)
Scene 3
(Meesha wakes up hearing Laila scream)(Clock shows 4:00)
Meesha: what happened?
Laila: (shaking Malathi) Malathi, Malathi
Meesha: what happened?
Laila: I don’t know she is not responding.
Meesha: what are you saying?
Laila: (Frightened tone) Meesha, we shouldn’t have asked her to tell us the story
Meesha: oh god Laila, I dint know it was this serious I thought it was like the stories tell people to scare them for the thrill of it
Laila: Meesha, it’s not very exciting always.
Meesha: Oh God! What do we do now? By the way last night I heard her talking in her sleep. She was saying something like do not kill me. Do you thing the ghost of Tamanna must have done something to her?
(Door bell rings)
Meesha: somebody at this hour!!!
(Laila runs to attend it)
Enters Laila with a pretty lady)
Meesha: who is it?
Pretty lady: (in a spooky voice) Tamanna
(Meesha looks at Laila)
Meesha: (frightened tone) what are you saying? This is not true.
Pretty Lady: but it is true that Malathi is dead.
(Meesha rubs the dripping sweat off her face)
Pretty Lady: you killed Malathi. You made her tell the story and now see what happened.
Meesha: no I did not do this. I never wanted this to happen
Laila: I told you Meesha don’t force her you never listened to me. Now see what you have done.
Meesha: (falls on Malathi and starts crying) I’m sorry Malathi. I thought this story was like the one’s I told people scare them for the thrill of it.
Malathi: Even I did for the thrill of it madam.
Meesha looks up surprised and frightened at the same time)
(A roar of laughter passes across the room)
Meesha: (confused) could somebody explain to me what is happening?
(Enters a Man): well let me explain
Meesha: (surprised looking at the man) (exclaims) you?
Laila: Surprised looking at your cousin?
Meesha: (stern tone) yes. Now could you please explain?
Laila: well! We learnt this trick from you itself, other day you scared Ramu kaka with your spooky story about how this house is haunted and thanks to you he is not been coming home since then. When asked, he told this. So Malathi and I planned on this.
Malathi: we knew it madam that you had no clue that the owner of the house is none other than your cousin.
Laila: Suman called me up the other day to tell me that he will be coming down so I thought why not include him in the story.
Man: (interrupting) by the way meet Tamanna, my would be (blushing slightly).
Laila: we just wanted you to realize that it is not good to keep scaring people always and that is why we plotted this plan
Man: looks like it worked Laila.
Laila: all thanks to Tamanna. Had she not come on time our plan would have gone for a toss.
Meesha: (relieved) guys, you really scared me.
Malathi: Madam, you should be thankful to me for my story telling and my acting skills
Laila: Malathi, you should have been in Hollywood, wonder how you ended up here?
Malathi: Yes Madam. My father sent me to school but I used to escape from school and tell stories and show my acting skills to my friends and that s how I landed up here
(Roar of laughter passes across the room)
******************************* The end***********************************

These creatures called MEN

I happened to read this message which was circulating amongst few of my friends. God created Adam and when he realised his mistake he created Eve.

These creatures are not at all rare specie they are there in almost every house, in every girl’s life. They are of different kind father, husband, brother, friend, boyfriend and if there are few more those added as well. Each of them has their own traits, though most of the time they are the same just put in different ways.

They all happen to be very nice and sweet unless they don’t get what they want. Unfortunately, you never know what they want in life or let me put it this way they want a lot in life which in simple English could be called expectations. Phew.. You fulfil one, there, another pops up. And this cycle goes on and on and on as though the system is filled with virus and the pop ups keep coming, you delete one, another pops up but the computer could be shut or the system will crash after a point of time unfortunately neither of this will happen to this creature and if it happens then these creatures go to this stage called angry young man and the aftermath of these are many

1. Scream at the other so loudly to show that their voice has the power to get the roof down

2. start walking aimlessly (well its good for health)

3. throw whatever they have and unfortunately cell phones are the victims

4. silent meditation

5. go into their cave and then the silent meditation part comes

6. bang their hand or head so hard to the wall until they realise the wall is stronger

7. then say something gibberish which sounds like how many times to tell you, you never understand, or damn you are stubborn or *&@% this is not working lets break up

And lot more…….

These creatures are very weird. They can hardly have a normal relationship with the other here a normal relationship refers to one without complications. They usually make any normal relationship a complicated one. Either they start liking the person they befriend or they become insecure and possessive about the person they are with. Insecurity and being possessive are the two traits they cannot get away with, be it friend, gal friend, wife or mother. Of all these they usually have an upper hand over their wives and girlfriends. Well this is what they usually say ‘you should be independent never depend on me, do things you like, need not ask me permission or tell me every time you do something’ and the minute they say their insecurity grows and then when you are independent this is what you get to hear ‘why don’t you tell me, I would have come with you to that place and blah, blah, blah, shit, you went all alone there why do you do that ’

Surprisingly these have mood swings that are worst than the PMS. Suddenly they go into different stages angry young man, crying or sulking little baby, or the sarcasm stage. The worst of all is the sarcasm stage, they will make every normal word, sweet word SARCASTIC and can you see the S having two horns and the last letter C with an arrow tail, yes!! that’s what they make of that poor little word. Huh. You can imagine the latter effect on the person listening to those cruel words.

Finally these creatures have the tendency of doing things their way which according to them is right unfortunate for them they are never right, instead they mess up everything well cannot blame them as the right side of their brain is a bit slow…..

LIFE IN MANIPAL

I reached here on the 25^th of July. The place looked really great. The infrastructure, the students and their attitude, for once I thought wow. The college reopened, the subjects were quite impressive then the class schedule (hardly any class), wow, this is like a dream come true I thought. I was happy never did I think that this happiness was short lived.

Eventually I made friends; obviously you start off with your own classmates likewise I did the same, besides those whom I had already known, then got close to my juniors. First week went really well ragging, then parties and then blah, blah, blah. Well that’s when I started realising that this place is not the one for me. I mean, I’m not a party animal.

That’s when I thought I’ll make a life of my own here, got a friend who cares for me, with whom I can share my thoughts, fortunately or unfortunately this friend of mine is a guy. God!! That’s when I realised, people here don’t understand what platonic relation means all they think is if a guy and girl is together well there is something between them, that’s beside the point that guys or girls here in spite of having a committed relation wants to make out with some random guy or gal they find hot or whatever and if they call that’s being cool well then I don’t want to be cool I’m happy being myself, I have my principles in my life n I’ll stick to them and if that’s boring to people then yes I am boring, just that I don’t like being categorised amongst them. And the worst part is yet to come, the people who talk about you are none other than the one’s whom you consider as friends and the ones to whom you are kind of close to in class. Though here people portray themselves to be broad minded they are not, I don’t know what it is, is it jealousy or truly are they so narrow minded. After a point of time I started ignoring these things and started doing things I felt happy about, I thought enough that I have tried and kept others happy now it’s my time, well being happy for me is going for a walk o to the lake o to the beach with my friend and just spending time talking about each other’s life, teasing each other, then little bit I bore him telling about the man in my life.

I have a friend who lends me a shoulder to cry, who wipes my tears when I cry, who pecks me when I need some pampering, who hugs me when I miss home, who cares for me, who is always there for me but then its not the same as the people i need in my life are missing,. A curry without spices is exactly how my Life in Manipal is.

A heaven numbered 407

Two years back sitting in my pg room Meetha and I were deciding about moving to another place, deciding on whom all we should approach to move along with us, being quiet apprehensive about the people we were planning to choose (except for Sayu). Then one fine day we geared up our energy to hunt for an apartment. We spoke every person possible on earth. Rickshaw drivers, who used to drop us to the apartment we asked him to, watchmen of every apartment possible, who used to say “ yes there is 1 flat I guess but then it is not furnished” or it used to be “ we have a flat empty here but we don’t take students”, laundry men, who gave us the number of brokers, broker whose commission was too high for us “ you will have to pay me ten months rent as commission, which will come up to 80000 ”, %$#@&@#, huh. I don’t even remember to whom all i gave my number and the amount of times I had to change my name from Thashika to Sonia, Jivitha, Raksha and what not. Phew.

We almost gave up the idea of shifting to a flat thought we would find another pg , untill one of my friend told me that “there is this apartment and I guess you might find a flat there” , I rushed back to the pg and told about this to Meetha. The next day I bunked one of my college hours and went to this place without much expectations, took a friend also with me for a second opinion. I reached this apartment, god!!! the sight of it itself depressed me, an old building, I found the watchman sitting near the gate so like always, I went and spoke to the watchman, but this guy had some sense to direct me to this old couple . We spoke to this aunt about are requirements, she said she has a flat which is kind of furnished but then she would provide us the things we need. It was a treat to my ears when she said that. She then took us to this flat, it was a 3BHK, with the two balcony, one out of which overlooks the sea. The flat looked quite impressive but for the fact that it was dirty. Eventually, each of saw the place (Meeti, Sayu), after few days we found out that three more gals (Rakshitha, Vani ad Divya) from the pg also are joining us there.

We shifted to this place sometime in June. Dad looked at the place and was so angry with the fact that it was dirty; he did not want me to stay there even for a minute. I had a hard time convincing him that it would be cleaned. Actually it was quite depressing to see the flat so dirty. And for parents like mine, whoa it was not less than a gutter. Eventually all of us settled. Wow, it was my first ‘home’, ya ‘home’ is what I call it, a heaven of six little angels.

We were like a family. We did everything from cooking chocolates sausages to cleaning bathroom, from dancing to getting drunk and watching Sayu and Divya act crazy, screaming away to glory, sneaking people in, Man those were the days. We laughed, cried, cursed aunty Nancy, planned on gifting sexy lacy lingerie to aunty Nancy( gals this is still pending), plotted against boyfriends, got clawed by eagles, complained about leaking water tank and our room being flooded, did everything but most of it all we loved it. It was no less than our own house. Getting back to 407 after college felt like being back in mom’s arms.

When I sit in my hostel room, I feel there is something missing, the feelings of being home, that feeling you won’t feel in any other place than 407.

Now I’m just a visitor to that place, every time I go there I have to enter my name in the visitors’ book. How depressing can that feeling be of being a visitor to the place you feel your own. Except for the six of us nobody would know what this feeling is, for none of you have stayed there nor where you stay is not a heaven numbered 407.....

Have you ever come across a situation where you are very happy about something and at the same time very scared about it? Or have you ever come across a situation where your mum is very happy about you and so are you but at the same time you are scared about it as well. I know a lot must be going on in your head when I ask you all this. And if I’m not wrong, the first thought would be a ‘marriage proposal’.

Two weeks back mum told me “honey there is this wedding coming up n you’ll be coming with us and this time you’ll be draping a sari. ‘Wow!!! Draping a sari for a wedding, awesome’ my mind said but the very next minute it turned out to be ‘whoa wedding n draping a sari, shit!!!’ Wedding in coorg is great fun without any doubt but for a 20yr old girl it can be quiet scary. And when you drape a sari for a wedding it’s a biggest sign you’ll be giving to the aunties and the uncles, grannies and yes not to forget the mothers who are in search of a bride for their sons. And the feeling will be like you are the sheep surrounded by many wolves ready to pounce on you. Similar was my feeling when mum told me about this wedding.

Today When i saw myself in the mirror, I was excited about my sari being draped really well. But throughout the way I kept complaining to mom that 'I won’t know anybody in the wedding and I’m draped in a sari'. Mom just kept quiet throughout the way. As we reached the wedding hall I started feeling a bit scared looking at the people around staring at me. I thought “God, the wolves are already plotting to pounce on me” My mum then took me to this group of wolves, oops oldies, I mean. To my surprise they weren’t the wolves in fact I had them advising me not to get me married so early. Awesome!! My mind said that minute. Then mom took me to this group of aunties chatting to glory, they didn’t recognize me at first then as my mom introduced me to these ladies they just exclaimed “My god sushi!! You have got such a pretty daughter” I’m sure they would have been thinking she’ll be an awesome pair for my son o my nephew o my sister’s husband’s bother’s wife’s sister’s son, phew!! That’s how it goes when it comes to finding a bride for a guy. And I kept saying in my mind ‘aunties please do not compliment me having such a thought’.

In fact I have put them in few groups. Firstly who’ll just compliment you because you are looking pretty (best ones).Secondly the ones staring at you (spooky ones). Thirdly you have these who’ll compliment you with the thought of getting you married to their sons or nephews etc (scary wolves). Finally you have these who’ll just ask you if you ready to get married. God these are the ones I call the wolves that are ready to pounce.

Thanks to mom I came across all these people today n thanks to her again who saved me from these by saying that she won’t be getting me married so early. Now you know why this mixed emotion in me is.

“The making of friends, who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man's success in life."- Edward Everett Hale
If the above Quote is true then I must say that I’m sure of being the most successful woman on earth, as I have made the best of them, be it in college or be it with my roommates.
Well!!! I would love to tell you about the most special friends I have apart from college. I call them the ‘most precious and beautiful gems’ of my treasure. And that is what they are. When you are away from your home, you would always want the kind of people, who would give you the same love and affection you are given at home, and me being the only child was pampered a lot at home, so my expectations a bit too high(lol). Three years somehow went by having roommates calling me the most hyper active and what not, tired and disgusted with such comments, I gave up on my hopes of having roommates who would accept me for what I am, until I met these two.
It was in my second year, I was sitting in my room one afternoon, after I came back from my speaker’s club meeting, wondering who my new roommate would be, till I heard a knock at the door. This pretty girl enters the room with her family and says “Hi”. Well!!! That is when I got my 1st beautiful treasure ‘Sayoomi’, myyyyyy Sayu (that is how she addresses her dear one’s, myyyyy Thashi). A baby by nature to whom I feel like a mother, pampering, advising n lot more.
A month after that, I was going out, when I saw this new gal in my hostel hall watching TV. I met up with my guy and told him “there is this kinda hot (not the exact word I used) girl in my hostel". Days passed by, I got to know this hot girl, God!!! She is not just hot she is crazy. I was so amused that there is somebody as crazy as me and it cannot be anybody better than ‘Meetha’ or Meeti (that is what I call her). The name ‘Meetha’ or Meeta (that is how I would love to spell her name) itself tells the kind of person she is. The sweetest girl ever.
It’s been two years together, we have laughed together, made fun of each other, cried together and wiped each other’s tears, cooked together, watched movies together, laughed o’er Sayu, embarrassing her. We have been there for each other, be it giving hope to another, encouraging and being one another’s strength. From throwing water balloons at my boyfriend for breaking up with me to celebrating when we got back. Every single min they were there for me, knowing my emotions and being a part of it.
Life is more than just beautiful with these two in it. It is so much better. A day without one of them feels so empty; I dread to think of that day when both of them are not there around me as that day is not too far away. And the fun we have is coming to an end. Every moment we spent is worth cherishing for life time and if given a chance I would want to have these moments all o’er again because every bit of it is worth being a part of.
“I’m going to miss you both. Meeti like you say ‘wish we could stop the time’ ”.