Being Abnormal- A Short Story

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please give Nitesh a big round of applause for his most ever entertaining deed of life’, yelled Kevin as I entered into the room. “How was your fantasy trip to Mahudi? Did God personally give you the solution of your untold tentative problem? Are you kidding me by coming after whole 2 days? Do you really wish to die? Do you care how much I worry about you?” interrogated Kevin & welcomed me in the most bizarre way. It was 11 pm Saturday and we just went on to bed without any further discussions.

 

Two days earlier.

“Nitesh, you have the most fluctuating life-cycle I have ever seen in my entire life. I mean it when I keep on saying that you are a pondering inkpot or an impulsive insane. Don’t feel bad but you are becoming more and more tarnishing nature wise”, said Kevin. It was half past seven in the evening twilight when I was worrying about something that couldn’t be unveiled to anyone. Kevin kept on asking me the reason of my tensed pity facial expression I consistently did on that particular day. Kevin, a dancer cum dude, was like a brother to me as I had no real brother. He was a celebrity in ‘St. Francis Engineering College’ as the personality he had would rather slam most of the actors in Hollywood as well. Unfortunately I was his roommate but to my fortune, I found myself at a place where I seldom see random unique things daily after college schedule because he was utilizing his rest of the 8 hours in dancing, preparing for MBA & exercising. He was mind blowing & what should I say more to describe him “He was a born star”. All I did with my 8 hours was just 3 things: Sleep, Eat & Sleep again. Although, he always had a soft corner for me especially, I never understood why a smart dude of 21st era will even have an old fashioned friend like me.

We were in the same class & completed almost 3 years in the medical college but I was nowhere in any world to secure any job or do anything of my own. I was incessantly falling in my studies & I wasn’t even prepared for any further study plans while Harsh & Sunny were struggling to do something worth for them. Harsh was my hero for humor, a desperate for sex & chocolaty boy for girls. He had only 2 aims in his life: One to do anything for his parents & second to do everything for his parents. The most obedient child any parents can have or even dream about in their dreams. He was my best friend but I wasn’t his. Craving for girl-talks, Footballer by passion & slim as stick, Sunny was a dull shaped mediocre boy who loved only junk food. He will have nothing to talk about except ‘Ronaldo’ & that made Harsh always freaked out as Harsh had no connection with Sports, Television, Traveling or any adventurous thing in life. He and his Whatsapp conversation with girls to ultimately lead him to his ‘S-Destination’ was his eventual elixir. ‘S-Destination’ stood for Sex destination as our code word to make fun of him every now and then.

Thus, the 3-stoogies were my benefactor of life & I often behaved naïve in the group so was an ‘Official Ludicrous’. Harsh & Sunny would be sitting with their dates in college whereas I and Kevin would be just walking around the college campus to pass the leisure time aimlessly. Everyone wondered why Kevin hasn’t got any dates till date & he avoided answering that. I considered it normal as it is a myth in a college to have a relationship partner for fun & those who haven’t will have to do ‘Flying Solo’. In the first 2 years of college, Harsh & Sunny tried to fix double date me & Kevin with some hot girls many times but it proved futile. I myself couldn’t find any zest or chill from my life because I was lame, common but abnormal. Kevin was always a question mark for all of us why he would sit leisure.

That night, I couldn’t sleep because of the malice feelings I had within me. I went out at 1 AM night when Kevin was asleep letting him unaware what situation I was in. I immediately called Sneha to ask her if she was okay but nothing was. She tried cutting her hand veins & continuously spoke of committing suicide. Sneha and I were in relationship from the beginning of our 3rd year of college. As we were of the same town, it was easy for me to be in genuine contact with her & just before 3 months I proposed her to express my deep true love. Everything was fine until 50 days back when she came to meet me in my room.

“Hey, where the hell are you?” asked Kevin in a very rage voice. “I was not feeling sleepy so I am having some fresh air in the bus to Mahudi”, I answered politely unknown of the drama I had created. “Are you nuts or what? Come back at room & we will discuss about it all. It’s all because of that slut right?” Kevin emphasized his care for me. I hung up the call & then finally switched it off. Sneha asked me who it was but I neglected it saying that it was a wrong number. But she definitely knew that it was either from the three guys. I remember that we had many fights with the same ’Kevin’ topic as I wouldn’t go to meet her because I would have some plans with him. She often misinterpreted by saying ’You always choose him over me’. We stayed 2 full days in Mahudi for peace & to resolve the trouble we were in. I had been visiting Mahudi every year with my parents as it was my father’s favorite destination in summer. It has got the scenic natural beauty & soothing atmosphere which made him feel stress-free. Of course, his own blood would be like him and yes, I am a philosopher like him too who knows the bitter fact of life. All we talked about when we get ‘us’ time was philosophy as my father knew that I am an adult now & aware about the worldly affairs.

“Did you consult any doctor or tested with a pregnancy strip?” I asked her finally breaking the silence between us in the morning. But she was expressionless saying “Yes, I did but it’s too early to come to a conclusion. I have 30 day menstruation cycle but it’s been 45 days now & I know that it’s because of the cult we did that evening. We did some serious sinister stuff.” I tried to stop say all those shitty things but she screamed embracing me. I was distressed & so I went on to the place alone where my father took me often when my mother would be busy worshipping God whole heartedly with my sister Rita. He used to say “I know that God exists, son. But I want you to know that I am not a narcissist as I believe in humanity and karma. I have faith in the power of eternity but I consider that there is no face of God. All I do to satisfy me is by feeding poor, donating the needy one & helping those who crave for any support. I wish that you could at least follow the right path of life understanding the difference between virtual reality and actual reality. Always accept the situations and conditions God put us in.” He often took me to his fairyland childhood when he used to be the most notorious in the society. I visualize & repent listening to that because I had not done anything memorable in my life but playing guitar to console my soul & satisfy my conscience. He added “Our life is short and sensitive so spend it wisely on something that gives you bliss. Many a times, it will be considered selfish but all it takes is a firm decision. I know that you are totally different from me as I see you scoring high & studying engineering but I am a 9th fail. Our thinking is different as we have a generation gap that makes an impact.” Well, my father never recognized my inner feelings as I too wanted to be a guitarist but I could never reveal it because I thought that it could only happen in movies like ‘3 idiots’. He seems to prolong the conservation every time with the last lines “You are different, son. It’s okay not to be normal. The inception inside you is intriguing. You ought to be the janitor of your soul and conscience. When you feel doubt on yourself, just reverse the count ten, nine, eight..as it would take you in all the elite cum exigent memories of your life.” I never understood those mythical, spiritual or provocative lines.

Near the small lake, I closed my eyes tried to swallow the bad things I did to her but I couldn’t as I only wanted her to be saved from my sin. It was a mutual act albeit I could have resisted that evening when she came to my room. Though I was alone, I should have not seduced her to make an intimacy with me. We weren’t mature enough to commit any such deeds & I cried loud enough to let my guilt come out praying to God “If she’s pregnant, I will accept her though against this cruel society. I won’t leave her alone in her hard times. Suddenly, Sneha touched me on my shoulders & smiled saying “I knew that you will be sitting somewhere here. See I am totally unknown to this place & here I am with you, for you. Don’t blame yourself as it was a mistake of both. We will handle it but…” Surprisingly, it was just like my mother catching father from behind exclaiming the same & will request to come to the temple for some time. My father will always respect her worship and faith to God & join my mother to her devotion. So, similarly she just took half of my tension saying those words like my mother.

“You know, I frequently compared our pair with my parents as there is so much similarity between you and my mother. She likes you, you know that right. Don’t worry, it will be all okay.” I always felt under estimated for myself when I remember being so numb until I entered in College. I was the most innocent guy in my class like I hadn’t seen any porn until then, didn’t have any drink or a bad habit of smoking. “What I have done to my life doing the most insane thing with Sneha?” I felt as I was a criminal. I couldn’t figure out how and why the ill deed happened. Friends used to call me ’Psycho’ as according to them, I began behaving like a psychopath from the moment I was in relationship with  Sneha. Whenever I would have a fight with her, I would throw my stuffs around me & break them like some crazy prisoner from Agra. “Am I normal now?” I keep asking this question to me but I never got any answers. The reason was that Sneha loved my passion for guitar & adored the philosophy I preached to her. She was the only girl who understood my zest for life. But then I see me in the middle of an ocean of love where every guy and girl feels the same. I didn’t want to be that guy who knows nothing but love. Because she was the first and the last girl in my life with whom I have been over friendly yet I was significantly timid about it. I sometimes ask myself “Have I really loved Sneha?”

Sunday morning, I didn’t realize that I would get the good news so early & say loudly “Yes, she’s not pregnant.” And Kevin was stunned hearing that sarcastic statement that pinched him so badly that he didn’t even reacted to me. I neglected his expression & called Sneha how happy I am for us. She slammed the phone saying “Come to me now, I want to see you in five minutes; it is urgent.” I just couldn’t figure out the reaction of Kevin and Sneha simultaneously so I decided to go one by one. Before I could say anything to Kevin, he smirked and said “Thank God, you aren’t Gay. It’s obvious that you had sex with her. It was so clear, my God but I am the one who is dumb thinking that you are homosexual. The only reason why I didn’t confess till now was because I thought that you are in the contemporary world of love with Sneha. You always had a fight in a week with her, right? You often asked me the reason and I guess that it’s all transparent now.” I was appalled and perplexed with Kevin’s whimsical confession but I remembered two things at that time: one was papa’s mysterious last line and the other was to see Sneha urgently as 3 minutes had passed from the time she called. There was a constant but strange 4 second eye contact between me and Kevin.

But anyhow, I observed him carefully as he walked to the door. I knew that time was running out but suppressed the urge to check my watch. I took a deep breath and started counting in reverse under my breath. “Ten, nine, eight, and seven…”

And one by one, I got the answers of all the questions which unfolded the euphemism of Kevin. I realized why Papa told me those lines, why my mother prayed infinitesimally for no reason,  why Kevin was never in a relationship & why Sneha had I always fight for almost nothing.

I was in no hurry to meet Sneha anymore and after a long 10 minutes, a text saying “I don’t know why but our relationship doesn’t have a future. I am breaking up with you. Sorry, bye.” I couldn’t stop laughing loudly in my room devoid of ‘Kevin’ ultimately knowing the reason why ‘They called me Psycho.’

Another Short Story- Broken Wings

The car stopped with a squeal of brakes and the door to the left side of the back seat got unbolted.

“Okay, guys. Bye. Will see you tomorrow!” Mannat spoke in a jacked up tone, getting out of the car that was stuffed with four other people inside it.

“Bye!” they all chanted in unison and Randheer drove them all off.

An elated smile occupied Mannat’s face as she evoked the fun she had with Kiya, Randheer, Kunal and Faizan. After the college, they had gone to movies and mall, for a random hang out. Being best of friends since the first year of college, the five of them never missed any chance to have a whale of a time.

If anyone asked Mannat about her best chattels, she would ingeniously say, “My friends and my family!” and that too with a huge grin of pride and contentment. Being the only kid to her parents, Mannat had always been footloose and fancy-free. She had learned to enjoy life as to her, life was too short to complain and demand!

“Good evening Mumma!” Mannat said, chirping and embracing her mother from behind who was busy with her kitchen chores.

“Good evening beta! How was your day?” her mother asked indifferently, still absorbed in her chores.

“It was great! We had lots of fun today!” Mannat said, taking out an apple from the fruit basket and biting it at once.

“We? The five of you?” her mother asked.

“Yes! They dropped me home, as it was a bit behind schedule.” Mannat spoke, gnawing the apple.

“Oh! You should’ve called them in!” her mother retorted.

“Naah! They were all late! Next time! Well momma, I’m dog tired! And I won’t be having dinner because I’m sort of stuffed. I’m going to change now!” Mannat spoke in a hurry and walked upstairs to her room. She relaxed for the rest of the time, by listening music and reading her favorite book. Soon, she slept.

“Manu, till when do you have classes today?” Mannat’s mother solicited, somewhat gravely as they had their breakfast.

“Till 4,” Mannat said, after sipping tea from her cup. She raised her gaze at her mother, and asked, “Why?”

“No. Nothing. Be back by 4:30” her mother decreed looking down at her plate.

“But why? Are we going somewhere?” Mannat asked abruptly, looking at her mother and then at her father, with quizzical eyes. Her father shook his head.

“See Mannat! We’re noticing that you’re getting too far from studies. You need to stop wasting your time and start focusing on your studies.” Her mother said. She seemed in a different mood that morning.

“Okay mum. But it’s not that I don’t study at all, I study in the night.” Mannat elucidated politely.

“Do what is being told to you Mannat. You children of this generation always think they’re right.” Her mother ticked her off.

“But mom…” Mannat tried to speak but was cut in the middle.

“Stop arguing Mannat! You’re not a kid anymore that you do what you like and no-one will notice. You’re a girl, all grown up! People have started laying their eyes on your activities. We live in a society and sophisticated girls here are not meant to walk around in streets with a bunch of stupid kids!” Mannat’s mother reprimanded again.

Mannat was totally taken aback by her mother’s behavior. The morning was a bolt from the blue for her.  She was stunned for a while and looked at her mother with her eyes on stalks and then she shifted her gaze to her father, who ate silently, showing an accord to the words of Mannat’s mother.

“Who’s language are you speaking mom?” Mannat asked, a little curtly. Her mother looked at her, offended. “Because this is not you! Someone has injected these lame things in your mind and you are now talking all like that someone! My friends, whom you wanted to call in for a snack, yesterday are now a bunch of stupid kids for you? Tell me who spoke all this non-sense?” Mannat asked, heatedly.

“Mrs. Mishra came complaining that she saw you near the mall, behaving inappropriately with that Muslim guy! You all were taking pictures and making loud noises of laughter in the streets. Is this what educated people behave like? And don’t you know how brutal the world has turned? You’re a girl Mannat. Learn to behave like one!” Mannat’s mother asked with a firm gaze piercing her eyes.

Mannat listened to every word of her mother silently, that was killing something inside her, gradually.

“Things have changed now! You’re about to be graduated in few months and you’re not a kid anymore to seek only exuberance. And the society! You know what they call girls who do all sorts of FUN! They’re all brutes out there Mannat, they’ll tear your spirit down with their taunts and banters. One wrong step and things will turn ugly! So better be cautious before-hand!” Her mother now spoke a little politely to her.

“Ugh! Mom! You’re sounding like an uneducated yourself! Give me a break!” Mannat yelled and walked out of her house in a fit of rage. Her agony needed a vent out and the only one was her eyes. Tears welled up in her eyes and flew down her cheeks, shattering her disbelief of having the coolest parents of all.

“You are not allowed to go out without anything important coming up! I don’t want people to point their filthy fingers at you!” her mother spoke a little louder, but her words were fainted yet clear to Mannat. She wiped off her tears and headed to college.

Days in college were no more fun as the only thing Mannat did was just attending the classes and returning back to home. She excused herself from every plan that her friends made because she never wanted to do anything that offended her parents. A sudden melancholy had occupied her life as her parents changed their behavior towards her. They were commanding and nosy to her. The two best possessions of her life didn’t seem to be as before, they changed!

“Mannat come here!” her mother called her near herself, as she sat in the corner of the party hall unaided. She had accompanied her parents to some party of her mother’s friend. She walked towards her mother who was delimited by a bunch of women, all dressed up in expensive sarees and jewelry.

“This is my sweet daughter Mannat!” her mother introduced her with those women and they all smiled at her. Mannat folded her hands to wish them Namaste with a little bow.

“She’s so pretty Mrs. Sharma! I’m so sure, Nikhil would love to meet her!” one of the women conversed. As soon as the woman’s words got clearer to Mannat, she looked at her mother in amazement plus shock.

“Who is Nikhil?” she thought aloud in her head.

Mannat’s mother was just nodding and smiling, agreeing to every word that the woman was saying. Mannat sensed something terrible coming for her.

“Who was that lady Mumma? And who is Nikhil?” Mannat asked, agitated.

“That is Mrs.Mehta. My kitty friend and Nikhil is her son. Out of the blue, today we talked about our children’s marriage and ended up thinking that it would be best if you get married to Nikhil.” Her mother spoke with an ear to ear grin. She apparently was very much proud and elated at her plan that sounded only sinister to Mannat.

“What about me? You never asked me about my wish in this!” Mannat spoke in a low tone, she felt as if she would just break down.

“Beta! Your graduation is about to get finished. You’ll have to marry someone eventually.

“Mumma I want to follow my dream! You out of the whole world know how badly I want to become an Architect!” Mannat rebelled.

“Mannat! Why do you always have to oppose everything I say!” her mother said firmly.

“Because you have changed momma! Just because Mrs. Mishra comes one day and tells you that I was behaving inappropriately, you lost all your faith and trust in me and your upbringing. You’ve forbidden me of enjoying because I’m a girl and I need to think about the lowest mentality people can ever have around me. I have to think twice before making myself happy because that could probably make the SOCIETY unhappy! I’ll have to marry some random guy and give birth to his children because I’m a GIRL momma! I’m bound to do these things. The SOCIETY has set the limits for me, how can I cross them? And the best thing is, my parents are included in this society!” Mannat spoke, irately, with few drops of tears slithering down the corner of her eyes.

Her mother fell silent. She didn’t think it was an appropriate time to argue with her daughter, but she had a belief that Mannat would agree to marry Nikhil, sooner or later.

Late that night, Mannat sat near a huge picture window of her room, peeking outside at the stars and the moon. Tears had made her face wet and eyes red and swollen. She was sobbing in silence, as the worst feeling was hitting her time and again. The terrible feeling of watching her dreams getting crushed in front of her, by her own parents. But she never put the blame on them, they were just walking the talk. They were following what was prevalent in the society. But the worst sufferer was SHE, a girl, as usual. The whole night, she kept sitting there, as her thoughts kept drowning her spirit of living life to the fullest and enjoying. But in the morning, she got up, determined enough of changing things.

“When are the campus recruitment interviews scheduled?” Mannat asked over the phone as soon as Faizan picked her call.

“Next week!” Faizan replied in his sleepy tone.

“Okay!” Mannat retorted and disconnected.

She had promised herself of proving her mark. She worked like a Trojan day in and day out, in the college library and at home. One week and she had gathered everything that she could, for answering every single question of every single interview boards.

*The Interviews*

Three out of four interviews went well for her. she sat in front of the last interview board who were throwing toughest questions on her, but she was strong and prepared enough to tackle them smartly and tactfully.

At the end of the interview, one of the board members asked,

“So, Miss Mannat! Tell us, why you want this job?” he asked with a smile.

Mannat took a pause as she looked into the man’s eyes. She smiled lightly and replied,

“Sir! I want this job because I don’t want anything and anyone to crush my dreams!” she kept smiling. The board members replied her with smiles and told her to leave.

The interview results were announced and Mannat was offered 3 out of the 4 jobs she gave interviews for. That was her greatest call; she now had to choose the best. Her friends went crazy and asked for treats, but she told them to wait. Every teacher of her was proud on her. The principle of the college called her and congratulated her; he called her father and told him the happy news as well.

As soon as Mannat reached her home, her parents welcomed her warmly but she couldn’t even smile at them. She wasn’t happy with her achievements, but she was content that somehow, though at a very little level, she had proved her mark.

That night, in her room, Mannat again peeked out of her picture window. Those days, only the moons and the stars seemed to be her best possessions as they were so patient to listen to her sorrow that had seeped down her soul because she had witnessed an ugly face of life, like any other girl of the society. But she was feeling proud on herself that she didn’t take it the other way and let things spoil her, but she worked hard to prove herself, to prove her capabilities and to prove that being a girl, marriage wasn’t the only option after graduation. She smiled through the storm of her thoughts that had stirred her up and through that smile, tears made their way. The tears, that were a blend of many emotions.

*After Two Years*

Mann sat on the chair reserved for her and by her side sat her father and mother. She gazed blankly at the huge stage whose curtain rose slowly.

She thought of her journey of two years to that hall and that event in which she was sitting. She would just smile every now and then, thinking of how life changes and how things start to push you at doing something for yourself because nothing can be achieved by going easy.

“and today we all are gathered here to honor this woman who has exceptionally amazed the world around her by her exquisite work in the field of architecture. Just two years in this technical field and she has achieved heights. It gives me great pleasures to invite this very special woman of the evening, “Miss Mannat Sharma, to have this award of youngest achiever of the year! A huge round of applause for the lady!” one of the chief guests spoke with great zeal as he did the honors.

Mannat felt like sweet thunders hitting her eardrums, of the applause that had surrounded her. She looked at her parents, they felt so proud and honored themselves. Her mother had damp eyes and a smile, the feeling behind which can never be described by a mother.

Mannat walked to the stage elegantly making her way to the stage. All eyes were on her and as soon as she received the award, the applause multiplied.

“Good evening Ladies And Gentlemen!” Mannat spoke as soon as she reached the podium. A silence prevailed in the entire auditorium.

“It makes me feel super euphoric to get this prestigious award this evening. Things like this happen rarely!” she spoke and giggled with grace.

“I would just like to say, that please, give women a chance to prove themselves. And this message is for the entire society that we live in. We are a part of the society too and we deserve to be treated equally because contrary to this, girls are always forbidden, banned and punished when they want to live a life of freedom, their blooming dreams are crushed and they are made aware of the fact that in the eyes of the society, THEY ARE JUST MEANT TO BE SUPPRESSED. But that is never true; it’s just the matter of mentality. If we crush their little dreams, we’ll not be able to know what they’re worth for. We’ll not be able to know that they’re capable of swooping thousands of THESE” she spoke and raised her award. Applause filled the ambiance over again.

“Thank you very much!” she said, smiled and walked down.

Her parents looked at her with quizzical eyes as they finally found out, that they were wrong!

I Get It. I Should Let It Go.

Cab was coming to pick me up. Woo
Unable to find a date or a gal from Tinder. It may suck.m 5 days are going to be legendary. No caption. No Instagram. No cell phone. No business. No boomerang. What would I do there? The expenditure. The early Goa cost. Where am I heading from here? What’s the aim? Should I decide or let it go? Well, I know I am different. I have to go with my guts. Probably, not fair 😂

Airport- I am nervous. I have no plans. Oh, my God. I don’t belong there. The anxiety. The last moment stage fear comes up. The lonely touch I am gonna get there is freaking me out. But what a coincidence that I watched humorously yours 3rdel episode and they show goa in it. I have always been experiencing such fanatic coincidence where I gain boost from. I hear Eminem and Taylor. Obviously, swiped many rights but I think my face has something to do with a sinner and maybe, I am punished or sentence a secret prison of not being matched. It seems so. Nothing is cool yet. I am not waiting and yes, I haven’t come with any expectations except sex, well, now it’s going to be a paid one as now I am not occupied with any company. I am writing only because I want to win a prize of tripoto competition and I haven’t traveled alone, so this will be something new.

I always wonder how airport eye contact happens. It never occurred to me. Again, maybe because I am ugly. Well, god, come on, a girl beside me on a train or plane, I deserve that.

Let’s hope for the best.

I am on the plane but the sit next to me is empty. No God doesn’t listen to me so I don’t pray but the third seat is occupied by someone really Zayn Malik. Is there any contest between me and him? Haha. I will have to find my strength out of my brains and use it where I get a hulk and handsome competition. Okay, so the whole 5 day you mean.

I realize many things before I have reached goa. I see couples, groups, solos, and oldies. They are of different categories and I can barely assume or anticipation anyone who is me 5 years later.

I get it. Money. It all that takes all. Lol. But, I have limited. Any last goa wish? I say not. Any foreigners? My face is not amiable or adorable. Okay. So sharp observation and a not pro, not candid photography. It’s going to be the most memorable experience as I have to take everything out of this with nothing with me.

AIB First Draft Writing Test I Failed. Watch Out For Season 2

AIB First Draft Writing Test Season 2

Please Note (Their Instructions):

  1. Do finish all four of your assignments within 10 days of you receiving this. Failing to do so will result in the rejection of your application. Which is why, we advise you to start work immediately, so you can revise and re-write in order to put your best foot forward without missing the deadline.
  2. Completing all four assignments is compulsory. Aalsi mat bano.
  3. Follow the word-limit set with each exercise. Overshooting the word-limit will result in rejection of your application.
  4. One person can make only one entry. Please do not send us multiple attempts to this assignment. (Save the split personalities for the stories you’re going to write.)
  5. Fill in your answers in this very document. Once you’re done with your assignment – attach it in a mail with the Subject line: Assignment by <Name> and send it to us at firstdraft@allindiabakchod.in.
  6. Remember to fill in your contact details at the top of this document.
  7. We will go through your completed assignments and short-list the finalists for an interview. If you are shortlisted, we will contact you through email/phone. If you do not receive any intimation about the same, it means you could not make it to the short-list. Also, due to the large number of entries expected, we will not be able to provide individual feedback to you. We hope you understand. We wish you all the best. Work hard and impress us with wonderful, powerful writing.

The selection process requires you to complete the following, based on which we will shortlist and then meet you for an interview. Please read the instructions above carefully before submission.

  1. We are giving you five characters. A sweet old lady. A corrupt cop. A brave little girl. A good hearted dwarf. A romantic soldier. Imagine a feature film with any three as your principal characters. Write an outline of the film’s plot, making sure to communicate its beginning, middle and end. (300 words)

Menage a Trois- portrays the life of patriotic troika: A tainted and spinster woman, benevolent dwarf and amorous soldier.

Libya, a hapless and miserable country of North Africa, is busy in warfare against ISIS. Amidst the military action and combat of the country, KONDO, a brave and maverick soldier, falls in love with a URBI living in Misurata. URBI is one of those rare bold women who get involved in the illicit activities around the suffering country. Being Naysayer and Callous, she never found any guy who could deal with her unusual nature. Her taintedness was requisite in the country she was living in & as a country lover; she somehow recycled her black money in Libya’s upliftment.

KONDO who is already married to PANYA doesn’t care of what society will think & remarries with URBI KONDO and URBI both served their country distinctively. PANYA, an open hearted anthropologist, lives her life with fullest in Benghazi although being midget was certainly embarrassing. But she knew that KONDO loved her invariably because of her philanthropic and patriotic nature.

PANYA finds about KONDO’s affair with URBI when the soldier dauntlessly took the corrupt lady to his home in Benghazi. PANYA desperately condemned the relationship of the duo as she had a sense that URBI beguiled her husband falsely. He hopingly manages to make a shrewd strategy to solve the miseries of Libya by utilizing the skills of both efficaciously, one who bribes but utilize money and other who is a great orator and public influencer.

In Feb 2013, Libya won the war & the trio was honored when court officially stated that Libyan men are allowed to remarry without consent of first wife. The troika inadvertently revolutionized the tradition of 21st century as ‘Menage a Trois’ surpassed ‘Live-in Relationship’.

  1. Write a scene (in not more than 500 words) based on the following outline: Wife is at home. Husband enters. They have not been talking for some days. One of them tries to cajole the other. The other withdraws. The first one goes back to doing what he/ she was doing. The other comes to the first one and kills him/her.Please note that the scene cannot have any dialogue. So you can only write the scene-description.

Pondering about her husband MATT, BELLA was perplexed and despaired of what she must do to console him of her distrustful deeds. Waiting for him, she was watching TV at 12 pm to explain why she got physical with MATT’s best friend RICK. She assembled herself as soon as she heard the vrooming sound. The sound of the key pierced into the door lock was the countdown for BELLA to react promptly before MATT goes to his bedroom without speaking a single word. She wanted to end the 3-days weird pause between the two. MATT, handsome and cool, wore blazer with a tie; had a suitcase with him when he stepped into home.

Without wasting any single second, she hurriedly went on to him, grabbed his suitcase and started cajoling him. He resisted at once but after 3-seconds got rid of her completely and began walking towards his bedroom. She followed him, caught him from the back and hugged him tightly trying to take off his blazer. MATT couldn’t think of anything but the rage and panic he felt inside when he thinks of RICK and BELLLA sleeping together. He obviated from the living room by throwing her hands away & evaded upstairs.

She moved on to sofa against the TV set as she knew that she won’t be able to sleep. The continuous 2-nights dose of sleeping pills had much of the worse effect already so she skipped it to take it that night. She wanted to go upstairs and try to sort things out but she had no idea what she would say in her defense. Last night, they had an intense quarrel when he came home drunk and spilled out his genuine fury. After a dozen minutes, she heard footsteps of MATT coming downwards. An expert in philematology, she knew how to seduce him as the revealing shirt and panty look  had deceived MATT in her past 6 months secret relationship with RICK.

She didn’t care about the strange blush MATT did when coming downstairs but stood up from the sofa to go to him trying to strip her shirt. She went straight to him, seized him by his hairs and started kissing wildly. MATT responded it by tearing her bra and squeezed her breasts like anything. To her surprise, MATT didn’t take out his clothes but she didn’t think of it as much. MATT pushed her to the sofa and sat above her, making a perfect position to have intercourse. He again resisted BELLA when she tried unzipping his pants, and thrown her violently this time. She knew now that something was wrong and with the half-naked body she was staring at him with lust and shame altogether. But this time BELLA couldn’t smile back against the devil smile of MATT. He took out his machete and stabbed her on the cleavage. She cried out loudly when he repeatedly struck the knife to her sensuous areas thinking about the reason why she cheated on him.

Soon, the season 2 of AIB First Draft Writing Test is coming. This is specially for those who want to crack it. Well, I didn’t. You can know the reason why I didn’t, at least. Duh.

Must Read For You: Sunny Vaghela Is Not Ethical

 

  1. Re-write the same scene between the husband and the wife with dialogues. The dialogues can be in Hindi or in English. (Max 1000 words.)

Watching TV till 12 pm was never intended to be in the schedule of BELLA, but she was desperately waiting for her spouse MATT to resolve the cynical deed. They had been fighting verbally since last 3 days but nothing came up to breakdown point. Her sinful act of sleeping with MATT’s best friend RICK came to end 4-days back when she and RICK were caught canoodling on their bedroom. Hearing the sound of gates open, she embattled herself for nasty conversation. She knew that she would be insulted but she wanted to sort it out no matter what it takes.

“Hey, Mrs. BELLA RICK SHARMA, How are you doing?” asked MATT

BELLA interrupted him by saying, “MATT, please listen to me. I know that I have done an unforgivable act which is punishable and I am ready for it.”

“Oh, you want to be punished? Let me call RICK. He will do strict rope bondage sex as he must be good in corporal punishment.” hinted MATT

“Baby, we were just being intimate and didn’t have sex. Believe me, MATT”, requested BELLA

MATT roared and taunted, “You didn’t have sex. That’s what you are telling me. So, canoodling, smooching and squeezing is fine with him. That is what you mean? I can’t believe that the two closest people in my life cheated on me just to have sex. Was I not satisfying you physically? Well, yes my penis would have been pretty small to suffice your lust. You always told me that RICK has ideal built and physic. How could you do this to me? I mean, Fuck up, I don’t want to have any conversation with you.”

She was thankful inside because MATT was speaking out his anger and the 3-days weird pause between the two came to an end. MATT was good-looking, generous and cool guy but BELLA was gorgeous, hot and a perfect wife for any man. MATT would always be teased by his colleagues and friends, “You are a lucky Bastard. You have a got a combo of beauty and character.” MATT reminded that lines to himself in these 3 days in order to feel more and more pity and hatred. Before he gets more sentimental, he rushes towards the staircase to go to his bedroom. But she followed him and hugged him tightly trying to take off his blazer. He murmured in his ears, “Darling, it’s always been you. I have made a terrible mistake and I don’t want to lose you ever. I just want to be with you forever. I will make you overcome this issue.” Listening this, he burst out loud explaining, “ Oh, so you can make a compensation. How? By forcing me to sleep with other woman? You are such a lose character. I couldn’t believe I married you. How could you abandon me like this? Can you imagine what it is like to be at my place thinking about his best friend and wife sharing the same bed? ”

Before he could complete his statement, he hastily ran towards his bedroom shouting, “Why, Why, Why,….?”It was the same 3-days routine unending conversation that happened that day so she moved on to sofa again trying to recall the sinful affairs. Still, she hadn’t told him that the relationship was since past 6 months and she was unoriented. The usual way to sleep would be to take sleeping pills but before she did,  she heard footsteps of MATT coming downwards. She finally decided to use sex as the weapon as she had been an expert in philematology and exactly knew how to seduce man. This trick had saved her since the time she got engaged in the physical affair with RICK.

To her shock, MATT stepped down the staircase with a smile. She couldn’t interpret whether it was genuine or evil. She didn’t care about it and went straight to him and started kissing wildly

MATT responded it by tearing her bra and squeezed her breasts like anything. To her surprise, MATT didn’t take out his clothes but she didn’t think of it as much.

“You know what I felt when I saw you both together?” he smirked. “That I should kill you both as there would be no regret left to me if you both die”

“What are you saying baby? Please stop it.”, requested BELLA.

MATT pushed her to the sofa and sat above her, making a perfect position to have intercourse. Her body was the only thing that could please MATT at that particular moment. She tried to be wilder pretending as she needs physical pleasure

He taunted, “Let me tell you one thing, my sweet little cheat. I know that you have been together for 6 months and I couldn’t withstand that fact today when RICK himself told me that he loves you.”

“I don’t love him, darling. You know that I love you”, vowed BELLA.

“Oh come on, baby. Don’t be such a douchebag”, responded MATT.

BELLA strongly responded, “Really, call him here and we will resolve and clear out everything”

He again resisted BELLA when she tried unzipping his pants, and thrown her violently this time.

“He can’t be here, baby. I just came stabbing him with a shot gun.”

She couldn’t believe what he said but she knew got the intuition of something wrong. With the half-naked body, she was staring at him with lust and shame altogether. She still wanted to give it a try but now MATT’S reaction seemed vicious.

She felt frightful and tried to go away from him but he caught him hard and said, “Don’t worry, I have a machete for you as a sudden death as the gun won’t please and sooth my eyes.”

He smiled again but this time BELLA couldn’t smile back as this was truly his devil smile. He took out his machete and stabbed her repeatedly on all her sensuous areas considering it as the only reason she cheated on him for RICK.

  1. Score yourself on a scale of 0 to 10 for the following seven attributes. Please note that rating yourself highly or poorly will not increase your chances of selection. So just try to be as honest and objective as possible.
  • Passion for Cinema – 9
  • Knowledge of the Craft of Screenwriting- 5
  • Experience of Writing Screenplays- 2
  • Discipline- 8
  • Persistence – 8.5
  • Flexibility – 7
  • Courage – 8

PS- Soon, the season 2 of AIB First Draft Writing Test is coming. Just don’t do this and you will be through. I did my best; it wasn’t enough. I want to better the best.

Thanks.

The Daily Soap Concept- I

THE SPONSOR OF SMILE

Bhargav was walking on the isolated road of Jaipur at 11 PM when he watched a beggar girl crying for something. She told him a reason “Tomorrow is Holi & I don’t have any Pichkari to play with my fellow mates-but I know I am poor & I can’t play”.

Bhargav gave her 100 rupee note & became the ‘sponsor of smile’. This story is about Bhargav who is the son of the King of Ratlam(1915 AD). He leaves the palace every morning trying to find the grief & sorrow in his town & across country. He puts himself many a times in the troubles because of the fact that he was the only King’s heir.

The King- Prageshwar Maharana resists his son as he was an amateur of 11 & don’t know the politics of the country. He still does his sponsorship emotionally, financially & shared sentiments –fragments of it where required. Talks to the lonely woman , quarrels with the old man to cry him out of his past 5 year sadness of his son’s death

The Sponsor is a metaphor which promptly describes the senses & feelings of human beings which either comes out quite naturally or doesn’t even spits out artificially.

‘The Smiling Country’ was the ultimate moto of Bhargav after his father died due to an attack & he was announced the King – this ancient story is not about winning territories and invasion but spreading love, care & emotions. Everyone who participates in this campaign of smile is rewarded by the king.

HOPE-SABSE BADI TOPE

The episodes will have the motto “Buy hope & Get dreams Free” & “Timing is never right, time is right”.

Every story will be cycled to the co-incidental circumstances of human beings stuck in the daily problems. The characters will be designed/sketched considering the metaphysical theme in mind where an ideal invisible character (own conscience) inside him/her & it’s called as Magic lantern.

Every human being has that power to overcome the fear inside taking out the MAGIC LANTERN outside to lighten up their life. The struggle is mandatory for each & every living creature on earth. Man is tired of his commuter life of job-home-job, wife being just house wife-mother-grandmother, boy wants to be guitar player rather than a pilot, girl wants to go abroad for higher education; but it’s a matter of faith they got to keep on themselves.

The positive synopsis of every story will be focused on: Children education stress, Youth Depression, Money matters troubles, Emotional Solitude, Loneliness, Personality Disorders, Physically handicapped, etc. The Protagonist is the conscience (faith & hope) inside the victim but the antagonist will be the general issues (person, thing, materialistic) which creates a barrier for him to come out with flying colors

‘Dropping their Drawbacks’ they glow & grow with the situation fulfilling their dreams because it’s never about the destiny it’s about hope.

These short stories will be surrounded by the layer around the human: Selfishness, Mercy, Cunningness, Cult, Guilt, Faith, Hope, love, etc. So the ultimate ambition of them is just to behave accordingly & not to take any uncertain-unexpected steps but to grab the opportunity that comes at its specific right time.

Kyuki ‘hope hi he sabse badi tope’…..

GILLINDER

The Gujarati word ‘Gillinder’ simply means a young kid who is smart, wise, clever & cute enough to make other people fool & have fun for oneself, having the capacity & capability to perform any tough task given.

The story takes the first gear when his Father has left the home leaving him, his 2 brothers and his mother. Since he was 4, he began to take care of his family expenses by throwing newspaper, working in cycle store, selling cashew nuts & experiencing almost every profession in his village- Jetpur.

The race against life starts when he comes to know that his father had indebted money from the villagers & they will have to pay them all. Satish didn’t want to run though he was premature of 9; he could certainly understand the situation looking at his mother & two younger brothers.

The Gillinder justifies the title showing his immense effort in making the family stand up again after 25 years of the struggle.

Satish surprises his son (Ravi-9 years old) saying “I am going to tell you what your father used to do when he was 9 “.

The whole idea of this was to nurture his son with the Reality of life & to let him know all materialistic cum emotional things. Ravi is surprised after every experience he listens of his father being: most notorious unlike him, adventurous journey of education though studied till 4th standard, worked hard like anything & much more.

Gillinder becomes nostalgic but looking at his present he forgets again he remembers that he had no childhood like normal children, didn’t have any demands to get fulfilled by anyone; as the ultimate aim was to earn 2 meals a day for 4 people.

This narration is about a Father to Son bonding making self-realization of unforgettable and unexpressed moments of Satish’s life.

PAKYA, PAKKA MAT!!

Let us enter into the College life again- the most interesting & exciting era in everyone’s life. It’s a story of 4 friends- Prakash (Pakya), Deepak (Darpok Duggu), Mansi (Maani), & Chintu (Feku).

Pakya –the leading character of the story is having the habit of explaining every matter in very details so friends call him ‘Pakau’, interesting in astronomy, astrology, psychology, palmistry & literature; passion of indoor games & hatred for the outdoor games typically sounds like an introvert and shy.

The barrier between these best friends is Prakash since he is smart enough to understand the material things, theories but impractical to understand the relationships & society bonding; the journey of the pakau Prakash to become an extrovert by their 3 best friends is awesome.

4 Years of Architecture proves to be the Prakash’s greatest structure within as he not only becomes the practical person to deal with the regular stuffs but becomes the model for their 3 friends.

This story is about the get together these 4 friends do after the 6 years of their college life living in their personal space, they starts narrating to each other the day when they joined to college to the day they depart the college. It’s a journey of life-time where Prakash turned Pakya (nick name)- pakau (boring)- pakka (Confident) the dramatic life of a student passing through the teen & youth age altogether facing the hardships  & overcoming them smoothly.

Pakya – the pakau’s transformation to the most perfect guy is the inspiration of every shy kid who thinks they can’t change themselves. It’s a motivational race with you to conquer the fear & do the invasion on our devil weakened soul.

 

 

CON OF SCIENCE

2015

Robert is a scientist & living the most luxurious life with the Indian Biological Organization in pune. He is ambitious & wants to seek the Nobel Prize in Biology but his parents forces him to marry a beautiful girl Maria who is the only daughter of Noble Prize Winner Rushtam Khan.  Robert is wicked in his heart to take the advantage of Maria to grab the most prestigious award. Though his conscience tried to stop the evil thoughts dominating over his soul & heart but …

(2017)After 2 years, Maria is sobbing in the corner & Robert with Suzi (her daughter)in hand, tries to console Maria but she weeps whole day complaining to God “ Why our daughter can’t speak?’’ Robert has no answer but to accept the nature but there was something eating him again and again…..

2015,

Robert decides to produce a Supernatural child by the combination of science reaction & with the help of her wife’s body (as she was daughter of Smartest Scientist) so he started to eat some drug which would help his reproductive organ create supernatural sperm

CONscience turned out to be the con of science as the guilt will prick him throughout his life but he decides to put his guts together & forget the sin he has made. He starts to challenge the science and nature to invent the medicine or cure that will again make her daughter speak

This story is about a father of his culprit feeling for his past bad deeds which would eventually result in a most fruitful manner.

2025

And the winner of the revolutionary invention in the Biology field is “ Robert”, he gathers his will and his daughter to the stage to collect the award as Suzi starts to speak with the magic, faith , hope & time relationship