Shabd

London, saturday, Nov 14, 1998

And the Booker Prize for this year goes to Mr. Shaukat vashist for Mindscape.

Spectacular

Outstanding.

Ordinary is not for shaukat.

Mindscape! Bold adventures.

Shaukat gives language a new dimension. - And I myself will change it

You might think I'm joking, but I have no words to say

Words have got where they had to. I begin this journey afresh

I will now pen a new saga with words. I forgot to say... thank you

We will wait for your next book

Mumbai, Wednesday, March 15, 2001

Time stands still.

Lack of experience in shaukat's book. - Experiences matter. Not more or less

shaukat runs out of words at a crucial point

That's what I'm saying

It's too far from reality But it's not a fantasy.

"REAL"

so you tell me what's real! What is reality?

Words sound hollow because they aren't related to real-life

We have this habit of kidding ourselves

I write not for the sake of writing. I write, so I can live

I will write, keep writing. I will prove that my characters are not fakes

Lies! Just a pack of lies!

Silence!

I'm ready Antara. - As usual

shaukat, this evening why don't we...? - I'm ready to write

A new novel! I see!

Just help it this.

Guess what? At the college... - It's going to be fun again

I'll once again live and die with my characters

In an altogether different world

I wish you could experience the high too

What are you calling it? And what's the subject?

Look at this! The silly laundryman! He can't even iron clothes properly!

Ramakant!

Why does this happen, Antara? No one has any passion for his work!

They'll do anything silly

Is a job meant to be just a job...? - You were telling me about the novel

Don't be afraid. I will not say anything to Ramakant

In any case, I don't have much to tell you about the novel today

But I'll surely start writing today. - After two years?

So what must I wear? You tell me what I should wear!

After two years. But the beginning will be made today

coming, sir!

What's this? Who has done this?

I have. Looks good, doesn't it? - Please forgive her, sir

It's her first day at work. - Why're you asking for forgiveness?

She's my wife. Her mistake is my mistake

He's right. I'm willing to apologise too, but what wrong have I done?

She asked me to clean the place, and I did. So what's wrong with that?

She didn't know, it's her first day at work

The next time there's a mistake... - There won't be!

But if I could at least know what wrong I have done?

Actually, Rajni... - I'll explain!

If someone plants a vessel in place of a pan on the stove...

and a cooker in place of a pan... how would you react?

Exactly.

Antara, shut the door while you go

Rajni, let things be as they are in the study

Just sweep and mop the floor. Nothing else. You get that?

You mean I let the mess remain...? - C'mon

When something goes wrong in my kitchen, I scold even my husband

Listen... you scold your husband? - Yes. If he makes a mistake

And who decides whose mistake it is?

Good morning, Walrus Publications. - Can I speak to Mrs. Bose please.

Hi Meera! How're you? Dissatisfied, as usual...?

This is shaukat vashist here. I'm starting my next book today

You'll get to know about the subject when the time arrives, Mrs Bose

I'm not Mrs Bose. - So where is Mrs Bose?

Mrs Bose is not in the office right now

Mrs. Bose is not in the office.

All right. Tell her that shaukat had called. She'll be delighted

The goddamned world! How people change!

Women

Nobody has been able to understand women. Have I...?

This time, I'll write the story of a woman

Why not.

Her heart, her wishes...

not torn by relationships...

about the woman and her story. Who is she?

Listen... - What is it?

Why're you scared? - I'm not scared!

You've worked here for years and you're still so scared

He's not going to eat you up! How'll he write then?

Wait... you don't understand! - And you've grown old before your time

The boss will be angry if he's disturbed. Stay here

Take this. And remain standing here

A woman... with big, expressive eyes...

or small, mischievous eyes?

Hair that is all in knots, or finely combed...?

A serious, straight face? Or a face with a sparking smile?

From across the seven seas? Or a desire to go across the seven seas?

Tamanna (Desire)

Hi, Tamanna!

I'm shaukat. Will you go with me?

Let's get together and write your story. Let's see what happens

Tamanna. Nice name

Tamanna, where are you going? I asked you to go with me...

and you're walking far ahead. Where're you leading me to?

On a new journey...? Great!

Is there something you want to say to me?

What do you like? Are you happy? Sad...? Or just plain annoyed?

What do you expect from life?

Ladyfinger, gourd, beans... what are you going do with so many vegetables?

Don't worry. You won't have to cook. You can take off

Rajni's not scared of cooking. But there ought to be someone to eat it

Look at this...

Why haven't you eaten? - Did I ask you why you're late?

You were checking the exam papers, I know

Don't you know? I lose all sense of time when I'm writing?

Will you help me in the kitchen?

I wonder how you get such nice ideas in your mind

It's so difficult to express freely.

I wouldn't even be able to tell someone about my own life, if I were asked to

That's because you don't try. - Try?

No matter what I do, I wouldn't be able to write a single line

And they such nasty things. - Who're they?

Critics.

I don't know about getting real, but what you write is really very nice

When they have to write themselves, they will know...

how difficult it is to write about real things

Your new book is going to silence them all

Will it make you happy if they're silenced?

If you're happy, I'm happy. - Not my happiness. Talk about yours

What makes you happy? - Me...?

Yes Antara vashist.

What makes you happy.

Cooking.

Don't laugh, answer me It makes you happy.

I've never thought about it. - So think now, Antara. Think!

Does cooking give you happiness? Or prayer...?

Cooking is like a prayer.

Or like a therapy.

Well, have you ever done something you shouldn't have done?

Yes, several times... - I don't mean arguments, fights...

or coming home late and so on

something bigger Antara.

Something that has changed your life? - Life?

Didn't marriage make you regret that you couldn't do all those things...

you might otherwise have done? - Regret? Marrying you?

Don't you miss your folks and your father's house?

Don't you want to start all over again.

No. I'm just like any other girl out there, shaukat...

why're you trying to look for a story in me?

Don't you feel like looking at yourself other than from my eyes?

If you met someone who said, there's no one like you. What would you do?

Has someone said that to you?

They're scared, aren't they? - Who?

Students. - What does that mean?

If I were your student, I'd give you a rose everyday

Hasn't anyone given you a rose so far? - No. I wouldn't accept, even if he did

Why not? - Because it's wrong

Why?

Because I'm a lecturer and they're my students

Wasn't I your lecturer too?

That's a different story. You're elder to me

But what if I were younger?

Then you'd have been my husband, the professor

Is it wrong to be younger?

No. For me, it's wrong to accept a rose from anyone other than you

Because I love you very much, shaukat

I love you very much.

Wrong! Yes... I've found my subject

No, no... it's forbidden

This thing that is forbidden is going to be my theme

Nobody likes restrictions

And that which is forbidden, you begin to gradually like

The more you want to give your relationship a description...

it gets stronger and stronger

Wouldn't you want a relationship like that one...? Tell me, Tamanna

You'll want a relationship that sates your hunger

forbidden.

A relationship that someone else does not accept

The beginning. Two years later

Thanks Tamanna.

"The body is just an excuse"

"It's in soul that we have to merge"

"Ever since I have held your hand..."

"I feel I hold the reins of the world"

"A new story of love is now beginning..."

"all distances are being bridged, the chasm is vanishing"

"There's something happening in which words are lost..."

"in the deep meaning of it all"

"I have loved you with all my heart..."

"permit me, my love, that I may go to flounder"

"freeze these moments of love in time..."

"arrest these moments, they're about to go by"

"Never before was there so much of youthfulness in the air..."

"it appears to be a new world to me"

"There shall be more of these wonderful times..."

"forever, tugging at two loving hearts"

They'll give you a fragrance all day

I hope you have a nice day too. - I will

The story will surely pick up tempo today

And I will set out on a strange journey

Wish me luck.

All the best.

I'm sure a beginning will be made today

Tamanna, I've promised Antara that my story will pick up tempo today